Life After College: Post-College Survival Techniques
Don’t worry: Life doesn’t go completely downhill after you leave college. But the first few years after you graduate can be pretty tough. To help alleviate the burden, scour the resources in this Life After College Web 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 in finding a job after college. You’ll also learn about alternatives to conventional jobs and volunteer opportunities.
Insights for Finding a Job After College
- Visit the findingDulcinea Entering the Workforce Web Guide for more advice on snagging your first job, including résumé, cover letter and interview tips, plus links to job search engines and publications.
- Some jobs require an advanced degree. If the one you want necessitates more school, see the “Applying to Graduate Schools and Finding Fellowships” section of this guide.
Top Sites for Finding a Job After College
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 tips on finding a job after college …
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
is a 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.
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 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.
Cool Works
has been around for years, and boasts some of the most exotic 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 age.
Backdoorjobs.com
boasts categories like “Mind, Body & Soul Quests,” 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.org
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 location or industry.
How to Find an 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 learn how to find an apartment, and remember: Whatever you find will be better than that triple you endured freshman year.
Insights for How to Find an Apartment
- 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. The New York Times 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.
Top Sites for How to Find an Apartment
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 for how to find an apartment …
My First Apartment
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. Use the sites below to get off on the right foot with tips on financial planning after college.
Insights for Financial Planning After College
- 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 today, 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.
Top Sites for Financial Planning After College
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 Money’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.
Applying to Graduate School and Finding Fellowships
Whether you want to be a doctor, lawyer or specialist in the evolution of Etruscan art, find out the ins and outs of applying to graduate school and finding fellowships with the sites below.
Insights for Applying to Graduate School and Finding Fellowships
- 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 Online College Courses and Degrees Web Guide.
- Taking a year off between your undergraduate and graduate education can enrich you and your career. If you’re not convinced, read “Life is what happens when you take time off before graduate school” from the University of California, Berkeley newsletter.
Top Sites for Applying to Graduate School and Finding Fellowships
For fellowships and scholarships …
College and Graduate School Scholarships, Grants and Fellowships for Students
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.
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 …
Peterson's
provides a planning timeline for grad school applicants. Get information on admission exams, financial aid, creating a short list, sending transcripts and test scores, and more.
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 …
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.
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.
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 social life after college.
Insights for Social Life After College
- 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.
Top Sites for Social Life After College
To make new friends …
Meetup
is probably the most comprehensive activity resource on the Web. There are thousands of new and old groups making plans to “meet up” in their city or town. Look for political groups, amateur sports leagues, writing groups, book clubs and hundreds more activities.
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.
© 2012 Dulcinea Media, Inc.
