Post-College Survival
Don’t worry: life doesn’t go completely downhill after you leave college. However, the first few years after you graduate can be pretty tough. To help alleviate the burden, scour the resources in this survival guide; you’ll learn how to get a job, avoid getting a job, search for an apartment and make new friends. We’ve even got financial tips and (spoiler alert!) advice about how soon you need to start saving for retirement. The party is just getting started.
Expand All Guide SectionsFinding a Job After College
Depending on how your luck turns out, a job might fall in your lap, or be harder to secure than a spot in the senior elective on German pilsners. Below, you’ll find numerous resources to help you secure a position that you’ll like almost as much as a class about beer. You’ll also learn about alternatives to conventional jobs as well as volunteer opportunities.
Dulcinea's Insight
- Visit the findingDulcinea Entering the Workforce Guide for more advice on snagging your first job, including résumé, cover letter and interview tips, plus links to job search engines and publications with further advice.
- Some jobs require an advanced degree. If the one you want necessitates more school, visit the “Graduate School” section of this guide.
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To determine the type of job you’d like …
The Princeton Review
offers a 24-question quiz that helps you compare disparate careers. Would you rather be a wildlife expert or a public relations professional? A tax lawyer or a newspaper editor? You’ll also be asked some questions about workplace dynamics and communication strategies.
For general resources and tips …
BellaOnline
may be targeted at women, but this article gives every college grad and twenty-something some inventive tips. Learn about getting in touch with local chambers of commerce, bookmarking online versions of local newspapers, and tapping into the college alumni association to get contacts around the country—and the world.
CampusCareerCenter.com
is another valuable site for college students and recent grads planning for the big leap to gainful employment. Check out their résumé and cover letter tips, as well as job postings from interesting prospective employers, such as the National Park Service. It’s also worth perusing “Intern Zone” and “Diversity Center” in the left sidebar.
For entry-level jobs …
One Day, One Job
posts information about entry-level jobs that you might not find on a regular job search engine. Each day, the site covers one job and/or company, and gives you advice on how to start your application process.
For unique jobs …
Employment Spot’s
article, “Adventure Jobs,” provides links to some great adventure job and travel sites in various categories. Look for pointers on making a leap to a new location and a new job field, and find a link to what might seem the most traditional choice of all: an internship at the White House. Check out “The Best of the Rest” section at the bottom of the page for some of the sites that we’ll be mentioning below, plus a few more.
Cool Works
has been around for years, and boasts some of the most exotic-sounding job and internship opportunities in the country. You could work for a resort on a lake in Alaska, at a camp for kids in Colorado or on a cruise ship. This site should suit anyone who wants to add a little color and life to their résumé, regardless of his or her age.
Backdoorjobs.com
is similar to Cool Works, but it’s a little newer. The site boasts some interesting categories like “Mind, Body & Soul Quests: Unusual Experiences,” where you can participate in work-study, volunteer or internship positions at religious and spiritual centers in various locations around the world. Be sure to check out the site’s “Jobs in the Great Outdoors” section as well.
For volunteer and philanthropic opportunities …
Responsible Travel
allows you to follow your philanthropic dreams. Find volunteer opportunities studying endangered wildlife, building homes or delivering aid to tsunami victims.
Idealist’s
motto is “Action Without Borders,” and this site is probably the premier online destination for socially conscious individuals: not only can you browse adventurous jobs and volunteer opportunities, but you can also search thousands of jobs and internships in the nonprofit sector by geographical location or industry.
Renting Your First Apartment
You’re probably determined to have the most fantastic first apartment ever, but the real estate market may have other plans in mind. Use the sites below to track down that elusive perfect pad, and remember: whatever you find will be better than that triple you endured freshman year.
Dulcinea's Insight
- Comprehensive resources for finding and setting up your new apartment abound in the findingDulcinea Apartment Hunting Web Guide. If you’re moving to New York City, go directly to the findingDulcinea Apartment Hunting in New York Web Guide.
- It is possible to find a place you’ll like, but be prepared to be flexible. For example, The New York Times recently published a feature on how hard it is to find an apartment in New York City and advises hunters that they may need to lower their expectations.
- For general resources on moving, head to the findingDulcinea Moving Web Guide.
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To choose a city …
FindYourSpot.com
offers a quiz that will help you choose a city or town that suits your needs.
For general resources …
MyFirstApartment.com
is a blog and resource hub devoted to helping you find, and survive, your first apartment. The lowdown covers all the basics of understanding leases, avoiding common mistakes and dealing with roommates. The blog provides daily advice.
Financial Planning After College
Once upon a time, expensive textbooks were the bane of your existence. Although graduating college ensures that you’ll never again pay $80 for a history of U.S. economics, you’ll have plenty of other expenses to keep you occupied. Just in case you never actually did the reading in that textbook, we’ve collected some sites that can get you off on the right financial foot.
Dulcinea's Insight
- Visit the findingDulcinea Personal Finance Web Guide and Investing Web Guide for essential links on how to manage your money for the short and long term.
- The New York Times warns that in this difficult period for the economy, a college degree does not guarantee financial success. You might not be able to solve the American fiscal crisis, but you can prepare by arming yourself with knowledge.
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For dealing with student loans …
Young Money
explains how to recognize a good deal on student loan consolidations, and how to identify the bad offers so you don’t get yourself in trouble.
To make prudent choices …
MSN’s
article, “A survival guide for college grads,” gives the lowdown on how to allocate your money after you graduate. In other words: yes, you do need to buy a new suit, but no, you don’t need a PlayStation 3.
MoneyAnswers.com
, a blog by financial journalist Jordan E. Goodman, has a section devoted to “Smart Money Strategies: 20s and 30s.” The tips are most useful for those already drawing a steady paycheck as they focus on “establishing your financial foundation.” Get comprehensive answers to questions about taxes, investing, owning vs. renting and how to make the most of what your company offers you.
Graduate School, Fellowships and Scholarships
Some people can’t wait to graduate so they’ll never have to write another paper. Others made their laptop a close friend and had to be dragged from their last class with tears in their eyes. If you fall into the latter category, there’s a good chance that graduate school is for you. Whether you want to be a doctor, lawyer or specialist in the evolution of Etruscan art, find out how to navigate the system with the picks below.
Dulcinea's Insight
- Some people go to graduate school while also holding down a job. One way to do this is to get a degree online. For more information about online courses, visit the findingDulcinea Education Web Guide.
- Even if you love school, or think you have an idea about what you want to do, taking a year off between your undergraduate and graduate education can enrich both you and your career. If you’re not convinced, read a Web feature that insists, “Life is what happens when you take time off before graduate school” from the University of California, Berkeley newsletter.
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For fellowships and scholarships …
College Scholarships, Graduate Fellowships & Postdoctoral Awards
doesn’t offer the best layout or design, but if you scroll down (instead of clicking one of the numerous Google ads at the top of the page), you’ll find an abundance of scholarships in a variety of fields and disciplines.
The Fulbright Program for U.S. Students
allows fellows to pursue a variety of interests, including teaching English in China or studying women’s health in Eastern Europe. There are many fellowships available, and you don’t have to be a recent college graduate to apply.
For applying to graduate school …
The Princeton Review
provides a step-by-step application timeline for grad school applicants. Take a free GRE practice test, research schools or learn about applying online. You can also subscribe to the Princeton Review’s Grad School Newsletter.
To learn about business school …
BusinessWeek’s
Business Schools page is filled with articles for students, applicants and graduates. You’ll also find Business School Rankings and Profiles.
To apply to law or medical school …
The Law School Admission Council
has a page that covers everything you need to know about applying to law school. Look for information about the LSAT, financing law school and an overview of what to expect at each step of the process.
The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC)
has a page of resources for medical school applicants. Learn about the admissions process and the MCAT as well as how to secure financing for medical school.
Your Social Life After College
Adjusting to college took a little work. But once you realized that your roommate could help you get dates, the 15 people who used your bathroom were also great friends and that nothing beats dining hall chicken fingers, you were cruising. Unfortunately, adjusting to life after college is a bit of a trickier process. In the sites below, find advice on how to jump-start your new social life.
Dulcinea's Insight
- You swore you’d never do it but actually, online dating is a great way to meet new people in a casual, safe setting. Test the waters with the findingDulcinea Dating Web Guide.
- Once you get a date, or some friends, you’ll want to places to go with him/her/them. For ideas, turn to the findingDulcinea Nightlife Web Guide.
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To make new friends …
Meetup
is probably the most comprehensive activity resource on the Web. Right now, there are thousands of new and old groups making plans to “meet up” in their city or town. There are political groups, amateur sports leagues, writing groups, book clubs and hundreds more activities taking place on Meetup, so it can be a goldmine if you’ve just moved to a new city.
Craigslist
is a familiar site for most people who need an apartment, a roommate, a sofa, a date or a million other things. It’s also an excellent way to find groups via the community section, personals ads and forums. Craigslist is established in about as many places as Meetup, but is more limited in the number of groups. Still, many of the organizations that find members through Craigslist have been going strong for years.
To find a partner for sporting activities …
Buddyup.com
is a perfect solution for sports and recreation enthusiasts. Not only does the site make it easy to find partners for running, tennis and other activities, it matches people by skill level and “philosophy.” Users flesh out their profiles with specific information about their history in the sport, so you can “try before you buy,” so to speak.
To find online communities …
Yuku
helps you locate online communities that share your interests. Search for topics by tag and find forums around the Internet that are discussing them. Forums can be a great way to connect and bond with people, whether it’s over a band, a favorite sports team, a health issue or politics.
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