Life After College Tips or suggestions

[annice22]

Hi Alumni

I was wondering if you have any life after college tips that you would like to share.

I do not graduate until december but I have received this tip from friends:

If you have any student loans consolidate them for easy payment.

[winneythepooh7]

OK my advice for all new college grads is this:

Just because you are a college grad does not mean you know everything. You will have to start at the bottom in entry level positions and work your way up.


The reason I say this is because looking back to when I was 21 and recently graduated, I thought I knew it all. You don't know how many people we interview in my agency who act the same way, and apply for positions they are not at all qualified for. While education and book knowledge counts for a lot, the majority of what you will really learn in the work force is through hands on experience, and in many cases, graduate education and internships.

Also I wish I focused more on getting experience in my field while I was in undergrad (even if unpaid) instead of doing waitressing jobs and working at the movies.

Good luck to all recent college grads!!!!

[KillarneyRose]

When you find a job, make sure you establish a realistic budget and stick to it. Your credit card IS NOT your friend!

Save loose change.

[DolphinChicaDDD]

Originally posted by KillarneyRose
Your credit card IS NOT your friend!

No, but that $138 Coach bag that I HAD to have that is on my credit card is!!

[KillarneyRose]

Originally posted by DolphinChicaDDD
No, but that $138 Coach bag that I HAD to have that is on my credit card is!!

Then we should amend my initial quote to say "Your credit cards are not your friends unless you find a handbag you really, really want."

Definitely much better, dontcha think?

[sororitygirl2]

Agreed. Credit cards are satan.

My parents paid EVERYTHING while I was in school - including whatever credit card debt I racked up. Bless their souls, they thought they were helping. But when I hit the real world, I didn't really have a concept of money. Now I am paying - hard core.

But you can splurge once in awhile (I do it on jeans... oh, and everything else, but I am working on it).

Also...

Don't think you have to be boring and old. Still go out and have fun with friends, stay up late sometimes even if it will make it hard the next day at work. And don't make any apologies or feel guilty. You are young and should be enjoying life! People shouldn't look down or respect you less for that!

Don't take things too seriously. Sure, a career is important, but you can always make changes. Go back to school if you want, or find a different job if you hate yours.

On another note, while you should be young and have fun, don't stay in your college town too long. It will get weird and you will begin to hate the kids who are still living off mommy and daddy and getting wasted every night.

Final, quick notes:
- Keep in touch with friends you want to keep
- Ditch those you don't want
- Spend time with your parents, you will appreciate them more than ever
- Join organizations - alumni, non-profit, political, whatever - it will keep you sane to still be involved in things
- Work out and eat right, because your metabolism is going to slow down

[winneythepooh7]

Such wise alums we have on here I also suggest joining an alum association for your GLO or starting one if it doesn't exist in your area. I did that and I am having so much fun, have made some terrific friends in a city where I didn't know too many people and it has kept ties to my past and is creating a fun future.

Another "suggestion" is don't feel pressure to "be" in a certain place in your career, life, etc. by a certain age. Take life as it comes. I know so many people like this (and I admit, I am guilty sometimes too) and life is just so much funner when you don't have a timeline. Goals are great, but don't be like "ohmigod, I am gonna be 30 in 2 years and I am not married". Besides most people who have what you want will be envious of YOU that they can't be in your shoes You know how many of my married friends say they wish they could still be single and carefree like me?

Oh, this is a "general" post and not aimed at the threader in particular, as I don't know where you are in your life right now anyways

I agree with the credit card suggestion. It took me a long time to pay off my debts from college credit cards and I should have listened to my mom when she said "You don't need a credit card right now".

So yeah, that leads to my next advice which has already been mentioned but is priceless: listen to your parents. They are very wise. Also seek out a mentor--someone you look up to and admire, especially if they are in your field. They are so valuable in helping you in your journey. Happy mid-week everyone

[mmcat]

find out what you really enjoy doing and keep an eye on it as your career progresses. if you are passionate about something, it makes getting up each day a lot easier.
make a chore list and keep to it.
pay bills on time.

[Lil' Hannah]

Originally posted by KillarneyRose
When you find a job, make sure you establish a realistic budget and stick to it.

Include some savings in this budget. Not only for the future (house, car, etc.), but also for when little emergencies pop up.

[ADPiShannan]

Originally posted by sororitygirl2
Agreed. Credit cards are satan.

My parents paid EVERYTHING while I was in school - including whatever credit card debt I racked up. Bless their souls, they thought they were helping. But when I hit the real world, I didn't really have a concept of money. Now I am paying - hard core.

Man Im with you. My parents never let me work or anything. They paid for everything while I was in college, even the credit card I had was in their name.

Once I got out and graduated then got married man I had to do a relaity check. At first I spent then the bills came and I was like wtf why is everything so damn expensive. Then I realized how great it was when they paid lol. I too have a nice credit card that I racked up that I pay out the butt in interest, but thank goodness for the hubby cause I wouldnt have learned to budget and save. I didnt know anything about saving before we got married, but once we compbine our stuff I had to learn and fast lol. He isnt a spender like me. I still get to get stuff when were out, I turn on my charm lol or beg, but def nowhere near as much as I did when we first graduated.

Be prepared if you didnt live on your own before or if your parents paid for things, that bills can add up and FAST. Electric, Gas, Phone, Satallite, Water, Groceries, Insurance, hubbys school loan payments, rent or morgage, man it all adds up fast every month. I know I wish I won some thing that paid all my bills for a year, I could really save if I didnt have to pay bills lol...

I agree dont lose touch with friends. It gets sooo hard. My maid of honor and hubby best man are our 2 best friends, but we have only seen them like 4 times this year so far. We used to live with the best man and my maid of honor lived down the street so I miss seeing them everyday and talking to them. Sometimes we go a month without talking. Even if they dont email or call, call or email them just to say hi. It gets crazy when you are out there working full time.

Save.......
Youll regret it later if you dont. We all know we wanted nice things when we got out, new car, new furniture, new stuff, but dont go splurge too much. You know youll want to save to buy a house or save for something big later, dont spend all you have right away or youll regret it and wish you had that money back later.

[ZTAngel]

Don't get rid of your credit cards all together. You'll need them to build up credit. Do not put anymore on your credit than you can afford to pay off at the end of the month. Those finance charges will come back to bite you. I know of people who are paying over $300 a year in finance charges. You could use that money to buy yourself a new Burberry bag.

Make sure to BALANCE YOUR CHECKBOOK after every deposit/withdrawal. You will always know exactly how much you have and it will decrease the chances of bouncing a check.

If your company has a 401K, put a little bit of money aside from every paycheck to put in it. You'll thank yourself when you're 65.

Talk to your parents. They're smart people and have good advice.

Don't put away the party hat. While you may not be able to get wasted on a Wednesday night and come stumbling home at 3am, the weekends are your chance to have fun.

Never discuss taboo topics at work such as religion or politics. You will most likely engage in conversation with someone who is on the opposite end of the spectrum from you. These conversations tend to get heated and can make for awkward situations.

Before you go out on a Friday night after a long day at work (and waking up at 7am), make sure to take a 2 hour nap. It will refresh you so that you can make it until 2am since you're use to going to bed early. That way, you won't fall asleep on a bar stool....not that I've ever done something like that.

[winneythepooh7]

Oh yeah, please keep your personal life out of your professional life. Too many people at my agency bring all their problems to work and don't do what they are there to do: work. Many people get passed over for promotions because of this kind of thing.

I've also learned a trick to keep me out later on the weekends since I am used to getting up by 6 every day~~drink lotsa Red Bull when you are out, it will give you a boost

[NutBrnHair]

The best decision I ever made regarding credit cards was getting an American Express card. That way, I HAD to pay it off each month.

Another random thought: Don't tell people how much money you make. I never shared my salary with friends or co-workers.

In America you only NEED two charge cards.

The first a REAL, no debit/check, Visa/Mastercard. And pay it off each month.

A Sears Charge Card. You can buy everything from tires to undergarments. And pay if off each month.

You don't NEED anything more than that. Cut up all those other lil charge cards from Express. Carrying all of those extra balances is STUPID.