Great news, your child has completed college. Now what? As a mom, your main worry was giving your child the best education. Unlike the yesteryears where getting a college education was a guarantee of getting a good job, things have changed.
More so, the issue of high student debt, job competition, and high living standards can be overwhelming for a graduate. No wonder more millennials prefer moving back home.
But, as a parent, you need to guide your child to transition into adulthood. It is not easy, but here are some tips to help you with the process.
5 Ways to Help Your College Grad Leave the Nest
Have the Talk
Image via Flickr by Dale Simonson
First, you need to sit with your child and address the issue at hand: that he or she is a grown-up now.
Parents can talk to their children asking questions like whether they have goals, what kind of jobs they are targeting, and how long they plan to stay at home. It’s better to have this difficult conversation in the beginning than later on when things get stressful. This conversation can also help both of you understand what you expect of each other.
Career Plan
Are there opportunities around you that can help your child land a job? Although many graduates still struggle to find a job within their profession, hiring a professional mentor or being a mentor yourself can help get direction on where he or she wants to go career-wise.
Essentially, you need to encourage your child to find opportunities. This can be through attending professional events, seminars, volunteering, and workshops. It is during such activities that job seekers may land jobs.
Assign Some Responsibilities
If parents help their adult children with simple things, like gas and car insurance, they won’t learn how to do things for themselves. Start small, like letting your children sort out their own personal bills. When they can afford to pay basic bills, it may be time to find an affordable apartment.
The only exception is health insurance. If your child is covered by your current health insurance policy, then don’t be in a rush to remove them from the cover. After all, the law permits you to cover your children until they are 26.
Teach Them Crucial Skills
As much as a college education is crucial, much of what your child will become after graduation is entirely up to him or her. Job seekers need to learn how to communicate, reason, make important decisions and most importantly manage money as an adult in order to bring about important opportunities. Such meaningful interactions can only help job seekers if they have these critical skills.
Help With Loan Repayment
If your college grad has an outstanding student loan, you need to figure out how they plan to repay the loan. They can start paying once they get a job or consider refinancing their student loans. With reputable private lenders, they can refinance the student loan to reduce the debt.
Helping your college grad leave the nest is a process. It may take a few weeks or months. But with your support, your child can transition into a mature and responsible adult capable of taking care of himself or herself.
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