To The New College Graduates

"PatBateman" (PatBateman)
06/02/2014 at 22:41 • Filed to: Words Of Wisdom

There are some among us graduating/a year away from graduating from college. Many students have never had this talk, so you get it from me, your old buddy, PatBateman. Read my words and live by them. Here are my tips to surviving your first few years out of school.

Finding a job

It's tough out there. It's always tough, but it's currently a little more tough. Employers want the perfect candidate but don't want to train a straight-out-of-the-box graduate. That's alright, though. Why? Because it's better to accept this fact than to dwell on it and let it get you down. Just polish your résumé with the help of a professional, send it out as many times as possible, follow up over the phone, and repeat until you're employed. Which leads me to my next point...

Don't aim too high

The one thing you must realize is that you will not be hired for your dream job right out of college. Even Harvard MBAs aren't given their dream job on their first go-round. You WILL, however, be hired into a position that will lead to your dream job, even if you can't see the path. When I was straight out of college, I yearned to be a wealth manager. No one wanted to hire a college kid for that (no one still does). My first job? A bank teller. A LOWLY bank teller. My current job? Wealth manager (still working on becoming a big time wealth manager though). How did I get there? Next slide, please...

Always do your best at your job

So your first job isn't what it's cracked up to be. So you wonder why you went to college in the first place. Your education has given you an edge in career advancement, not in career start up. Put your head down, work your ass off, and do whatever you can do ethically, legally, and morally to get to the next level. Someone will notice, and good things will happen.

Don't be afraid to change locations

You've been working at Acme Engineering firm for a year. Things are looking up! And then, suddenly, your boss tells you that they're moving you to the Plano office to help with the Toyota contract. But you hate Texas (for illogical reasons, but I digress)!! What should you do? YOU TAKE THE TRANSFER. Never ever ever be afraid of change, as it is the only constant in life. I know a lot of people in the energy biz, and some of them move for the company to Norway, Dubai, Thailand, Uzbekistan, etc. Why do they do it? Because they know that if they keep their head down and work hard, good things will happen. This is called being "adventurous". Never be boring.

This post is already too long, so I'll end with this: if you thought that this post was too long and skipped to the bottom for the TL;DR Cliff's Notes, learn to take your time and read the entire post.

TL;DR There are no shortcuts in life.

DISCUSSION (38)

AM3R > PatBateman
06/02/2014 at 22:44

Very good advice, I completely agree with it.

I'm gonna send this to my brother, an upcoming College freshmen.

PatBateman > AM3R
06/02/2014 at 22:47

Honestly, I see way too many recent graduates not realizing how the real world works. Many of them honestly expect to be made a VP as their first job.

NO.

EL_ULY > PatBateman
06/02/2014 at 22:50

you don't happen to work for an Architect firm do you Pat?

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > PatBateman
06/02/2014 at 22:51

Why don't I want to relocate to Texas?

Rick Perry.

PatBateman > EL_ULY
06/02/2014 at 22:52

Nope. A major Wall Street firm.

Aya, Almost Has A Cosmo With Toyota Engine Owned by a BMW. > PatBateman
06/02/2014 at 22:53

This.

I graduated 2 years ago, still in my first job in local cellphone provider. But maybe not for long, i hate my manager.

PatBateman > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire
06/02/2014 at 22:54

And when Rick Perry is no longer governor next year?

Fun Fact: The Governor of Texas has very little power over state government. He's almost more of a figurehead and Suggestion Maker-in-Chief.

EL_ULY > PatBateman
06/02/2014 at 22:55

o ok. I know a Pat that works for a Architect firm in Sugarland (by city hall in the first floor of the building that says Minute Maid on top) that hires a lot of recent grads.

AM3R > PatBateman
06/02/2014 at 22:56

yeah my brother wants to be a computer engineer. Luckily he understands he's gonna be stuck doing busy work during his first job. He does plan on getting some internships soon, that should help build some connections for him.

PatBateman > EL_ULY
06/02/2014 at 22:56

The homebuilder architect firm?

Big Bubba Ray > PatBateman
06/02/2014 at 22:57

Awesome advice. Many of my friends just graduated and are bummed out cause they can't find their ideal job yet. I tell them to start small and work extremely hard and it will pay off in the long run.

PatBateman > AM3R
06/02/2014 at 22:57

Internships help immensely. They CAN get you connections, but, most importantly, it gets you experience. Firms want experience and education.

PatBateman > Big Bubba Ray
06/02/2014 at 23:01

I know a few younger guys in their early 20's who all have their heads on straight and expectations in-line with reality. Their friends, though... Wow. No, a company will not hire you as their lead securities analyst with a Bachelors Degree in Finance. Start smaller, end biggest.

AM3R > PatBateman
06/02/2014 at 23:01

We live in a great spot for anyone in IT. Being right outside of DC in NoVa the internship opportunities are ridiculous. Especially in this area, connections are slowly becoming almost as important as experience, which isn't necessarily a good thing.

PatBateman > AM3R
06/02/2014 at 23:04

Connections are easily made. All it takes is to get to know a center of influence. Those people are eager to help younger professionals out. There are some great books that can teach him how to do this.

EL_ULY > PatBateman
06/02/2014 at 23:07

yeah I think so, my brother worked there making some giant ass homes

PatBateman > Aya, Almost Has A Cosmo With Toyota Engine Owned by a BMW.
06/02/2014 at 23:07

Stick with it, make it known to everyone that you're a bad ass employee. If you find a better job, take it, but don't leave for something less than what you have now.

PatBateman > EL_ULY
06/02/2014 at 23:08

They have pictures of some rather large homes in the windows.

EL_ULY > PatBateman
06/02/2014 at 23:10

I don't remember exactly but it's on the first floor as soon as you enter the building from the 1st floor parking. Lots of rad cars there usually.

Big Bubba Ray > PatBateman
06/02/2014 at 23:11

Exactly. Shit I'm only 22 and haven't graduated yet, but in the jobs I've had, I've started at the bottom and worked my way up. I was the GM of a small company for a few years before I was even 21 because I worked my way up.

My friends always say "how did you do that? I just want to start on top." And I tell them it's never going to happen.

Start small with low expectations but work your ass off and it will definitely be worth it.

Ferrero1911 > PatBateman
06/02/2014 at 23:41

Good advice.

I would add that you can't expect to live the lifestyle you grew up in right out of college. That first job where you start at the bottom is not going magically turn you from a poor college student to someone that can afford all the things your parents can. In fact it could be many years before you can even afford decent furniture, never mind a house or a new car.

PatBateman > Ferrero1911
06/03/2014 at 00:23

Great point. I once helped a 23 year old woman fresh out of college with her budget. She complained that she was constantly running out of money every month even though she was making some decent money at an entry level job. I immediately noticed that she was spending $500/month on groceries and $700/month on entertainment. When I told her to cut those down by over half, she refused. "There's no way I'm going to stop grocery shopping at Whole Foods or having fun on the weekends with my friends."

Learn to live well within your budget, or you'll have financial emergencies every time you hit a road bump. New tires or brakes shouldn't cause you to max out your credit cards.

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > PatBateman
06/03/2014 at 00:56

As someone who's had a few years of experience in the professional world before graduation let me give you the one piece of advice you need more than anything else - YOUR COMPANY WON'T GIVE TWO SHITS ABOUT YOU. IF YOU THINK FOR EVEN A MOMENT THEY ARE GOING UNDER, PREPARE YOUR RESUME AND START LOOKING. THEY OWE YOU NOTHING, BUT YOU OWE THEM THE SAME.

Seriously, can't stress that enough. Your job will be led by people who think you are nothing more than a pawn and will treat you as such. You are only worthwhile as you are useful. The most important advice you can hear is to treat them like they hate you. I wish I had done the same to not get screwed so often growing up. AS it is, I have known for a while this job loves screwing me (I'm underpaid by about 30% and YES that is a SHITLOAD!) so I have zero intentions of staying longer than the next reasonable job offer.

Leadbull > PatBateman
06/03/2014 at 01:14

Thanks for this. I'll (hopefully) graduate in two years, and I'm beginning to see the shadow of THE REAL WORLD creeping into my field of view...

samssun > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
06/03/2014 at 01:31

If your company's going under, how does their caring or not about you matter? Would caring harder keep them afloat, or deciding they owe you something change that they're out of somethings to give you?

PatBateman > Leadbull
06/03/2014 at 01:36

The real world can be a great place if you look at it correctly. Always remember that no situation (good or bad) is permanent, those that complain more are valued less, and an entry level job is an opportunity, not underemployment.

Now prepare yourself today to kick ass tomorrow.

Jordaneer, The Mountaineer Man > AM3R
06/03/2014 at 01:42

I'm planning to go into electrical engineering, and thankfully there is a firm of 3500 employees, and 2500 of them are based 10 miles from where I live, that hires 90% of all of the electrical engineering grads from the two universities near me.

Jordaneer, The Mountaineer Man > PatBateman
06/03/2014 at 01:50

even when I'm graduated with a good paying job, there is no way i would spend 500 a month on groceries, then again, the nearest whole foods is 6 hours away and the nearest city over 100,000 is only 2 hours away. I find that to be obnoxious. Get an emergency fund, so if you need new tires or brakes, you can use your own money and not have to pay interest.

Mosqvich > PatBateman
06/03/2014 at 02:05

For those of you who haven't graduated, I hope, for all that is holy, you have at least one internship under your belt. And it better be a good one. Preferably one that paid. Preferably one where you actually did real work, not being the boss' coffee boy/girl or errand boy/girl.

And Pat is right, don't aim too high. You can aim high, but not ridiculously high. And you really should consider a job overseas. You'll get great experience and it will shine on your future resume.

One more thing. Consider OTS for one of the services. 4 or 5 years as an officer could do great things for you.

GhostZ > samssun
06/03/2014 at 02:26

Many, MANY people stay on with a company after they suspect things will go wrong, because they hope that they will either get some severance or get to join on with a merger. They're too afraid about trying to find a new job, or having to change circumstances.

You'd also be surprised how many people think that if you have a job, other companies won't hire you until you're fired/already quit, and that you have to be unemployed to get a new job.

BoulderZ > PatBateman
06/03/2014 at 02:42

An asterisk by "don't be afraid to change locations", perhaps. Know who you (and your family/friends) are. Time is something you never get back . Spending significant time, at any age, at a location that's just plain wrong for you (and yours, as applicable), is not smart. And if that great company transfers you there and then lays you off, or it's a bad move, you better have a really good self-financed escape plan ready to go. While it's true that everyone has a price, everyone also has a folder of "would live there in a heartbeat", and one of "for no practical amount of money" places. Maybe it's TX. Maybe it's the Middle East. Or Africa. Or Latin America. Or Europe. Or the Far East. Or the US. Or wherever. In either folder. There's adventurous, and there's just wrong for you. I'd give a lot to spend a winter in Antarctica, or any time in space, but you couldn't get me to live in TX or DC at any price, but those are just my folders. I used to think I wouldn't do most of Asia. But now? Hmm. Fill your own folders smartly, and update them frequently.

yamahog > samssun
06/03/2014 at 07:04

Many of our parents and grandparents grew up with the mentality that if you were "a company man," the company would take care of you even at expense to their own golden parachutes. This is absolutely not the case any more, nor is the "company man" concept in general, as I've had to explain to my father when I left a company (that had given me a scholarship and 2 internships) after only one year working there full time.

Sn210 > PatBateman
06/03/2014 at 07:35

my advice is:

Start a 401k as soon as you can. Contribute at least enough to get the company match (if you are lucky enough for this benefit) and increase it with every raise.

Make a budget and stick to it. If you know your inputs and outputs every month, you can adjust accordingly so you have enough to save for...

Buying a house as soon as you can, and get the most house you can afford, preferably on one income if you buy with a sig other. Money is so cheap right now, and once housing prices go up, so will interest rates.

Don't spend $50k on a wedding. It very easy to do. By budgeting and planning, you can still have a kickass wedding and Hawaiian honeymoon for half that.

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > samssun
06/03/2014 at 08:07

People still have this weird mentality that if they stick with it hard enough they might be able to change it or they'll get "taken care of". And others still will just run and cower and hope that the bad things don't happen to them. In either case, you've basically forfeited control over your own life. That doesn't end well.

Leadbull > PatBateman
06/03/2014 at 10:31

Yeah, thanks. Luckily, my university has plenty of great resources to help me prepare. It's no less of a challenge, though!

AM3R > Jordaneer, The Mountaineer Man
06/03/2014 at 10:38

Awesome, what school are you going to?

PatBateman > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire
06/03/2014 at 11:24

I've been thinking about your comment for the past 12 hours. I realized last night that you were being sarcastic.

Jordaneer, The Mountaineer Man > AM3R
06/03/2014 at 19:01

idaho