Congratulations! You've Earned A College Degree, Now What?

Job-hopping is the new career advancement. What are steps new grads can take now to maximize their opportunities?

The springtime cap and gown season is in full swing and a freshly-degree'd crop of Millennials have been unleashed on the job market. As you explore opportunities and ambitiously assess your career needs, the reality for this generation of graduates is you are likely to hold a dozen different roles by the time you hit the age of 30. Job-hopping is no longer viewed as a professional disadvantage and can be a strong indicator of career success.

So, how do you the recent graduate, maximize this new career normal?

Examine What You Enjoy. Unless you are Tim Ferriss, you should expect to work longer than 4-hours a week. Take an afternoon to consider the tasks and projects you've worked on at school or during an internship. What was it about a particular topic or the work environment that made the experience one you'd like to seek more of in your career?

Discover Your Strengths. I'll admit it: I was skeptical of self-assessments until I had a 360-degree performance review. The review indicated I was a strong leader and people manager, something I had always doubted: when it comes to work, my default has always been to be one of the worker-bee team members. If you don't have access to a 360 review in your current role, there are books such as StrengthsFinder or download the Thinking Talents app to discover your unique skills-based sweet spot.

Explore The Career Landscape. Wondering what you can really do with your degree, start by reading job postings, alumni interviews and career profiles for inspiration. I've had many "I didn't know you could earn a living doing that" moments after reading wedding announcements in the weekend paper. Get curious about the skills pathway that has taken someone from cap and gown to expert. Prime example: corporate social media pioneer Lionel Menchaca studied archeology and went on to become Dell's Chief Blogger.

Convert A College Network Into A Powerful Career Network. Think back to all the people you consulted when you were considering which college to attend or course of study to pursue. When's the last time you connected with them? Now is a good time to send them an update thanking them for their guidance and updating them not only on your college achievements as well as on your career ambitions. Stay connected with to your college community through its alumni association. Polish your online profile too: your profile and activities on social networking platforms should reflect your new status as a professional in the job market.

Expand Your Circle. Job hopping is a career strength when it is backed by strong professional connections. Start the network-fueled career journey in your chosen field by researching then attending relevant meet-ups, events and industry conferences. Until you attend a lot of events, you won't know which ones are useful for your career plans. Deepen your connections in the communities you find most valuable by volunteering at events or joining a planning committee. Don't turn your nose down at volunteering at the registration table: handing out nametags is a great way to meet everyone.

Stay Curious. Your career is a journey not a destination and yes, you are very much the driver. Stay curious about your motivations, interests and skill-set as these will evolve as you gain experience and take on new challenging projects. Friction with your current role may be a sign you've outgrown the job requirements. Maintain an interest in (and connected to) what is going on beyond your immediate circle of work and industry colleagues as future opportunities to career hop may arise from unlikely directions.

Are you a recent graduate navigating the job market? What tactics and advice are helping you guide your career exploration? Please share your experiences in the comments section below.

I'm an Inc.com columnist, where this post originally appeared. Got a story? Pitch me (but read this post I wrote on pitching the media before you hit send on that inMail).