So you’ve graduated college, groggy from all the sleepless nights you spent studying, but also ecstatic for the brand-new adventures ahead of you. The years following graduation can be exciting, but also daunting. You’ve grown used to the structure of campus life, and suddenly, you find yourself thrust in the real world with all its unpredictable challenges. So what do you do now? Adulting can be tough, but it is necessary if you want to succeed in this part of life. Here are four adulting hacks they don’t teach you at school, but is certainly useful:

Have a Support Group

Your twenties is a time of great fun but also of great confusion. You’ve just finished school, but you also aren’t quite a full-fledged adult yet. Expect to experience significant wins and losses in the arena of love, career, and self-discovery. You will need to have a solid support group who will help you navigate the tricky maze of young adulthood. As you grow older, you’ll come to realize that friendship is not just about people having fun together but also about helping each other endure hard times and grow into better individuals. You’ll thank them for giving you valuable advice and a listening ear at just the right moment.

Aside from friends, the support group should also be made up of your family members. Maybe you’ve had differences with your parents while growing up, but as you foray into adulthood, you’ll see that they were only looking out for you. The relationship you have with them is simply irreplaceable, so spend time to communicate with them regularly.

Start Budgeting

Don’t fall into the common trap of living from paycheck to paycheck as a result of living beyond your means. One of the ways you can instill discipline in your spending habits is to start making a weekly budget and to open a savings account. Do this before you land your first job. Your twenties is a good time to start cultivating healthy spending habits, and you would not be able to become an independent and self-sufficient adult if you don’t realize the value of money. A budget will help you become more conscious about how you spend your hard-earned money and get you to focus on what is important.

Once you start getting a paycheck, set aside a portion of it into a savings account. The peace of mind you get from knowing you have funds to get you through emergency situations is priceless.

Consider Your Career Options

Starting a career is probably one of the most common directions fresh graduates pursue after graduation. Don’t underestimate the importance of this step because the job you take will shape the next years of your life. Don’t just rush into the first job opening you see as you might end up slaving away your precious life at a job you hate. Take time to reflect on what your interests, values, goals, and long-term plans are and how you can align these with your career.

Second, study the job market. Understand what traits and skills companies are looking to hire in candidates so you’ll know what to highlight in your résumé and interview. You can also increase your chances of getting hired for a position you want by investing in your skills.

Know What to Expect as a Job Candidate

If you think you are ready to kickstart a career and go job hunting, make sure you know what to expect in the hiring process. Aside from résumés and interviews, companies conduct aptitude tests and drug screenings. The subject of drug testing in the workplace has become a hot topic in recent years, especially with widespread legalization of substances like cannabis.

Legislation varies across states, and these distinctions could land you in some tricky situations if you do not know the drug policies in your area. If you used substances in the last couple of months, make sure you know what sort of drug-testing methods companies administer so you can prepare for it. For example, some businesses employ urinalysis while others go for more thorough methods like a hair test. For urine tests, your options include going on a detox while the macujo method is more effective for hair tests.