We’ve heard the jokes about searching for work after college in this day and age. The job postings read something along the lines of:
- Entry-level position
- Minimum 7 years of experience
- Master’s degree or higher
- No paid time off or health insurance
- $10/hr.
“Experience?” you say. “I need experience to get experience. But that’s where you come in!”
After six rounds of half-day interviews, being charged to use a water fountain at the work site, and told you’ll have to supply your own toilet paper if you’re hired, you never hear from them again. If only this were a joke.
It’s easy to get cynical.
But take it from people who’ve been around awhile: Despite all the frustrating evidence to the contrary, you can achieve the destiny you want, especially when it comes to your work and finances.
Grab your post-college-graduation life by the horns with these simple but powerful tips:
- Shoot your shot — Pursue your dream job. It’s not going to ride in on a magic carpet, so go out and find it. By the same token, if nothing’s coming together or you hear “No” ad nauseam, take work that will cover your bills, not bore you to death, and act as a steppingstone to what you really want.
- Stack those dollar bills — Build up an emergency fund. If your car breaks, you face plant on concrete while texting, you lose or switch jobs, you’ll need it. The goal should be to save three months of living expenses.
- Treat debt like a bad selfie — Get it out of your life and don’t take on more. You want to be set up for success, and you can’t do that when you’re drowning in monthly credit card and student loan payments. Debt-free living is like moving from skinny jeans to sweatpants.
- Play it right — Invest in order. Homeownership and employer investment plans are great, but only if you have taken care of the basics (see the last two points). Otherwise, you’re filling a leaky bucket, losing money to interest charges that your investment gains can’t keep pace with. Take care of the leaks, then start building your net worth.
- Enjoy your youth — You’ll never get this time back, so live it up. But remember that real freedom isn’t making poor choices you pay for later. It’s living within your means, being future-focused, and reaping the benefits when you’re retired and financially independent. So, buy that rundown car for $2k. Shop at thrift stores. Start a “beans and rice” Tuesday. Then laugh all the way to the bank.
- Start now — Time is on your side, but it won’t always be. The longer you wait to invest in your future through these steps, the harder it will be to course correct over time. A little consistent effort now makes a world of difference.
You went to college on the promise and hope of a better future, more knowledge, some fun, and access to a good job. And you graduated just after a year that hasn’t lived up to that promise. If you can get through college and 2020, you can certainly build yourself a great career, financial security, and the life you’ve always dreamed of.
You’re not just capable of doing it — you’re worth it. Call today.