Do you remember what it was like when you graduated from college or high school, full of excitement for having that milestone behind you but a bit scared and confused as you realized that you were not as prepared as you could have been for ‘real life’? Whether you’ve been out of school for a year, a decade, or what seems like a lifetime, you’ve discovered little ‘tricks’ and insightful tidbits that you wish you had known when you were stepping off that graduation stage.
Now is the time and this is the place for you to pass on that valuable knowledge so you can help today’s grads sidestep the School of Hard Knocks!
Click on Comments at the end of this post to see what wisdom others have posted and to post your own 'golden nugget' for the Class of 2008.
Try to keep your advice short and sweet—just enough detail so our young readers can grab the tips they need and run with them. Any topic is fair game: job hunting, on-the-job performance, budgeting, choosing a career path, dealing with roommates, handling relationships, cooking for one, moving far from family, handling new household responsibilities, you name it…someone needs your insights!
#1 My advise would be to get exposed to as much as possible within the company. Don't think any job is beneath you. Don't just be willing to do your "job description." Ask questions. Do it all. You never know if some day you find yourself owning your own business, wearing all the hats, and all that experience now comes into play.
#2 No matter how much you make, save for retirement. Don't think you're too young and have plenty of time before retirement. It will be here before you know it and relying solely on social security is a mistake. Always max out IRA and/or 401(k) contributions. Never take the money out unless you are rolling it over. You'll never have the company retirement plan, nor medical benefits, your grandparents had and my own father had. How you spend your retirement is up to you starting now.
#3 Finally, enjoy what you do. Look forward to going to your job every day and you will be successful at it.
Posted by: Janice Hrbaty | August 26, 2008 at 10:44 AM
Don't blow all your money the instant you make it. Save some, and spend some. Definitely keep in touch with relationships, God, friends, family. Parties you have to be careful on, make sure everyone that is in the apartment and whoever is invited, knows the rules. Have a curfew maybe, just for kicks. And always have a smile on when you go to work! :)
Posted by: Phillip Nelson | July 17, 2008 at 08:24 PM
Relationships are important:
1. Stay/find good honest friends
2. Keep your relationship open with your parents
3. Find/stay with a good church
At the very least, each of these relationships will be opportunities to grow and even find your career, job and niche in life.
Posted by: Shawn Mathis | July 14, 2008 at 12:29 PM
The advice I would give to graduates who are going to be living on their own for the first time is to really think through your living arrangements if you are going to have a roommate.
*Don't put all rent and utilities in your own name only, just in case your friends are not as fastidious about paying their bills as you are. This will protect you from being stuck with paying off the bills of others to protect your own credit.
*Determine how costs are going to be split--for instance groceries, are you going to purchase your own, buy as a group, or have some things (like spices and pantry items) that are for general use.
*Establish guidelines for guests, especially those who may be overnight guests. In line with this, talk about who, outside of the roommates, can have a key to the apartment. You may also want to discuss guidelines for entertaining and having parties.
*The last thing I would recommend coming to terms with is cleaning. It can become difficult if you are a tidy person sharing living space with a messy person; or if you only clean your bathroom once a quarter, but your roommate wants it kept up daily. These types of conflicts can be detrimental to a positive living situation.
I do know that it is very exciting thinking about moving into your very first apartment and living on your own, but spending a little time will save you from coming home to what you believe is an empty apartment only to find your roommate's boyfriend, in his boxers, on your couch, using your phone to call his parents...long distance, while watching a pay-per-view movie that you have to pay for and eating all of your Fritos.
Posted by: Lori | July 14, 2008 at 11:10 AM
As much as you may want to have the perfect job right out of the shoot, it may not always be possible, particularly in a tight job market. My advice would be to take a position in the general field you think you want to have a career in, then keep your nose to the grindstone, work as hard as you can and get noticed for your strong work ethic and integrity. You will build a reputation as someone any good business person would want on their team. Good luck!
Posted by: Mary G. Elliott | July 12, 2008 at 07:39 PM
• Do what you LOVE. Try out different things to find one that makes you hate to go to sleep at night and love to wake up in the morning. Find one that you would still want to do even if you won a huge lottery. Find one that makes you giddy when you talk about it. I have (www.EvenYouCanPlay.com).
• Offer your help to everyone else. Find out what they're needing right now. Try to find a reason to connect the people you know together. It will always come back to you in spades.
• Talk to people in every random place you find yourself. Strike up conversations in the grocery line, in the bookstore, on the shuttle to the airport, etc. Mention that you're looking to get into a particular industry, that you're starting a new business, that you need a contact at the local TV station, whatever. You never know where you'll meet someone who might have something for you. I once met a new investor for my company in an elevator.
• Finally, say "I love you" to someone every day. It'll make them glow (and you, too).
Posted by: Jan Altman | July 10, 2008 at 11:02 AM
The Best wisdom I can offer a graduate is to pick a career direction for now, even if you are not 100% set yet, but pick something you like and enjoy. Then find the best companies in the industry you are interested in and learn everything you can about them.
Then begin making some phone calls to the company department heads, not HR. You want to offer to work for the company for two weeks or more for free. And when you are there you want to go the extra mile to become the best employee they have ever seen. Stay late and learn all you can, so you can become an asset they can't do without.
If after that time they don't think you are a valuable asset then leave gracefully, but if you have become someone of great value to them then ask if they will hire you on full time. This process will get you in the door faster than more qualified employees who never get to express their abilities. It is a sacrifice of income at first but the rewards are extremely high.
This may not always work out with the first company you pick, but if you keep trying I guarantee you can get a better job, faster than any resume on the market. Go for it...
Posted by: Matthew D. Miglin | July 10, 2008 at 10:35 AM
My advice would be: don't think you have all the time in the world to plan and save for the future. DO IT NOW!
Take the time to write down your goals and determine what it will take to get there. If you don't, the future will sneak up on you and you'll be caught unaware. If I had to do it all over again, I'd do it all over again - differently!
Posted by: Deb | July 09, 2008 at 11:37 PM