Advice to Seniors/Recent Grads

tunatartare · #1 08-16-2006, 01:05 PM

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.

adpiucf · #2 08-16-2006, 01:24 PM

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!

Still BLUTANG · #3 08-16-2006, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by adpiucf

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.

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

Dionysus · #4 08-16-2006, 02:06 PM

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.

Scandia · #5 08-16-2006, 06:56 PM

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.

KSUViolet06 · #6 08-18-2006, 02:56 AM

I'm graduating in December, so here's some advice:

*Get a professional sounding e-mail address. If your school has student e-mail accounts, use that. If not, something like firstnamelastname@aol.com is fine. You don't want to apply for jobs with an e-mail account like (for example) seXymoMMaADPi@hotmal.com!

AlphaFrog · #7 08-18-2006, 07:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JocelynC

I'm graduating in December, so here's some advice:

*Get a professional sounding e-mail address. If your school has student e-mail accounts, use that. If not, something like firstnamelastname@aol.com is fine. You don't want to apply for jobs with an e-mail account like (for example) seXymoMMaADPi@hotmal.com!

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!

tunatartare · #8 08-18-2006, 09:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JocelynC

I'm graduating in December, so here's some advice:

*Get a professional sounding e-mail address. If your school has student e-mail accounts, use that. If not, something like firstnamelastname@aol.com is fine. You don't want to apply for jobs with an e-mail account like (for example) seXymoMMaADPi@hotmal.com!

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.

tunatartare · #9 08-21-2006, 11:31 AM

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

AlphaFrog · #10 08-21-2006, 11:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KLPDaisy

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.

adpiucf · #11 08-21-2006, 12:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KLPDaisy

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

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."

tunatartare · #12 08-21-2006, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by adpiucf

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.

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).

KSUViolet06 · #13 08-21-2006, 01:31 PM

*EVERY sorority item you own does not need to be displayed in your office/cubicle.

*Invest in some resonably mature looking office supplies. You look realy silly working in a top 100 law firm or something, writing on pink scented paper with "princess" at the top with fethered "princess" pink scented pens!

tunatartare · #14 08-21-2006, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JocelynC

*Invest in some resonably mature looking office supplies. You look realy silly working in a top 100 law firm or something, writing on pink scented paper with "princess" at the top with fethered "princess" pink scented pens!

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

AUDeltaGam · #15 08-21-2006, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JocelynC

*Invest in some resonably mature looking office supplies. You look realy silly working in a top 100 law firm or something, writing on pink scented paper with "princess" at the top with fethered "princess" pink scented pens!

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