On the drive back from Raleigh yesterday, I ate at Bojangles. I also talked on the phone with a friend who just graduated from a top university and is looking for a job. Though there are specific fields he is interested in — public transportation, marketing — he's open to almost anything, almost anywhere.
He's already avoiding the mistakes I made when I was applying for jobs a year ago, by getting specific. (I literally told friends and connections, "Well, I'd like to write, but really I'm just looking for anything." As if that wouldn't just overwhelm them.) He drove buses all through college, which puts him at a unique position to work in public transportation planning.
My friend has applied to dozens of jobs through corporate websites. He realizes that this has been fruitless, but he is at a loss for what else to do.
I encouraged him to pick a city, move there, and get connected, since he has some savings he can burn through for a few months.
And of course I told him Atlanta was the place to move. Cheap rent, lots of companies, and at least one really strong connection—me.
Was this good advice? Do you think it's better to hunker down in your parents' house and apply for jobs until you get something? Those of you who have gone through this, what would you tell my friend?
Image from thetastingbuds.com.
4 comments:
Three years after the fact, I still don't know the answer to post-college job searching. The plus of being able to crash at your parents', if you can, is the ability to save money on rent. It's amazing how quickly savings can dissipate if you don't have a job and you have an apartment. If you can stay at home, you can find an internship and can pursue an interest/passion without worrying about cashing in right away.
My sister moved to Chicago right after college. She didn't have a job; her roommate did have a job. My sister admits now that it was pretty depressing just sitting, and looking at classifieds, and calling around. That's hard enough wherever you are, but particularly if you're in a city sans family and out of the ivy gates of college.
If you're willing to get out of the country, you can find jobs overseas, and some that pay, especially if you're open to going to a less sexy destination. (South Korean schools pay fresh college graduates enough to live a comfortable upper middle-class life for a year with the ability to save enough to travel Asia and/or save money/pay off loans. I did this option and recommend it, though I realize it's not for everyone.
I do think for those considering graduate school, it's not a bad idea to take a break and save money. Makes you appreciate school more.
In short, it's a messy world. Good luck! Hope my message didn't make you twenty-somethings feel gloomy!
1. Jealous of the Bojangles trip.
2. I believe I know just the friend you are talking about, and it would be absolutely incredible for him to move here.
3. I think the advice is good, even if I wouldn't follow it myself. I think I'm too risk averse (and probably have too much fear of failure) to move somewhere new with nothing concrete lined up. That being said, once I got my job in Atlanta, I happily quit my job (of 2 weeks) in Raleigh, and moved here in the following 7 days. Sometimes spontenaity is really what works out best in the end.
Thanks for reading, Alex! I really admire people who live with their parents for a while, and it's very popular for our generation. I love my parents, but I never even entertained the idea. I guess because being part of a city is priority number one for me and my parents are firmly rooted in the suburbs.
Thanks for the comment, B. You always seemed focused on your career ever since college, and you seemed to know what you wanted to do. I think having that kind of goal makes it easier to tough out a less than ideal situation. When you haven't yet figured out that direction, you've got a lot less to lose by taking a risk.
Post a Comment