You Don’t Need to Have It All Figured Out (But Here’s What You Can Do Right Now)

Let’s be real: graduating (or almost graduating) can feel like someone just threw you into the deep end with no floaties, no map, and no idea which way is up.

People keep asking, “So, what’s next?”
And you’re like, “Good question. I was hoping you knew.”

If you’ve been feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or low-key panicked about your next step — you are not alone. And guess what? You don’t have to have a five-year plan to start making moves.

Let’s start small. Let’s start real.

Here are 3 things you can do this week to start moving forward (no burnout required):

1. Create a Career Catch-All Doc

Before you stress about resumes and cover letters, open a Google Doc and just brain-dump:
🖊️ Stuff you’ve done (jobs, clubs, class projects)
💬 Things people say you’re good at
🔥 Topics or roles you’re curious about

This will be your cheat sheet for every application you write — and trust me, it saves hours later.

✨ P.S. I’m working on a tool to make this even easier — a guided doc that walks you through it step by step. Launching soon!

2. Reach Out to 1 Person

Not 10. Just 1.
Message someone you admire on LinkedIn or reach out to a friend-of-a-friend with a job that interests you. Say something like:

“Hello, I’m exploring [industry or role] and would love to hear more about your experience. Are you AVAILABLE anytime this week for a quick call. Thank you, looking foward to connecting soon. ”

One conversation can open a door. Don’t overthink it.

3. Update Your LinkedIn Headline

You don’t need to wait until you have a job to sound like a professional. Try this formula:

“Aspiring [Role/Industry] | [Current School or Experience] | Passionate about [Skill or Interest]”

Example:

Aspiring Commercial Real Estate Analyst | Virginia Tech Student | Passionate about Strategy + Growth

Easy, approachable, and it shows you’re serious — without pretending you’re already the CEO.

4. One last thing:

You’re not late. You’re not behind. You’re just in your beginning. And beginnings are messy, exciting, and a little terrifying — but that’s where the magic starts.

Your big sis believes in you.

You got this. Deep breath in and out! -xoxo Big Sis

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