We were all sold the lie. You graduate high school, you get into uni, you pass, you graduate, you get a full-time job. For some, it magically happens the way it was supposed to. For the rest (i.e. the majority), it’s a lot more complicated than that.

But you know what? Screw it. Our generation has never done things the traditional way. There are tonnes of things that are more important than getting a full-time job straight after graduation.

#1 Working Overseas

Applying for a visa and seeing the wide world of work is something you can only do when you’re a young grad. In fact, if you want to work in America, we mean it literally – the J-1 visa is only eligible for people who are within a year of graduating their degree. Even the Youth Mobility visa for Canada and the UK is also only available for people up to 30 years old. It’d be a tragedy to waste any time.

#2 Learning As Much As You Can

Once you start full-time work, you’ll realise just how hard it is to pursue further study at the same time. If you really want to do a masters, do it now. If you want to learn a language, do it now. If you want to start improv and touring the country with a troupe of misfits, do it now*. (*Also, sounds fun, can I join?)

#3 Having Networks

Odds are that during your time at uni, you built a pretty impressive network of people. Even if you didn’t realise, your uni mates are excellent connections to have later down the line. Don’t underestimate how important these relationships are. Cherish them.

#4 Going On A Million Job Interviews

You’re gonna think we’re nut jobs for suggesting that the pain and effort of going through multiple job interviews is better than just getting a job straight away. But, sorry: it is.

Job interviews only get better with practice. So does answering selection criteria and crafting cover letters and writing resumes to specific jobs. Once you’re in the job market, you’ll be super prepared but better yet, you’ll know how to conduct interviews in the future. People who get jobs straight away don’t have that kind of experience.

#5 Being Independent

You don’t have to have a full-time job to be a grown up. You become a grown up when you live out of home, buy your own food, cook actually healthy meals and be a functioning member of society. All of that is way more important than whether or not you’re employed in your chosen field. The best part? It’s completely up to you to get started.

#6 Doing What You Actually Enjoy

Admit it: snagging a full-time job would be easy if you just sucked it up and did something you weren’t excited about. But holding out because you want to do something that you’re passionate about – that’s seriously amazing.

So keep fighting the good fight and hold out for something that inspires and excites you.

#7 Helping Other People

You went to uni! You were educated in Australia! You have the opportunity to get attain employment and make more money than some people in this world could ever even dream of. If you take what you’ve learned in your degree and volunteer at a charity or mentor younger students, you’re doing way, way better than any recent grad with a job is.

So stop beating yourself up for not ticking that arbitrary box. Your time till come. But for now, just celebrate the small things.