Post-Grad Review is not just about my experiences; its about all my friends and peers who are going through some soul searching once the barrakes of college life have come down. Needless to say this is a period of exploration and "any means necessary" antics to launch you in that next step toward your goals and aspirations. So dammit make it count!!!!!

My good friend Donald Conley is a brillant filmmaker/actor living in NYC (article about him coming soon). Check out some of his work on Youtube...Shoutout to Silk Smooth McNasty!! Now this is entertainment! 

I am artistic...No wait I'm a banker?

In her column: "The New 'Safe' Post-Grad Jobs," New York Times Economix Colunmist Catherine Rampell brings forth an intertesting observation. She questions whether graduates of 2009 will turn to finacial services insight of the current banking crisis. She says that many of her artsy friends from college became bankers "not because they loved numbers and negotiations, but, I think, because banking seemed safe." At least, that was the convential wisdom way back in 2007." She goes on to say that, "now i worry that many of these same classmates have been or are about to be laid off, and I wonder how today's banking crisis will affect the attitudes toward career risk of tomorrow's graduates from elite colleges. Will more members of the class of 2009 gravitate toward jobs in public service or the arts, now that the "safe' Wall Street route has proven equally risky?"

This is an interest question to raise.

Throughout college it has always seemed that the percentage of post graduates who got hired right on were those majoring in Business and Finance. It has always been a given that if you majored in the Arts you might have a much harder time finding a job right after graduating. But I must say I have noticed that many of my friends who graduated in 2008 were in the same situation as me: Jobless. But even during a time of mortgage failure and low investment profits, on the surface banking still seems to be that go-to job for recent grads. I have a friend who went to school for film and is now trying to get a job working at Chase. Although its not mortgage lending, but rather retail banking, it's still banking and not the arts.  I, being an aspiring journalist, just got hired as a teller for Washington Mutual. After applying for numerous jobs, the job I land is a job that I have little experience in, and am utilizing two skills I have tried to avoid most of my working life: sales and mathematics; but I am content (for now).  Will M.B.A's turn to public service and arts...I doubt there will be a dramatic increase in this. For one, arts is something you have to love. It remains a low probability that you will ever make enough money equatable to that elite education. Therefore you must have a passion for public service or the arts. Whereas, in finance and banking you get great benefits, great incentives, and great bonuses, that even if your intent wasn't to become a banker, but something of the arts, the excellent probability of success offsets everything. 

You can read the rest of her column at the link posted below.

24 hours is too much time in a day

In college there is no time for downtime. Class, homework, campus involvement, work, internships, and the millimeter of a second for a social life is all you have. But when you graduate all that changes. You begin to miss not having time to sit and watch hours of television, or not having a fixed schedule. Once college is over your life becomes routine. You wake up everyday knowing you have nothing specific to do. 

You should realize that you now have time to do whatever you want, whenever you want. Don't get accustom to routine now that college life has ended. While looking for work, invest time into new things. Here are some suggests on how you can get your "mojo" back while waiting for that "career" opportunity.

1). Read-- I know that reading is not for everyone, but there are a variety of genres and topics to read about. While in school, there is limited time for leisure reading. But now this is the time to catch up on some best sellers. Also stay abreast in current events. Take time out to read newspapers, magazines, blogs, etc...you never know what ads you may find advertising that perfect job.

2). Travel--if your like many, (including myself), you may not have the income to travel. But if you do, or can scrap together a little bit of money, now is the perfect time to travel. I've talked to several professionals who said after college they took a map, closed their eyes, and whatever city their finger landed on, they went. Many left with less that $500 in their pocket, now they work for major publications. 

3). Volunteer--Don't just sit around in the house. Get out. By volunteering you stay abreast with current issues in your community. It's also a great way to network. 

4). Explore--One of my favorite things to do is act 'like a tourist in my own city.' You'll be surprised at all the discounts and freebies your town has to offer. Go to museums, plays, comedy shows, parks. Explore what your city has to offer. Again you never know who you'll meet.

5). Take on a new hobby--I haven't quite figured out what my new hobby is, but some ideas that have come to thought: take a class in  dancing, cooking, poetry. I don't know, whatever floats your boat. I did cook over the holidays and it was relaxing and fun.

6). Stay Fit--Use some of that extra time to join a gym. The time spent eating and sitting in bed applying for jobs, with limited mobility will soon catch up to you and when summer comes you will regret those extra few pounds. 

There is much more to do with your downtime. These are just a few. Remember my fellow post grads even though college has ended, your life has just begun. I know these are difficult times and money is scarce, (especially for those not working yet). The excessive time you have now is time you probably wont see again for a while once you land a job. So use it productively. Live life, enjoy life, become life. 

D