Advice to Seniors/Recent Grads
 

Inspired by the Advice to PNM's/those beginning their college experience thread, I thought it would be a good idea to start a thread for those ending their college experience. I'll start:
*Unless you plan to lose a drastic amount of weight in your senior year, buy one professional outfit a month (business casual, a suit, business attire, etc.)when you're a senior. You can get things on sale, and by the time you finish college, you'll have like 9-10 professional outfits and won't have to stress out about spending lots of time and money building up a career wardrobe.
*Get rid of the beer/alcohol bottle decorations, string lights, and cartoon character sheets. Things that are acceptable when you're in college are not once you're out.

Slowly phase out your graphic and super sparkly tees.

Invest in some nice shoes that were not made by Mudd, Rocketdog or Sketchers.

If you're a girl, your shorts and skirts should not stop where your butt meets your legs. Length is a consideration on skirts and shorts. Your tummy should not peek out from every outfit you own because the pants are low-waisted and the top is cropped just ever-so-slightly. Wear clothes that fit.

If you have a chance to go to Europe or travel abroad before you start working, DO IT. Until you retire or have a nervous breakdown, you won't have more than 2-3 weeks vacation at one time for the rest of your working life. It is worth the debt.

Speaking of debt: get a copy of Suze Orman's "Young, Broke & Fabulous." Read it. Love it.

Buy a basic cookbook of simple recipes. Get a first-aid kit and an emergency road side kit if you don't already have one.

Buy a AAA membership.

Go to Vegas. Get it out your system. After you wander the strip drunk for one night, you'll start to wonder what the big deal is about Vegas.

Repeat after me, "The weekend starts on Friday night." Happy Hour or a glass of wine at dinner is fine, but don't come into work hung over or smelling like a liquor cabinet. Thursday night is not the new Friday. You can get fired for not giving 100% to the job.

Graduating from college does not entitle you to a 6-figure salary and the corner office. Unless you're working for your dad and your dad's last name is Trump, Gates, or Spielberg. You're about to start at the bottom of social totem pole and the first rung of the working ladder. Show respect, be on time, take notes and be proactive.

Always keep your resume and work portfolio updated so that in the event you have to leave your job or find a new one you waste no time.

Join a professional organization and get involved with a planning committee. IE: Business Marketing Association, Society of Automotive Engineers, etc. Great networking and your boss will love the ideas you bring back to the office.

Register your changes of address with your GLO. Join an alumnae/alumni group.

For the love of all things holy: DO NOT GO BACK TO THE SORORITY/FRATERNITY HOUSE DURING RECRUITMENT, SHOW UP AT CHAPTER MEETINGS UNANNOUNCED OR OFFER YOUR ADVICE TO THE CHAPTER UNLESS THEY ASK FOR IT. It is no longer your chapter-- it is your chapter of initiation. Let the members and their advisers do what they need to do and don't be a buttinksy. There will be plenty of opportunities for you to meet the new pledges, watch the recruitment skits or booze it up at homecoming. Don't become one of THOSE alumni/ae who can't let go of college. If you're missing your organization, get involved with an alum group. Write your chapter a letter wishing them luck with recruitment or drop off a plate of cookies and a note during finals. Do not concern yourself with the goings-on or what they're doing wrong. You don't pay dues there anymore and if alumni/ae need to get involved, the chapter will reach out to you.

Your bedroom and office/cubicle should not look like a loving tribute to college. A few framed photos are fine, or a university mug/pillow/sign.

Enjoy the post-college life! You've worked hard, and all year long as a senior you've been wishing you were done with school. But time does a very tricky thing. Six months from now, the stress of planning socials combined with acing finals and going to class will have been replaced with happy memories of intramural football games, winning first place at Greek Week and singing sorority songs. And you'll wonder why you were in such a hurry to be done with school! So enjoy this last year, take lots of photos and try not to skip out on too many meetings or events! :)

excellent advice. Most professional orgs offer discounted membership for college students as well as recent graduates. take advantage of their network!

Get married, have kids, and work at a 9 to 5 job immediately after college if you want to, not because that's what you're "supposed" to do. Don't let society or your family/friends dictate your post college life.

Whatever path you're choosing, know what you're getting into. Don't rely solely on career books, they're so dry and PC. Ask a variety of people who has been there and done that...regardless if they're law students, accountants, or entrepreneurs.

If you're not ready to settle down career wise, or want an unusual career, check out this book.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/076...545558?ie=UTF8

Move to a big city and bring a few friends. If you already live in a big city, stay there. There's something always going on and a lot of people to meet in bigger cities. However, you most likely won't meet people randomly, so sign up for softball, bellydancing, or get a part-time job.

Don't overdo it. Burnout can and does happen. If you need exterior help, do not be afraid to go to a counselor.

Do NOT make any big purchases or investments until your job is secure and you have passed probation and been there for at least a year.

Do join a house of worship and gym. They help with easing burnout.

I went through a temp agency once, and when they called me to come in, I hadn't had time to set up a professional email, and I couldn't access my school acct. so I just used my personal email (which has nothing bad in it, it's just not professional) and I apologized to the lady. She said not to worry about it...that she's actually had people turn in resumes and their email included "b*tch" in the address!:eek:

I used to work in the HR office for my department and I would get people's resumes and CV's. I've actually seen email adresses like sexydevil69@hotmail.com. Nice, you really sound like the kind of person that I want working in pediatrics.

If you curse like a sailor, learn to restrain yourself. Nothing says "professionalism" quite like using four letter words like crazy in a meeting.

Someone needs to tell this to the Project Manager for one of the Generals we work for. Especially when there are Southen Ladies present.

Or using "like" with every other word. "I was, like, so, like, excited to, like, be asked to make this presentation. My ideas, are like, so good."

To add to that- that picture of your big doing a body shot off you at the TKE CEO's and Corporate Hoes mixer may be one of your favorite memories from college. However, it is not appropriate to have that at your desk at work if you want people to take you seriously. If you're going to put up college/sorority/fraternity pictures in your office space, make sure that they are clean (i.e. things that you could display during recruitment).

It's blue and it says "Angel" :P

The first thing that came to mind-
"It's pink..." "and it's scented! I think it gives it a little something extra, don't you think?"- Legally Blonde

Glad I'm not the only one.;)

I thought the same thing.

Here's another tip, and it is something that came up recently in my office: Observe the dress code. Your strapless top or sundress may be fine for a date or picnic, or even at church, but it needs to be covered with a cardigan while you are at work. Unless you're a model on a photo shoot.

It just takes one person like this to make your boss cancel Casual Friday. (It hasn't happened yet here, but we fear it is only a matter of time!).

Don't take advantage of the dress code. Business casual still means businesslike.

Don't keep a framed photo of you wearing your skimpy bikini on your desk in plain sight. I don't care how amazing you think you look. There's a more work-appropriate photo of your vacation to Bermuda that of your belly button ring.

Well, nobody in my company has gotten into trouble for sleeveless shirts/dresses yet. But if someone did get yelled at for capris and moccassins, they may crack down on more. Hence I wear either a shawl or a crochet cardigan over sleeveless shirts unless it is 90+ degree weather.

Sleeveless and strapless are not the same thing.

that is really good advice, i could not agree with you more. dress clothes are so expensive and i'm having trouble buying it all at once. all i've ended up with is big bills and about two weeks worth of clothes.

A counselor at my school told me that during a seminar on how to dress in the workplace. Of course, it was in April of my senior year.

I know. But sometimes, some straps can be so thin, that the top/dress can come close to being strapless. The dress code specifically forbids strapless/halter/spaghetti-strap.

Please tell me I either read this wrong, or I've got the completely wrong picture in my mind, because this is what I'm getting:

http://www.jills-castle.com/crochet/...shawl-back.jpg

http://www.carodanfarm.com/shopsite_..._norling44.jpg

http://fp.anntaylor.com/@v=0148@/Ima...7003_9000l.jpg
I own the cardigan version of this from Ann Taylor, which is what I'm hoping Scandia meant. Although with her, you never know.

It's very close to what KLPDaisy means. I don't own a poncho.

A quick note from someone who bought cloths for work before starting work and missed the mark for what was acceptable/expected. I was way too dressed up for work; the casual part of business casual was more evident. Put away money for clothing each month but don't buy the actual clothing until you’re sure of what is expected. For example business casual can mean different things at different companies, ranging from button down shirts and slacks to polos and khakis. Have enough clothing to make it though a week or a couple of days and then go shopping for clothing with the money you’ve saved up. This way you’ll be sure to fit in with the company’s culture.

You may think that the cheesteak with extra onions that you had for lunch is a piece of heaven, but not all of your coworkers will agree. If you're going to eat at your desk, throw your leftovers out someplace outside of the office so your coworkers don't have to smell them for the rest of the day.

We actually had operating hours for the microwave and rules about fish at our last office because certain folks would bring especially pungent lunches. We've since moved to a new location and the kitchen is far enough away so I don't have to smell Lean Cuisine from 10:30-2:00.

Great suggestion. My entire company is business casual, but because I work in a lab setting, my group tends to stay closer to the "casual" end. I actually have a bunch of nice clothes that I needed for another job that I can't wear anymore!

Tell everyone they're morons.

Abuse your interns.

Close your office door and talk dirty to your girlfriend.

Tell your coworkers they're homos.

Tell your coworkers that the quiet guy is gay.

Close your office door and talk dirty to the girl you're cheating on your girlfriend with.

If you think you may get fired, quit, but not before downloading child porn on your boss' computer and calling the FBI the next day.

Remember you're always right. If anyone gets in the way, chew them up and spit them out.

Wear those really big condoms. Girls love it.

-Rudey
--And don't forget to tell your mom you love her because that's important too.

Another work etiquette tip:
If you're going to play music/listen to the radio at your desk, do it quietly so it doesn't disturb anyone else. If you leave your desk for an extended period of time (lunch, meeting, whatnot), turn it off.