Not going into the "real world" right after graduation
 

What are the consequences of taking a break (like a year) before starting a "real job"? I've known a lot of people who have been discouraged from doing this. I can't think of anything wrong with taking a break besides that it is not the norm. Financially wise, you can make as much or more money being a server or bartender than some entry level jobs. Is there something that i'm unaware of?

Well, actually Recruiters are looking entry level right out of College to hire and be retrained as still used to studying.

Take a year of to say tend bar, they think something is wrong with you as in mental stabilitie!

Oh, Money to live on, the coin of the rehlm is a good thing to make one want to work. As a College Grad, I had $98.00 to live on with a wife with no job either. Get an apartment, furnish, gas to drive to work, ah and food to eat.:)

I've been bartending/cocktailing for a little over two years now, and I know I'm making twice as much as I would have had I pursued a career related to my degree.

The only thing I'm afraid of is NOT being able to get out of the service industry. You're tempted to stick with it (despite the crap hours) because you know the $$$ will always be flowing. That's why I know so many people who have been doing so for 20, 30 years.

I don't intend to make this my career, of course, but I'm having fun..and having fun with the extra cash.

student loans kick in...and if you aren't making enough money...

if you want to take a year off, but have it not look like you took a year off slacking, might i suggest something like Americorp or the Peacecorps?

I'm doing an Americorp program for the year; you get a very small stipend, healthcare, etc. there are lots of programs to choose from. they also place the loans in forbanence and then after the year is up, you get $5,000 education stipend that can be applied to past loans or future education.

You should take four years off and join the world's greatest air force ;)

Dude only hookers and bums do that. Just get a normal job like a normal adult or do something productive, like peace corps or go on Survivor or something.

Or negotiate on your start date and then do whatever until then.

-Rudey

I think it is up to you. If you can afford to do something like this and WANT to do this, go for it. Besides, so many people don't end up using their degree from undergrad anyways, and end up finding out they like doing something else during this time. I don't knock you bartenders either. I know several people who started out doing this and were able to save enough $$$$$ so they could open their OWN bar/restaurant and now make a ton of $$$$$.

The sooner you start looking for a job, the easier it will be. I'm not saying that you have to start looking the day your graduate, but it does help. Many college recruiter will hire during your last year of college/university and will negiotate a start date though. I had lot of friends who got jobs back last fall (in their last year of uni) and some haven't started yet. They have used that time to relax and travel.

I graduated in April, traveled until mid-June and started looking more insensely then. I started working late-July. I'm glad I had the time off to travel, but I'm glad I found a job quickly after that because it really really sucks being poor.

Oh yeah, sometimes a couple months is all you will need before you start to go *CRAZY*. Some of my friends are not working right now and it was cool for them the first month or two but now they are totally bored out of their minds.

I don't think there's anything wrong with taking some time off. I think the hardest thing that some of my friends who took time off have faced is trying to force themselves to get a professional job after bartending or serving for so long.

Like OTW mentioned, the money is excellent in the service industry. I know friends that make over $50,000 a year from working as a server or bartender at a well-known club or restaurant. It's hard to give that up...especially because most entry-level positions do not start you at $50,000.

The most important thing to remember is why you went to school in the first place. While there's good money in the service industry, your career growth opportunities are limited. You could always become manager but unless you're working for a franchise corporation such as McDonald's, Darden Restaurants, etc., the restaurant you work in might not have a corporate office that you could one day move into. Also, it takes YEARS for some people to move to that level.

Entry-level positions give you that extra boost to one day move up in the company. If not in that company, you will at least have something to put on your resume.

hehe, thats me right now. i seriously can't WAIT to start work next week. i've been done for 3 weeks and i'm ready to start. my days are spent watching re-runs of dawson's creeks and spending waaaaay too much time on GC, livejournal, and mugglenet while some people renovate my house.