To Move Home or Not to, That is The Question!

The college years are full of discovery, and new found freedom. Your mind is open, your heart is open and your wallet is hemorrhaging! The price for admission to a college life is quickly creeping towards being an option only available to a privileged few. So here you are, one of the privileged few. You may not feel so privileged when you've got the weight of an entire college degree's worth of debt on your shoulders. Here you are standing at the edge of the world, your business degree from Saint Leo University in hand, and it's time for you to start banging on some doors to make it all worth while. But without the luxury of time and money, someone could come knocking on your door with their hand out, expecting payback for all those college years. So to avoid that, you have to make some tough decisions.

Even the idea of moving home after college can bring just about as much dread as a crippling tuition bill. But you're a grown up now, and it's time to make grown-up decisions. You need to take a good hard look at your financial situation. There are a few poignant questions that need to be addressed; Are you currently employed, and if so, do you make enough to pay to live, pay off debt,  and have the time to seek out a career in the field you graduated in? Sounds impossible doesn't it. Of course it isn't, you just have to be prepared to make some tough choices.

Moving Home - It's time for a heart-to-heart with Mom and Dad. Moving home is the ultimate way to save money. Save up to buy a house and save up for an emergency fund so when you do eventually move out that way you'll have a nest egg to support you in case you fall on hard times. Another great thing about moving home is that you don't feel like you're in a pressure cooker, you have the luxury of time so you can find your dream job!

Some may argue that moving home is more stressful than living out on your own because of tensions or family issues. This is entirely possible, but perhaps you can use this as a time to heal old wounds, and work on your relationship with them. If the past is irreparable, than perhaps it isn't the best idea, and you need to seek out alternative, and affordable living arrangements. But if this is an option for you, it could be a win-win situation for all involved; Your parents get to put off their empty-nest syndrome a little longer, and you get to save a boatload of cash so you can pay down your debt, and start building a better life for yourself.

Post-College Life in China!

It is undeniable that university graduates are facing more obstacles than ever before. Whether it be economic challenges, a lack of positions in a particular field, or being hampered by geographical positioning, a college degree  in the United States, is no longer a ticket to success. It is estimated that a 40.4% of the American population is in possession of an associates or bachelors degree which translates into nearly 125 million people walking around with experience in higher learning. Despite

such obstacles, even during the recession, it was estimated that close to 95% of college graduates in the United States were employed. This of course doesn't specify the type of jobs those college grads are getting, of course. And who knows how many grads are actually getting jobs in their field, the statistics are fuzzy.

Imagine for a moment, if you can, living in a country where the number of graduates increases more than a million every year! So not only are you competing with an unimaginable number of fellow graduates, but your job prospects as a graduate are worse than if you were a rural worker looking for work on any number of major construction projects being commissioned in Shanghai, Beijing or Guangzhou.

Unlike college in the USA, where the government has no say in what classes or degree you pursue, in China, the situation is far more sinister. Driven by the need for economic prosperity and unnerved by economic strife in America, Chinese universities are geared to becoming the worlds top research facilities, top economic think tanks, top everything. So what's wrong with being the best? Nothing, provided it's not at the expense of student minds, and provided said students have realistic prospects at the end of their invested time and money. Students have little choice in what they can study, unless it benefits the party and it contributes to China's economic future. Little value is placed in the arts, literature, history, culture.

Another issue domestic university graduates face in China, is an influx of Chinese students graduating overseas, and returning to the mainland with internationally recognized degrees from American and European ivy league institutions, taking up highly sought-after positions.

College graduates all over the world are facing more and more challenges, domestic and international. Thankfully, it doesn't seem to discourage students from pursuing their dreams, because despite statistics, or grim reports, there is still room in the world for college grads to pursue their dreams. 

The Eternal Student

Nothing tastes as good as freedom. Freedom from stacks of reading, free from the all night coffee binges just to stay awake to finish a research paper you started the night before it was due; freedom to get out there in the world and make a name for yourself. You just dedicated the last seventeen years of your life (including secondary school) to education, to achieve your dream, and after a long, painstaking search for the perfect fit, sifting through posting after posting of teaching jobs, you've finally found your dream job, at a fantastic school, and you get to work with an exceptional faculty of

great minds. Many college graduates, especially those who don't move on to grad school, don't appreciate the importance of keeping their credentials fresh and current. No matter what field you enter into, new thoughts, new theories and new research will continuously reshape the future of your profession, and if you're not keeping track of what's new and hot in your field, you risk the possibility of making yourself redundant, or in this case, as a teacher, you'll eventually fall out of touch with generational changes occurring with your students, and miss out on the opportunity to make a real difference.

Not only is it important to keep educating yourself to keep your skills sharp, but it's also a great way to stimulate your brain! Education doesn't necessarily have to be structured. Try taking an online class with Penn Foster College. You can create your own schedule, and get educated from the comfort of your own home. Furthering your education doesn't necessarily mean it has to be in a classroom or online setting, try taking a seminar, or signing up for a workshop.

These are great ways to learn in an open environment, where you can engage your peers in helpful discussions about what's new in the field. Perhaps you've been struggling with a particular component of the job, why not share your thoughts and concerns with other professionals who maybe having a similar experience?

Another fabulous option, and one of my favourite options is gaining experience abroad. This could manifest itself as a unique volunteer project, or perhaps doing a quick one year contract working in another country. Whether you volunteer or work, this sort of international experience will automatically distinguish you from your peers. We tend to think that the college education we invested in is in some way to superior, and this is often not true. It's important to gain an understanding how other countries orchestrate a particular field, and to recognized and appreciate the differences. Who knows, you just might learn something that will change the way you think for the rest of your life.

Mind the Gap

 

Diploma in hand, satin gown gleaming, a bright grin from ear-to-ear, you feel like you've just conquered a four year ascent to the top of Everest. College graduation is a distinguished privilege and great accomplishment. But after the dust settles, there you are, your accomplishment has the potential to become your burden. Emotionally and financially. Many college students zip straight from cozy the halls of their high school to the slightly less insulated walls of a dorm room. Life on campus and the pursuit of higher learning is meant to blast open the young mind, fine tune the intellect and promote personal growth. For some of you, however, college may have been one big blur, an endless slew of keggers, sorority gatherings, and wild weekenders. And here you stand on stage, degree in hand, with a monumental hangover and a mountain of debt. 

After everything is said and done, there are a number of essential decisions that a college graduate is faced with. What now? How do I find a job? Where am I going to live? How am I going to pay all this debt off? What is my college degree worth? It can be overwhelming. So much so, that standing in one place seems like the best solution. Millions of college graduates, fraught with debt, move home after they've completed their degree, get a job flipping burgers, and admit defeat. There is a certain feeling of loss when you walk out those doors and into the world. A loss of community, and a loss of security. It's time to fly the coop and stand on your own two feet. You're a college graduate now. The world is your oyster. This should be an exciting time in your young life. A myriad of options lay at your feet, and it's up to you to choose one that best suits your needs and wants. 

In the UK, and Australia, university graduates often take a gap year before they head out into the real world. Your education doesn't end at the college gates. As you step out into the world, the real educational process begins. A gap year, or partial year abroad gives a college graduate the opportunity to make use of newly acquired skills, explore theories and ideas they've learned and help them to gain an awareness. As college students, we often get wrapped up in the drama of our own campus existence. The buzz of activity on campus shapes decisions we make, and perspectives we take on every day events. Travelling to another country, and experiencing cultures different than our own, offers a unique educational experience that college can't offer. If you're concerned about the financial burden a trip abroad can cause, apply for a working holiday visa and earn while you learn! Australia and the United Kingdom have fantastic working holiday programs, and their convenient geographical locales allow fabulous travel opportunities. 

If you're after something more adventurous, why not teach english in China, help build a schoolhouse in Uganda or conduct research on lions in Zambia? These may not all be paid gigs, but if you're careful with your pennies, can be an affordable way to experience new cultures, foods and belief systems. College is not an ending, but rather, the beginning of the rest of your life. Make every moment count. 

Body Talking - The Nonverbal Message

There are so many things to remember when you are preparing for an interview at your dream job. Am I wearing the right outfit? Is my resume on the right kind of paper? Do I sound right for the position on my resume. You've done your homework and researched the company or organization thoroughly, you have a set of questions in your head that you are prepared to ask and you are ready for just about any question they throw at you. You've engineered your image perfectly, however, you haven't quite learned to control that rustling leg, or nose twitch or learned how to control that scowl on your face that appears when you're deep in concentration. You didn't study tirelessly and ace all your exams to become a police officer, only to blow the interview because you look like you're going to punch someone out, when all you're thinking is, "God, I hope I get this job!" Here's a list of major body language offenders:

The Lint Picker!

You may be the closet cat lady, but your potential new boss does not need to know that! Make sure you've delinted yourself before you leave the house, and tuck a travel size lint roller into your handbag or messenger bag for that last minute polishing. Picking lint shows that not only are not organized to get your outfit together, but don't have an affinity for minute detailing.

The Face Toucher!

What if your new boss is a germ-a-phobe? Putting your hand anywhere near your face is a big no-no! You don't want the words swine-flu, or Ebola virus on a ticker-taper through your interviewers head! Keep your hands away from your face, preferably in your lap. If you have to sneeze, have a tissue on hand, and if you're really slick, a tiny bottle of hand sanitizer.

The Arm Crosser!

Save this little number for your first big boardroom deal, or when you take down your first suspect! This demonstrates you are closed off and unapproachable. No matter what position you are applying for, you want to demonstrate to your prospective employer that you are a cooperative, open, and approachable individual. You want to show that you are a pleasure to work with, not a grump!



Living on the Edge!

No one wants to appear the eager beaver, so sitting so far on your seat you could pull a place plant right onto the desk is probably not the best idea! This also shows that you're feeling rather apprehensive. This sort of body positioning has the potential to make the interviewer uncomfortable. Sit far back in your seat, back straight with shoulders back and down. Exude confidence, but not arrogance.

The Finger Tapper!

This often manifests itself in three ways. Boredom, impatience and nervousness. We don't want to demonstrate any of that in an interview setting. Not only is the actual tapping sound beyond annoying, but the act itself demonstrates outright disrespect, whether you know you're doing it or not. Try to keep your hands in your lap, think calm thoughts, like how you're going for a glass of much-deserved wine after you've just nailed this interview. Give yourself a prop like  binder or folder to keep your hands busy.

What Your Councellors Don't Tell You!

It's graduation day, and you're elated that the three or four years you've invested, slaving away at the books, making deadlines, writing what seemed the endless amounts of research papers, and it's finally all paid off. With degree in hand, you are off to snag yourself a job at the New York Times, Chicago Tribune, or any other prominent publication you've spent your young life striving to be a part of. But your celebration may be short lived, as you may not realize the face of journalism and the context in which it functions, have since gone the way of the "Do-Do".  You may need more skills, more contacts, things you may not have been able to attain in school. Do you remember way back, when you were first researching the best journalism schools? It took a significant amount of time to figure out what schools to apply to, what admission requirements you need to fulfill and organize the funds you were going to need to make this dream happen, right It should come as no surprise that you will have to put in as much, if not more, effort into finding the right job for you! While you may tick all the academic boxes needed to be the ideal job candidate, it's essential to attain the life skills that you may not have picked up while being so sheltered in a university setting. Don't despair, just be prepared! Here are some pointers to put you on the road to success:

Become an expert at Social Networking! Become an active participant in sites like LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter. Being "active" means posting regularly, contacting other professionals in the field you are interested in, and keeping your profile as up-to-date as possible.  Remember, keep-it-clean! Create profiles specifically for your job hunting needs, and don't include any information about your personal life, including any photos that may give employers the wrong idea.

Interviewing skills and resume enhancement. There are several resume writing programs offered through your university, or community center. However, one of the best ways to determining what are some hot buttons needed on your resume to not only make you stand out from the rest of the candidates, but, to get you hired! Approach a professional in your field and ask them what they would look for if they were hiring (even if they don't have any openings). Showing initiative and enthusiasm goes a loooong way! Who knows, you might land yourself an interview! Before you go for an interview, ensure you've researched whatever it is you will be doing or selling. You want to appear not only knowledgeable, but that you're actually personally invested in the company of whom you wish to work for.

  
Pump some life into your resume. You remember how many students you graduated with, right? Well just remember, thousands of students around the country are also graduating and the market is about to be flooded with young, fresh, eager job candidates. Your resume is going to need an edge. Volunteer work is an excellent way to show an prospective employer
dedication, commitment, and a desire to be a part of something greater then yourself. Other skills like up-to-date, not only make you an asset to the work environment, but demonstrate integrity, and leadership abilities in times of crisis. Grades won't guarantee you a job these days. Life skills in combination with an exceptional transcript are necessary for the top jobs. Just remember the competition is hot on your heels.

Wardrobe. Unfortunately, we live in a world driven by appearance. This at times, may feel like your credentials play second fiddle to a nice suit, but employers, more often than not, will judge a book by its cover. A polished first impression is absolutely everything. It's up to you to research appropriate attire for the nature of the work you'll be performing. If you're interviewing for a position in a corporate setting, think conservative, think muted colours, soft pastels, pressed, clean-cut, and accessorized appropriately. Tailor your look to the job accordingly and to how you would like to be perceived. Wear little or no perfume or cologne. Don't smoke right before your interview, or wear heavy perfumes or colognes. The only thing that should be left lingering in the air, is why they didn't hire you sooner!