What do I do after graduation?

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I'm a college Senior. I'm a religious studies major, and I'd be interested in grad school, but I have no idea what to do after college.

My friends and social network are on Long Island. One of the things I've been considering is looking into compliance training post graduation. Because I have a strong sense of justice and care about the internal consistency of a company, it would be an important career path for me (especially if I work in areas that I care about-- for example, healthcare.) Also a good job with very practical skills and a direct impact on the people and regulations that I am protecting.

I've also considered grad school for library science or publishing. I have a very academic-oriented mind. The issue is that academia, particularly humanities academia, is in pretty sad shape. I don't want to blow money on grad school for a second degree without knowing that this is what I want to do.

And here's the issue... I have no way of knowing what I want to do. I've applied to a ton of publishing internships and heard nothing back. I could try to do compliance (healthcare compliance) but that begs the same issue of me needing to spend extra time and money doing training for a job that I may not even like.

How do I know what path to pursue post graduation? I'm so lost.

A friend I work with is a minister, on the support team of an architectural software company & she does pretty well with it.

I mostly just know technology, but whether or not it's of any relevance to you, the point is that a lot of seemingly unrelated jobs might be nice.

_________________
"Standing on a well-chilled cinder, we see the fading of the suns, and try to recall the vanished brilliance of the origin of the worlds."
-Georges Lemaitre
"I fly through hyperspace, in my green computer interface"
-Gem Tos

Sure. But I guess my question is, how do I know that I want to invest in further education for something that I might not even like or be good at?

I'd have to spend a fair amount of money on grad school or even additional training programs. I need to know that it's an investment worth taking first.

For example, no library science internships seem to want people with BAs. You need to have your MLIS. Which begs the question...how do you figure out that an expensive grad program is even worth the cost if you can't do a basic job shadow or something first? :T

Well for another thing I'm not so sure any school is necessary for some things you might enjoy, I mean I'm a high school drop-out hacker working in a fortune 500 so take this with a grain of salt but there's always another way to show off knowledge.

FWIW I thought about getting an information studies degree, but that's mostly because when I get bored, I study. I get some hints that I too would enjoy working in libraries, maybe there are different positions that might be nice.

_________________
"Standing on a well-chilled cinder, we see the fading of the suns, and try to recall the vanished brilliance of the origin of the worlds."
-Georges Lemaitre
"I fly through hyperspace, in my green computer interface"
-Gem Tos

Experience comes in handy. If you want to find out what you like doing, then do things, and see which ones you like. It wasn't until after I'd been manager at a few places that I realized I was both good at, and enjoyed doing, management and leadership roles. Get some jobs, do some internships, volunteer at some places, try to find opportunities to actually try doing the work. The only way to know for sure of you like a food is to taste it.

You're 21 from the looks of it. I didn't even start college until I was 30. Get out into the world, test drive a few opportunities. THEN decide what you want to do next. My 0.02.

Have you considered taking a year to work in a job related to your interests while you consider your next move? You don’t have to go into grad school right away.

Have you considered divinity school? Many unusual jobs are available to ministers, such as being a hospital chaplain.

K through 12 teacher.

Civil service

Insurance

Marketing

Usually there are "lower function" versions of careers. There are librarian aides, assisted living aides, environmental technicians, laboratory technicians, phlebotomy techs, teacher aides, etc. which do not require additional educational expenses. What it does require is the willingness to do something "below" your status in order to get a look around.

You have a degree and that is excellent. Your next most valuable asset is time. You have more time than you think you do.