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If you’ve graduated recently or got your aat qualification, chances are you’ve been actively searching for an entry level position. Sure, job outlook may be a bit murky, but you’re confident in your skills, sure of your resume, and optimistic about your job search. However, you may want to reconsider your career path. Become an entrepreneur. It may be the route you should be preparing for after moving your tassel to the left, and tossing your cap in the air. You may be thinking this isn’t the norm, but you’ll find that more and more graduates are becoming their own bosses instead of joining the rat race, and here’s why:
- Your degree is still fresh: Yes, a lot of entry level job positions require that you have at least a Bachelor degree, but even jobs lower on the totem pole require you have hands on experience. “When did I have time to get real world experience if I’ve been in college?” Exactly. Chances are you’ll still be under qualified in the eyes of many employers, and the more they have to train you, the more money they have to spend, and they see that as time wasted.
- You have the youth: A lot of people wait until they’re retired to start their own business, and realize they don’t have the energy they once had. You do! When you’re young, you have the drive, the ambition, and the network contacts if you’re fresh out of college to have a successful small business. You’ve seen young entrepreneurs succeed like Mark Zuckerberg and David Karp. You may have the next big thing, since you’re the same age as a huge target demographic: 18-24 year olds!
- You don’t have to escape the rat race: Let’s face it; once you get a traditional 9 to 5, it’s pretty hard to break out of it. Struggling to move up the corporate ladder, probably being overworked and underpaid, and never having time to work on your potential business are all road blocks you’re going to run into when you get a “real job”. If you choose to become an entrepreneur right away, you won’t have those obstacles to jump over.
- You probably don’t have a family to provide for: Many people don’t live out their dreams of becoming an entrepreneur because they’re worried about providing for their family. People with bills, spouses and children are pressured to find a steady income, and feel like becoming an entrepreneur is silly and financially dangerous. If you’re not tied down, you’re in a great position to start your own business without worrying how to feed someone other than yourself.
- Job security is almost non-existent: While there are some recession proof jobs out there, they’re a lot harder to find than they used to be. Finding someone who’s been with their company for more than 15 years is almost unheard of now, thanks to the sagging economy, frequent layoffs and low profits. Provide your own job security with your own business, and never have to ask for a pay raise again.
- Live the life you want to live: Truthfully, would you rather work for someone else or have someone working for you? Wouldn’t you love to take vacations when you want to without worrying about being denied? Don’t you want control of your off days, how many sick days you get, and your hours of operation? You can’t really do that with an entry level position at someone else’s company. When you’re an entrepreneur, you get to choose how you run and operate. If you haven’t already, you should read Tim Ferris’ 4 Hour Workweek and see how nice it is to run a business and travel the world. 4 hours sounds a lot better than 40, doesn’t it?
Will it be easy? Probably not. Will you meet some resistance, hardships, and lack of support along to way? Most likely. Will you take on additional expenses like health insurance and employment law insurance? Absolutely. But you’re in one of the best positions to become your own boss. You have youth on your side, a brand new education, and the world at your disposal. Where there’s a will, there’s a way, so don’t miss your opportunity to find your way.
What’s your take? Will you become an entrepreneur after college?
photo credit: theritters
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I decided to become both!
I wanted to be an entrepreneur but I had too much student loan debt, etc, to jump right into full time entrepreneurship. Maybe one day
Best advice ever for new college grads Brianna. When you’re young you have time to make mistakes, or better yet you can make mistakes and still have time to cover them!
Too many young people are looking for a secure job when they get out of school when what they should really pursue is their own business. If you can’t make that happen when you’re young and traveling light, it probably won’t happen when you’re older and carrying a few burdens. Seize the day!!!
I agree with LaTisha. I didn’t have debt, but had expenses to pay (grad school). I know this is a bad way to put it but, maybe one day…
Great post Bri! I’ve done the entrepreneurial thing as both an early 20 something with no attachments and a 30 something with a family. And believe me the former is a lot less stressful!
The time to buy your lotto tickets is when you’re young and can afford to throw away the losers.
@FSYA: You’ll make it. At least you took the first steps!
@20′s Finances: You’ll get there. If you didn’t have those expenses, I’m sure you would’ve dove right in.
@Geoff: I love that statement! The stress factor keeps a lot of people from going after their dreams.
I was just gonna write a post about why you should be an entrepreneur and not work for others. Looks like you beat me to it.
Anyways, I totally agree with you. It all comes down to whether you want others (your employer) to control your fate, or if you want to control your own fate.
@ Tony: This blogging town is big enough for the both of us
I’d love to hear your take on the subject. Maybe you can elaborate more or mention things that I missed!
[...] the entrepreneurial path right after university. I really wish I had focused more energy on that. Briana, from Money in the 20′s reminded me of that [...]
I will be getting my bachelors degree in a year or so and wanted to become an entrepreneur. However, I have loans needing to be paid also. Will it be possible to start a business with loans and succeed? Also, what are your thoughts of a bakery business for a female college grad?
I’ve got loans and am running half a dozen businesses right now. There are lots of different options for business, many of which, with the invent of the Internet, can be done without any money invested at all. Your loans will be there for a while and your interest rate will only get so low, but you can always increase your income to help pay the loans off quicker.
A bakery business as a female grad? There are lots of bakeries which means two things. A) it’s a proven business if done right. People want baked goods, always have, always will. B) You have to do things right and find a way to stand out from others if you’re going to be successful. You’d have to make great cake and have even better marketing. I’d say go for it. But, there are businesses anyone can do that don’t cost as much in startup funds so you may want to explore those first vs taking a loan for the bakery business.