With the final weeks of the second semester coming to an end and graduation quickly approaching, there are many seniors and graduate students who will no longer be students for the first time in their lives. Instead, many will seek employment in the “real world,” and others will continue their time in school in some type of graduate program.

Concerns amongst those about to enter the workforce center primarily around job availability, the cost of living in a certain city and managing their debts. For a few students, this time of the year can be exciting and nerve-wracking all at the same time.

“I am concerned about learning to budget my money and all the responsibilities that come with a new job,” said Brittany Van Sandt, a senior majoring in nursing. “However, I am excited to be on my own and have a break from school.”

After graduating, Van Sandt plans to enter the workforce for two years before returning to the University to work on an additional degree. This option has attracted many students wishing to receive a post-graduate degree while testing the waters of the workforce for the first time.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the U.S. unemployment rate is 4.5 percent as of March, and the unemployment rate for Alabama is 6.2 percent as of February. Job availability for students entering the workforce in various fields have their ups and downs, with some students less concerned than others.

“I think it is a good time to enter the workforce,” said Rob Grady, a graduate student who is on the dual STEM Path to the MBA and Master of Science in civil engineering. “For someone going into the construction industry, infrastructure is being updated or built new, so there are a lot of opportunities.”

However, there are UA students who are worried about government interference in job availability in the public sector affecting those looking to get into politics or other levels of the government early on.

“It is not the best time to be entering the workforce if you want to work at the federal level because of Trump’s hiring freeze and proposed cutbacks,” said Joshua Shumate, a graduate student who is pursuing his Masters in public administration. “However, there are plenty of opportunities at the state and local level. I am still a little worried about finding the best opportunity.”

Finding the right opportunity can prove difficult to some students, especially those looking to stay close to home or close to where they want to attend graduate school. As big of a relief as finishing almost two decades of school may be, finding a job out of college could mean a huge change in scenery.

“I’m excited to be moving out to California, but definitely nervous to be that far from my family, who is in Florida,” said Cavi Drake, a senior majoring in marketing. “I look at it like it is the time to do it now while I’m young and have the opportunity.”

Spring commencement for seniors and graduate students will begin as early as May 5. For more information on graduation, visit the university’s academic calendar at https://registrar.ua.edu/academiccalendar/.