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New Grads Student Loans Tricks

NEW YORK — You have a $120,000 college degree and no job. That won’t stop your student loan bills from arriving.

The six-month grace period on student loans for the class of 2009 is about to expire, meaning this year’s graduates will soon start getting their monthly statements. It could be a problem for those who have yet to find full-time work. Others who graduated earlier also may be struggling.

One option is deferment or forbearance, which allow postponement of payment under select circumstances.

“These are really important options for people who are struggling,” said Edie Irons of the Project on Student Debt, an advocacy group based in Berkeley.

There will likely be repercussions, but none as damaging as if you consistently make late payments or let loans lapse into default. So if you need extra time, here’s what you need to know.

Who’s eligible?

A deferment or forbearance is a period when payments are not required, although interest generally continues accruing. The difference between them is that the term “deferment” is used in specific situations with federal loans.

Most people know federal student loans can be deferred if you enroll in graduate school or the military. But you can also get a deferment for unemployment or economic hardship. To qualify, you can’t earn more than $16,245 a year in the continental U.S. You’re also automatically eligible if you get public assistance, such as food stamps, or volunteer with the Peace Corps.

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Resume Tips for Recent Grads

As a new graduate, you may be missing an important aspect of a resume—relevant skills and work experience. When writing your resume, therefore, you’ll need to concentrate on showcasing your transferable skills rather than your work history. If you haven’t already done so, the first and perhaps most important step in writing your resume is choosing your career focus. Employers who read your resume want to see that you have skills that are relevant to the position you’re applying for, so you absolutely must do this before writing a resume. The next step is identifying the skills and attributes that will be relevant to the positions you’re applying for. The easiest way of doing this is to look at job ads and find out what employers are looking for in terms of both practical experience and professional attributes. Even if you have little or no work history, your college education has provided you with many skills that will be important in the workplace. • Leadership skills • Time management • Written and verbal communication • Problem-solving • Analytical skills • Computer skills The key is showcasing your transferable skills—those skills you’ve gained at college that you can bring to the workplace. The same principle applies for any jobs or internships you may have had during your college years. Any transferable skills you gained can be added to your resume, even if the job itself was not directly relevant to the positions you’re interested in now. Don’t overlook the value of unpaid work experience—anything and everything counts, as long as the skills you list are transferable, and relevant to the type of job you’re seeking. This can include volunteer work, fraternity, sorority and campus club positions as well as internships. As a new graduate your big selling point is usually your education—this means you can include a more extensive education section than you might on a standard resume for a more experienced job seeker. Including a high GPA adds value to your qualification and you can also add a summary of completed courses. Choosing a format for your resume is the final step before you start writing. If your relevant work experience is limited, a hybrid format that includes elements of both chronological and functional formats is best. This allows you to highlight your transferable skills and downplay your limited professional experience.

Did you find this article useful? If so, subscribe to our newsletter to get more free resources. http://www.resume-help.org/article_resume_tips_for_recent_college_graduates.htm

Helpful Interview Tips for College Grads

Your first job interview can be intimidating, particularly for someone with little or no work experience. Business etiquette expert Barbara Pachter says it's important to prepare for the interview, present yourself as confident and reflect on your performance afterward. Here are her tips for handling yourself before, during and after the interview. BEFORE THE INTERVIEW Be prepared to tell your story: Prepare discussion points that exemplify your best qualities. You might be thin on work experience, so examples of leadership in the classroom or on sports teams can work. ''For young people, it's difficult to realize that many of these situations can be used to demonstrate their credibility,'' Pachter said. Read a book: If you're low on management experience, reading books by business leaders can help you prepare for questions about leadership. Drawing from books can help you augment your answers. But use this technique sparingly. ''Sometimes young people don't have a lot of the stories of their lives, so what are they going to talk about?'' Pachter asks. ''You can say I don't have experience with this, but I'm really a fan of Jack Kennedy and I've read all his books.'' Then give an example of his great leadership. Practice for the interview: Get a friend or family member to play the role of the interviewer to help you refine your answers. Having someone to talk out questions about leadership and decision making is better than going over them in your head. It shows you where you stumble and use ''like'' and ''um.'' ''You need to say it out loud because you have to hear how it works,'' Pachter says. ''And when you role play with someone you get the interaction. If I'm role-playing with you, you can say 'Tell me more.''' DURING THE INTERVIEW Shake hands twice: Recent graduates should shake hands at the beginning and end of the interview with everyone involved. Look each person in the eye and grip firmly without squeezing too hard. ''We make assumptions about people based on the quality of their handshake,'' Pachter says. ''If you come in and shake hands and look a person in the eye, you look comfortable and confident.'' Don't slouch: Be confident and enthusiastic. Ask the interviewer questions about the job to show your interest. Sit up straight, look the interviewer in the eye, smile and avoid nervous gestures like twirling your hair. ''Your resume gets you the interview,'' Pachter says. ''How you handle yourself in the interview gets you the job.'' AFTER THE INTERVIEW Send thank-you notes: Some employers won't consider a prospective employee unless he or she follows up the interview with a note. Write to each of the people involved in your interview. Pachter says it's an important part of presenting yourself as a conscientious person who has professional skills. And e-mails don't count. ''It's showing yourself as a polished professional,” Pachter says. “Who would you hire? Someone who showed up on time, shook hands properly and sent a thank-you note? Or someone who didn't?'' Review your performance: You can learn a lot from each interview. In fact, it doesn't hurt to interview for jobs that you're not interested in. The practice helps and you might put yourself in a position to get a different job at the company. After each interview, think about what went right and what went wrong. Remember specific questions for future role-playing. ''The more you interview, the more comfortable you are,'' Pachter says.

Did you find this article useful? If so, subscribe to our newsletter to get more free resources. The Associated Press © January 8, 2009 http://hamptonroads.com/2009/01/interview-tips-college-grads

Networking Tips for the Recent College Grad

Networking is still one of the greatest ways for your young adult to find a job. Resumes from referrals tend to land at the top of the applications stack and are typically reviewed first. If you are in the predicament of helping your college graduate or young adult find their own way in the working world, here are some quick tips to pass on to help them network in a group or one-on-one setting: • Be clear. Have your son or daughter get to the point of what they are looking for. What kind of job or opportunity do they want? Make sure they know to keep it short and sweet so they can communicate it easily. • Rehearse. Encourage your child to have their one-minute elevator speech ready at a moment’s notice. You never know when or where the opportunity will arise; when they will meet someone and need to get right into the details of their search. Spending idle time stumbling over words will leave a bad impression and give the idea that your son or daughter is not serious about his or her job search. • Tell everyone they are looking. Leave no stone unturned. For both you and your child, this includes friends, family, fellow or former classmates – even current or past professors. You never know who might know someone in the field in which your adult child is interested. • Don’t be shy. Now is not the time for your child to be reserved in asking for help. Instead, encourage them to ask for the referral. If the people they are speaking with enjoy what they are doing, they are usually more than happy to lend a helping hand and offer suggestions or recommendations. Just remind your son or daughter to keep their message short and concise. Again, encourage your child to go for it. After all, the worst that can happen is that your child gets a no. Remember… nothing ventured, nothing gained. • Follow-up: Have your child follow up with the referral offered and the person who provided it. And then… have them follow up again. People are busy and may need a few reminders before getting back with your son or daughter. Encourage your child to continue their follow up calls, as long as they are not bombarding the contact with constant messages. Make sure your son or daughter sends a hand-written thank you note to the person who helped them. • And most importantly, remind your child that this can be a lengthy process. Encourage your son or daughter to maintain a positive attitude and to be true to his or herself!

Did you find this article useful? If so, subscribe to our newsletter to get more free resources. About the Author: Help your college grad get on the right track! Certified Career Coach Hallie Crawford specializes in helping recent college grads and boomerangs identify their ideal career path and make it happen. To schedule a complimentary consultation and find out more about Hallie visit http://www.halliecrawford.com/

Featured Job Posting

Job Title: Entry Level- Financial Associate Professional Primary Location: USA-VA: VIRGINIA-FALLS CHURCH Schedule: Full-time Description Located in Falls Church, VA; we're seeking an entry-level Financial Associate to work within CSC's Finance and Administration Department. Essential Job Functions • Assists in performing financial analyses including budgeting, trend analysis, forecasting, correcting, and financial modeling to provide information to management. • Assists in collecting budget, midyear forecast and other financial information to provide information about profit and loss. • Assists in analyzing budget, midyear forecast and other financial information and recommends corrections of basic problems or inconsistencies to management. • Assists in developing and maintaining financial statements using accounting and budgeting software in order to provide standardized reports to customers and management. • May provide some financial training to employees in order to enhance their understanding and to assist them in completion of budgets and other financial analyses. • Monitors and resolves problems and provides user organizations with financial reports. Qualifications Basic Qualifications • Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and experience • Bachelor's degree in business administration, finance, accounting or related field preferred • Zero or more years of experience in finance or accounting • Experience working with generally accepted accounting principles and accounting software • Experience working with financial analysis Other Qualifications • Communication skills • Personal computer and business solutions software skills • Organization skills to balance and prioritize work • Analytical and problem solving skills • Ability to work independently and as part of a team • Willingness to travel To apply, please visit: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wl/jobs/JS_JobSearchDetail?jobid=28613797&jobSummaryIndex=0&agentID=&xfeed=1&wpmk=MK0000004

An Interview Guide for New Graduates

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Resumes for New Grads

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Career/Financial Advice for New Grads

What advice should graduates receive in the worst economy most of us can remember? The same advice as for when times are flush. Lives are longer than business cycles. Start saving today, even if you have loans to pay off. Use some of your graduation checks if you don't have a job. One of the countless benefits of youth is the almost unimaginable horizon to let savings compound. Today's 21-year-olds can expect to live past 2065. Invest $50 a month between now and then, and you would amass $283,000, if you make 6 percent annually. Make 8 percent, not inconceivable if you buy mutual funds that invest in developing countries such as India and China, and you'll wind up with $643,000. Stocks are on sale during recessions. Start contributing to a Roth individual retirement account or a 401(k) as soon as you get a paycheck and never tap them until you retire. What other guidance would benefit graduates? Find work you like: Follow your passion. As more and more research shows, and as numerous ex-managing directors at Wall Street banking companies might now testify, you'll be happier than if you follow the money. Try different careers: Our schools are pretty good at teaching the skills and theory of the workplace but not so great at letting students experience the office, store or factory before they are thrust into it. Designing computer games may seem more appealing when you're playing Spore than when you're crunching code and eating cold pizza at 3 a.m. to try to make the ship date. Try different internships: In recessions, employers are inclined to be especially interested in cheap or free labor. Design your own internship: Offer to work free at an interesting company and live with your parents. Speaking of factories, don't assume U.S. manufacturers are dead. The goods and equipment they produce are worth more than ever. The people they are hiring have changed. There are fewer of them, to be sure. But they're more highly trained. Avoid debt: Even if you can defer repayment of student loans, try not to. Interest may accrue and leave you with a much bigger bill than you started with. The new credit card law does little to end the complexity or expense of credit card borrowing. Rates still will be well into double digits even as bank borrowing costs are close to zero. When you are paying, especially at rates of 15 percent or 25 percent, compound interest is the enemy. Never carry a month-to-month balance unless it's an emergency. Unlike mortgage interest, credit card interest isn't even deductible on your tax return. Vote: Get involved. Pay attention. While you were growing up and getting a degree, your elders set the stage for a disaster even worse than the one we're coping with now. Medicare, the war in Iraq and the financial bailouts are adding trillions of dollars in debt to the country's books that your generation must help pay back. War and bailout costs should diminish. Medicare and Social Security expenses, however, are set to mushroom. The sooner we get spending under control and raise taxes -- both are necessary -- the less painful will be the country's burden in 2030 or so. Younger generations must help make this happen. Buy inflation bonds: One way Washington will probably solve its problems over the long term is to let prices rise so it can repay its enormous debts with depreciated dollars. Invest in T. Rowe Price's Inflation-Protected Bond Fund or a similar mutual fund, and you'll be ready. Take your time finding someone to love, but stick with him or her Divorce is hell on spouses and children, but it also drastically reduces chances for a comfortable retirement for both parties. Never go without health insurance: Young adults hardly ever become seriously ill or injured, but if they wind up in the hospital without coverage, they can bankrupt their parents. Take intelligent risks Embrace rejection, because the person who never failed never tried.

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Did you find this article useful? If so, subscribe to our newsletter to get more free resources. By Jay Hancock, Tribune Newspapers, June 7, 2009 http://www.sun-sentinel.com/business/careers/sfl-grad-advice-060909,0,5757005.story Copyright © 2009, Chicago Tribune

8 Signs That Your Job Search Sucks

7. Your job search is taking longer than you expected: If your job search is taking twice as long as you expected, or more, you’re not alone. Most people who are good at their jobs, suck at searching for a new job.

8. Your job search is frustrating: If you feel like job search is slow torture, it’s because you suck at job search.

If you’re realizing that you suck at searching for a new job, you’re not alone … and it’s not your fault.

You were taught how to search for jobs by your college placement offices, who taught you job search strategies that worked for purposes of the career placement office. Unfortunately, what they taught served the placement offices purposes, but didn’t teach job search skills useful for the rest of your career … even if you graduated recently.

It’s because your college placement office really taught you how to write a resume that would be published … in a book … that the placement office sold to employers (yes, this still happens today, but today it’s usually an e-book). How often in your post-collegiate or grad school years have you written a resume to be published in a book?

The entire purpose of the resume all the resume strategies you’ve been taught, aren’t valid for the rest of your career – because you aren’t writing a resume for a book anymore.

So what can you do about it?

Learn all you can about searching for a job, but realize that many of the “experts” also suck at job search. Also realize that if you get 10 different opinions about your job search, most of them will be different, and some will conflict.

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8 Signs That Your Job Search Sucks

3. You aren’t getting past the prescreening process: You’re getting calls from HR reps and/or recruiters, but few end up in interviews. This means you’re getting screened out, during the first weeding out process, before you get the chance to impress a decision maker. If this happens often, you suck at searching for a job.

4. Informational interviews go nowhere: You’ve been able to get some informational interviews, but how many of these have resulted in a real, face-to-face, honest-to-goodness job interview with a hiring manager who actually has an approved job to hire? If you aren’t converting informational interviews into job interviews, then you suck at job search.

5. Your network hasn’t provided many opportunities: In the past, your network as presented you with many job opportunities – often the best opportunities. Even though you’re working your network more than ever before, you aren’t getting job opportunities from the people you know. If you can’t get your network to find you opportunities, then you suck at searching for a job.


6. Recruiters aren’t presenting you to employers: You’ve talked to every recruiter you were referred to, called back every recruiter who called you, interviewed with 5 or even 10 recruiters, yet none of them are presenting you for jobs often. If you can’t get recruiters to present you opportunities on a regular basis, then you suck at job search.

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Top 5 Unique Job Interview Strategies

3. Ask if you can have a tour of the office/building/plant, etc.

This is especially effective if the company has a manufacturing facility and you can ask a lot of questions about their products and how they are made. Regardless, this is a great way to show that you have strong interest in the company. While on the tour, bring up several things that you know about the company (you have done your homework, right?) and ask questions about them. Take notice of things you see and either compliment them or ask questions about them.

4. Make it clear you are interested in the job and the company and not “what’s in it for me?”

Try not to ask questions or makes statements that make it clear that you are only interested in how this job will affect you. Employers want individuals who care about the company. If it doesn’t come up in the interview, ask if you can learn about the company’s values and mission statement and talk about how it aligns with yours. The values and mission statement are (or should be!) a very important part of a company’s culture. So few people ask about this stuff! Ask about how your job fits into the department and in the company as a whole. Show interest in what the company actually does. If you spend most of your time talking and asking about all the things that pertain to you, you will not be impressing anyone even if you provide otherwise good answers to the questions.

5. Send personalized thank you letters to every person who was in the interview.

Personalized means personal and unique to each person who was in the interview. Make it different than the others–reference communication items that are specific to that person if you can. This is a great approach, different from just sending a standard copy/paste thank you letter to them all. Many candidates do send separate e-mails to each interviewer but the content is the same. Thank you e-mails can and will get forwarded to others at times and when some were forwarded to me, I found it to be very impressive if the content was different from the one I received. Handwritten ones are a great idea as well. It’s more personal which is a nice touch. If you can spare the time to go all out, hand write them and drop them off the same day or the next day, you should go for it!

It’s little things like this that break you apart from the masses and help you really stand out. Sure, some of these are a little extra work. But if it helps you get the job, isn’t it worth it?

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4 Tips To Answering The Toughest Job Interview Questions

RULE #3 – No absolutes!

The absolute, as in “My weakness is…” states the weakness exists unconditionally: utterly fixed and not likely to change. WOW! Wouldn’t it be better to be a little less restrictive, something more conditional like, “It could be I am…” Conditional responses suggest you yourself are not completely convinced of it. This type of response also accomplishes what the bungling technique of using a “strength” to describe a weakness consistently fails to achieve – your “weakness” may not be a weakness after all.

RULE #4 – Keep it real!

Your “weakness” should be one (singular) that is subjective – of your person. Humanize it!

“If I had to come up with one (singular) it might be (non-absolute) somewhat (qualifier) of a lack of internal patience (human). I seem (unconvinced) to have strong tendencies to expect the same from others I do from myself (human). Not just in terms of results – I’m smart enough to realize not everyone has the same level of skill, abilities and education (real). I do however, expect others to give their best effort, and if that’s not there, then yes, that might (conditional) bother me to some degree.”

Ah! “Bother me to some degree,” is human, non-absolute, qualifier, and conditional. Don’t you love it?! Another tact, similarly keeping it real, could be an incident resultant of some area where improvement was needed (potential weakness) that turned out to be a learning experience and later grew into a personal asset, thus giving you, once more, an opportunity to showcase strength.

In summary…

Do your homework. Think critically and be honest with yourself. Ask friends or colleagues the same: Critically and honestly, what they think may be your one weakness. When you have the answer, internalize it. In other words, take it to heart. If you don’t, your response may come across like a sound bite, no matter how long and hard you practice sounding unpracticed. When you speak from the heart, you won’t sound “rehearsed,” you will sound “aware” – conscious of yourself, a characteristic we all value.

CAREEREALISM-Approved Career Expert, Rob Taub is a credentialed career master who has 26 years of experience in the career marketing and job search consulting industry.

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10 Resume Mistakes That Ruin Your Job Search

4. Using hard to read fonts and formatting


Before your resume reaches human eyes, it will likely pass through an applicant tracking software system that will determine whether your resume should be moved forward. Fancy fonts and formatting are unreadable to the software and will be rejected immediately. In addition, since recruiters and hiring managers will generally review the resume electronically first, online readability is essential. Use simple, clear fonts and avoid fancy lines and graphics.

5. Listing references on your resume

Your references are a vital resource and you don’t want to disrespect their willingness to help you by spamming their contact information to every company that you apply to. Instead, list them on a separate sheet that you provide only when requested as part of the interview process. In addition, there is no need to include the line “references available on request” on your resume. It is assumed and just wastes space.

6. Including salary expectations

Never include salary related points in the resume. It will distract the reader's attention and you may lose the chance to interview. It's better to keep it out of your resume completely. If this information is requested in a job application it is better to include the information in the cover letter. It is also better to use a wide range for salary rather than a specific number.

7. Failing to include reason for leaving

If you have gaps in your resume or if you have made job changes that may seem questionable on paper, answer the questions on your resume. A hiring manager will ask and answer the question for you if the information is not provided which is not in your best interest.

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10 Resume Mistakes That Ruin Your Job Search

8. Poorly organized


While writing your resume, you should maintain a proper order of importance. Make sure it is organized in a way that is easy to follow. Job titles are more important than dates of employment. It's better to put the educational details at the end. If you are a recent graduate, then only you should highlight it. More significance should be given to the information that meets the need of the employers.

9. Typos and Grammatical Errors

It may sound insignificant, but a small spelling mistake or grammatical error can cost you the job you are applying for. Your resume needs to be grammatically perfect otherwise it will create an impression of a careless person in the minds of the employers.

10. Unrelated information

Mention such facts that lend credibility to you as a job applicant. You should avoid stating information in your resume that has nothing to do with the job you are applying for. Very often job seekers make this mistake while telling about their hobbies or accomplishments. If you are applying for a software developer position, what sense it would make if you state that you were an arm wrestling champion as one of your accomplishments?

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5 Hard Job Interview Questions

4. "Where do you see yourself in 5 years?"

Since anything can happen and change in five years, this is an impossible question to answer. What they really mean is: "If I hired you, could I count on you to stay with this company long-term?" Therefore, avoid answers such as "I hope to be running my own business," or "I plan to be retired by then."

You can provide an answer that satisfies their interests by indicating that you hope to be well established as someone who is helping the company succeed.

You can also turn the question back to the interviewer, and ask where they see the company in five years. You might not know on a personal level where you'll be, but most companies have goals and plans that look out two to five years. Their answer might give you an idea if it's a company worth settling down with.

5. "Tell me about a time you failed."

Think of a work-related situation that didn't turn out quite as you had hoped. The interviewer is interested in seeing how you took responsibility for your failure, what you learned from it, and how you would prevent similar failures from happening again.

Examples:

"I once rushed a project to make a shipping deadline but inadvertently skipped a couple of critical steps. We ended up discovering the mistake before the customer installed the products, but they weren't pleased. I never made that mistake again."

"I thought my aggressive sales tactics were a great quality until I lost a client for being too pushy. I've since learned to tone things down and really understand my clients' needs before determining how to help them."

Looking for answers to other common interview questions? Ask them in the comments below.

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Job Interview Question: "Do You Have Any Questions?"

3. Ask about next steps. You should always leave the interview knowing the company’s timeline or intentions.

• What are the next steps?
• What is your timeline?
• When can I expect to hear from you regarding next steps?

4. Say thank you and restate why you would be a great fit. As the interview draws to a close, you want to sum up everything:

“Thank you for taking the time to interview me. After hearing more about ABC Company, I know my drive and perspective would be a great fit here. I’ll look forward to hearing from you next week.”

By asking questions and following these steps, you show that you are curious and strongly interested in the position and the company.

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50 Job Search Tips That Work

Resume

9. Customize Your Resume: Take the extra step of customizing your resume to fit the industry. Simple, generic resumes fail to catch the eye of hiring managers.
10. Proofread 3x: Make sure that you do not have any grammatical errors on your resume.
11. Bring Copies of Your Resume: Don’t assume that everyone will have copies of your resume. Make sure you bring a few extra, “clean” copies with you.
12. Streamline Your List of Pertinent Experience: Older (seasoned) professionals should list approximately 15 years of relevant experience. This will streamline your resume and focus attention on your best experience.
13. Use Active Verbs: Strong active verb usage adds “punch and power” to your resume.
14. Be Careful with Acronyms and Jargon: Make sure that any acronyms are spelled out to avoid confusion. Try to eliminate jargon unless you are 100% sure your interviewer will understand the reference.
15. Send Your Resume in the Right File Format: Pay attention to the guidelines for sending in your resume. Failing to comply with file format standards can hurt your chances for an interview.
16. Make Your Resume More Reader-Friendly: Research shows that employers take from 2.5 to 20 seconds to scan a resume. Use bullet-points and bolded titles to make it easy for them to focus on the highlights.
17. Axe Weak “Responsibilities” Words from Your Resume: Delete phrases like “duties included,” “responsibilities included,” or “responsible for” from your resume. Your resume should communicate accomplishments, not your last job description.

Interviewing

18. Always Dress for Success: When in doubt, dress business conservative. Don’t take a chance “experimenting” with dress to show off your personality.
19. Make Eye Contact: Seek to make solid eye contact when answering questions. This simple gesture shows that you are confident and decisive.
20. Take Notes: This also shows preparation, organization, and respect for the interviewer. Always come prepared to take great notes.
21. Bring Questions to the Interview: Don’t be afraid to come in with a prepared list of questions.

22. Be Decisive: Know what you want and explain your expectations to your prospective employer.
23. Listen: The old proverb – you have 2 ears and one mouth – is dead on. Make sure you listen as much as you talk. You’ll be surprised by what you’ll learn by asking great questions and listening attentively.
24. Confront Your Weaknesses: Employers usually ask what your “weaknesses” are. Don’t be afraid to admit them and describe how you are working to improve.
25. Practice Makes Perfect: Ask a friend to play the role of an interviewer. Set-up a video to record how you answer questions. Review the video for ways to improve your body language and style.

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50 Job Search Tips That Work

26. Pronounce Your Interviewer’s Name Correctly: Before the interview, ask the receptionist/secretary to help you with difficult pronunciations. Correctly pronouncing your interviewer’s name will make you stand out from the crowd.
27. Show Interest in the Team: Include several questions about the team you will be joining. Get a clear picture of roles and ask if anyone internally is interviewing for the position.
28. Understand Why the Position Is Vacant: Politely probe why the last person left the position. This question demonstrates your thorough preparation and may uncover any red flags you should follow-up on.

29. Keep Standing: More people may be participating in your interview. Avoid awkward seat shuffling by waiting to be directed to your seat.
30. Ask About the Culture: Ask smart and probing questions about the culture and values of the company. This demonstrates that you care and desire to make a positive contribution.

After The Interview

31. Follow-up on Shaky Answers: Note questions that you didn’t have a good answer for in the interview. Follow-up with a clarified answer in your thank you note.
32. The Little Things Count: Always send a follow up email and handwritten note. You’ll be surprised by how many candidates overlook this step.
33. Thank You Notes: Thank you notes are a lost art. Pay extra attention to them and you’ll stand out from the crowd. Consider adding custom graphics to thank you emails or using personalized stationary for written notes.
34. Ask For the Job: Take the initiative. Remember that “fortune favors the bold.” If you feel that the interview went especially well, make it clear that you want to work there. You never know – you might get hired on the spot!

Attitude

35. Treat the Job Search Process Like a Job: Schedule your day, set goals and objectives, and make a focused effort every weekday. Remember that the most persistent get hired.
36. Personality Wins: Always make sure to inject a certain balance of humor into your job interview. Your personality is equally important.
37. Sell Yourself: Don’t be shy about your accomplishments and achievements.

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50 Job Search Tips That Work

38. Stay Positive and Smile: Employers want positive and upbeat team players. Put your attitude on display with a smile and an optimistic outlook.
39. Make a Memorable Impression on Everyone: Shake hands and say thank you to everyone you meet, from the hiring manager to the receptionist.
40. Firm Handshake: You can’t go wrong with delivering a solid handshake. Remember – firm, not bone-crushing.
41. Think Win/Win: Remember that you must solve a problem for the employer to get the position. Know how your unique experience and skills benefits the employer.
42. Stay Patient and Optimistic: The job market is tough right now. The most persistent and optimistic candidates have the best chances of landing a position.

Using Social Media

43. Start a Blog: Blogs are an excellent way to demonstrate your writing skills. Also, use the blog to talk about your hobbies and interests.
44. Clean Up Your Social Media Profiles: If you use Facebook, LinkedIn, or Twitter profiles, make sure you review them to make sure they are professional and ready for employer scrutiny.
45. Make Your Resume Shareable: Online resumes are a great way to demonstrate your technical prowess. Go ahead and include a Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook button to make your resume easy to share.
46. Create a Professional List on Facebook: Set up a specific list of professional contacts to help keep your job search separate from your personal account profiles. This isn’t fool-proof but it will help.
47. Use Facebook Groups for Networking: Search Facebook for relevant professional groups. Get involved and contribute to the group before you start actively networking for job opportunities.
48. Be Proactive on Twitter: Follow the Twitter streams of prospective employers. Many companies also maintain career-specific accounts that could give you advance notice of great opportunities.

49. Create a Video Resume and Upload It to YouTube: A video resume is simply a 5-6 minute video of you discussing your past positions and accomplishments. This is an excellent way to stand out if you feel comfortable on camera.
50. Focus on LinkedIn: LinkedIn is the #1 resource for job seekers and employers. Spending time mastering this tool is well worth the investment. A simple search for “LinkedIn Tips” will deliver a wealth of excellent information.

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College Grads Urged to Use Time Wisely

Commencement speaker Robert Nutting, president of Ogden Newspapers Inc. and Chairman of the Board of the Pittsburgh Pirates, reminded the students of the importance of family and friends as they move out into the working world.

"Our family is proud of our long-standing relationship with Bethany," Nutting said. "One of the first editors of the Wheeling Intelligencer was Archibald Campbell, a graduate of Bethany, Class of 1852, and nephew of Bethany founder Alexander Campbell.

Robert Nutting's great-grandfather H.C. Ogden and, more recently, his father G.Ogden Nutting have served Bethany in several capacities.

"You are all extremely fortunate to have been able to attend a great institution with a faculty and administration that is committed to, and focused on, developing and nurturing the whole student," Nutting added.

He observed that many of the jobs the graduates will hold have not yet been conceived and that many will retire from companies that don't even exist today.

"Lean on the lessons learned here at Bethany, the ability to think and to question, the ability to make a tough choice, to persevere on the tougher road and to see it through," Nutting said.

In closing, Nutting told the graduates, "If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff you will never have enough room for the things that are important to you. Never forget that the most important thing you have is your time. It is the most precious thing you can share. Value it and use it well.

"And when you need to believe that something of real importance can last forever, think of this place, these buildings and more importantly these people around you today. ... We all need to think that something lasts forever, and it might as well be this place," he added. "I hope for each of you that it is Bethany."

Also during the commencement exercise, Lindsay Ann Sobotka of Weirton was awarded the Francis O. Carfer Prize for Service to the College as the outstanding senior. April Michelle O'Brien of Columbus received the Bethany 2000 Prize for senior achievement.

A Doctor of Divinity honorary degree was conferred on the Rev. Todd A. Adams, associate general minister and vice president and chief of staff for the general minister and president of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).

© Copyright 2011 The Intelligencer / Wheeling News-Register. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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5 Crazy Job Interview Tips That Work

3. Put Water Behind Your Ears & On Your Wrists

This is actually something to do just before the interview. Duck into the bathroom and dab a few drops of water behind the ears and on your wrists. These are areas where you have major arteries and some experts claim by putting water in those locations you can help to calm your nerves by cooling down quickly.

4. Write a List

This one is actually not such a strange pre-interview routine, but it does work wonders. You’ll inevitably be asked to tell the interviewer about your proudest achievements, your best qualities and your worst qualities. Most people just wing it when they walk into the interview. However, since you know these things are likely to come up, pre-empt them by making yourself a list of things you can answer. Just make sure to pause for a moment when answering so it appears natural and not rehearsed. Speaking of that…

5. Rehearse in Front of a Mirror

While a common pre-interview routine is to rehearse by having a friend or family member go through a mock interview with you, a strange pre-interview technique which actually does work wonders is to rehearse on your own in front of a mirror. Your face will often speak louder than your words, so you want to take the time to make sure when you answer questions, you don’t telegraph you aren’t comfortable answering those questions. By rehearsing in front of a mirror, you can avoid that problem completely.

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50 Tips To Get Your Resume Read

10. Make it a PDF. While not necessary, sending your resume as a PDF ensures that the formatting remains the same on any computer.

11. It can be more than a page. Don’t sacrifice readability to cram your entire job history onto one page. There’s no consensus on length, but for most entry-level seekers, one page will do. Two pages will usually suffice for mid-career professionals, and three to four page resumes are generally reserved for executive and senior management positions.

12. Layout templates aren’t necessary. While layout templates seem like a great idea, they may not be the best way to present your own information. Find a layout that works for you.

Communicate Clearly

13. Be strong. Use strong action verbs and resist the urge to make your resume read like a job description. Highlight your actual job performance.

14. Forget buzz words. They usually don’t say anything of substance and HR people know that they’re used as filler. Instead, use terms specific to your field, and show your employer that you really know what you’re talking about.

15. Be positive. Show your enthusiasm in your great attitude. Negativity is a turn off to employers, just as it is in so many other aspects of life.

16. Show, don’t tell. Include facts, and tangible results to demonstrate what you’re capable of.

17. Highlight important numbers. Percentages, dollar amounts, sales figures, if you’ve got them, use them. These are great, solid data points that clearly convey your experience, even across industries.

18. Get past the scanners. With a growing number of employers using scanning technology to help manage resume submissions, take extra care to use language to get past the bots. Take your cues from the job description and pull keywords from there.

19. Make it readable. Even the most amazing candidate’s resume will be ignored if it’s too dense, misspelled, or oddly formatted for the HR person to get through.

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50 Tips To Get Your Resume Read

Inject a Personal Touch

20. Personalize your cover letters. LinkedIn, company websites, and Google are your friend. Do whatever it takes to start your letter with something other than, “To Whom It May Concern.”

21. Inject some personality. While your relevant job skills are the most important, employers like to know that they’re hiring a well rounded employee, with a range of interests and skills. Don’t be afraid to mention leadership positions, hobbies, or other notable nuggets of information. This is especially helpful for entry level job seekers, who don’t have much work experience.

22. Name drop. If you’ve got a connection to someone within the company, let HR know by including a brief line in your cover letter.

23. Write a great cover letter. A great cover letter can get your resume read and in some cases can help bolster a weak resume. This is an excellent place to show some personality.

24. Don’t get too clever. It’s great to have a sense of humor, but if you go overboard with email subject lines or resume content that is more clever than relevant, you could get weeded out by automated filters.

25. Show how valuable you are. Desirable candidates are those who consistently produce great results for their former employers. Highlight your accomplishments, and then back it up with hard facts.

26. Resist the urge to go overboard. While employees want to see your personality, they don’t want to open emails with unnecessary sound and graphics. Let your personality shine in other ways.

Do Your Research

27. All jobs are not equal. It’s not necessary to give the same level of importance to all of your previous jobs. Emphasize the ones that are relevant to the position.

28. Quality trumps quantity. By researching and applying only to the positions that match your qualifications and career goals, you’ll find greater success and minimize heartache. You’re not looking for any job, you’re looking for the right job.

29. Research, research, research. It’s not enough to do a quick scan of the job listing. Familiarize yourself with the position, the industry, and the employer.

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50 Tips To Get Your Resume Read

30. Being qualified isn’t good enough. Showing specific knowledge on your resume demonstrates that you’re a serious candidate and gives you an edge over other candidates who simply meet the minimum requirements.

31. Highlight your contributions. With the specific knowledge of the industry and employer, you can show on your resume how you brought added-value to your previous jobs and what you can bring to this new job.

32. Explain obscure information. If you are applying to a position outside of your usual field, the person reading your resume might not have a full appreciation of your former duties. You can remedy this by including a few sentences of explanation under each job title.

Get Cozy with Technology

33. Provide links. Don’t just say that you have a blog/Twitter/LinkedIn.

34. Reach out through social media. Sending a quick tweet about your application to a company’s Twitter is a great way to convey your enthusiasm about their job opening and differentiate yourself from the pack.

35. Have a professional email. Use an email address that includes some variation of your name. Register for a new account if necessary.

36. Write something in the message body. Even if sending your cover letter and resume as attachments, don’t forget to include a short note in the body of the message.

37. Go one step further. Paste your cover letter in the body of the message. This puts your info front and center and saves the HR person the extra step of opening a file.

38. Name your file appropriately. Don’t forget that the name of your attachments will appear in employers’ inboxes.

39. Use a subject line that works. When sending in a resume via email, make sure to use a clear subject line that indicates that you are a job seeker.

40. Create a professional email signature. While you’re contact info should be on all of your materials, having it in the body of your email allows the HR person to see your info at a glance.

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50 Tips To Get Your Resume Read

Don’t Forget That Little Things Make a Big Impact

41. Pay attention to detail. This includes not just looking for typos, but formatting documents, naming files, and doing your research.

42. Use parallel structure. This is exactly what it sounds like, and is a great way to add clarity to your writing. Be consistent in tenses and parts of speech when listing job duties.

43. Follow up with a phone call. If you haven’t received a response to your application after a reasonable amount of time, a polite phone call to check on your status can get things moving and show’s that you’re interested.

44. Be honest. A surprising number of job seekers lie on the resumes. Be honest with yourself about what you really want and be honest on your resume to ensure that you find the right position.

45. Sleep on it. After writing your resume, review it carefully, then put it aside for the night. Come to it the next morning with fresh eyes for a final edit.

46. Don’t ignore the paper. So much of the job search occurs online that paper resumes are becoming a thing of the past. Nevertheless, there are situations in which a paper resume is required. Make sure it’s on good quality stock, clean and free of damage.

47. Use polite correspondence. Begin and end all messages with “Dear” and “Sincerely.” Don’t forget to thank the HR person for their time in either your cover letter or a short email message.

48. Follow application instructions to the letter. If you send your resume materials somewhere else, they stand a chance of getting lost in the shuffle.


49. Be open to criticism. If a friend helping you edit comes back with some suggestions, receive them with an open mind.

50. Send your resume in with confidence. You’ve earned it!

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Pros & Cons Of Taking A Year Off After Graduation

The Cons of Taking a Gap Year

Con No. 1: It's all about the Benjamins.
While taking a gap year certainly has its perks, it's only feasible with financial support for costs such as airfare, transportation, food, visas, etc. If you're graduating with debt and little to no savings (like most of us), securing support can make or break your travel plans.

Emma Rose, a New York University veterinary student of the class of 2009, was interested in working with professional vets in a developing country, but the programs she found cost thousands of dollars -- plus airfare. "It didn't make sense to lay out more money when I currently owe money," says Rose.

However, there are options for cash-strapped young adults of Rose's mindset. The Peace Corps, for example, provides volunteer opportunities for little to no personal expense. Do some thorough research before deciding you can't afford to take a gap year.

Con No. 2: It puts a damper on networking at home.
In a tight job market and an even tighter economy, recent grads are having trouble finding jobs even months into the search process. Professionals assert that networking is one of the more successful ways to land that first job. But for students taking a gap year, networking opportunities can be slim to none.

Being abroad without an Internet connection in a developing nation or not being able to commit to a casual meet-and-greet can bring some students one step back in the job-hunting process.

Says Snyder: "I could not enter the job market right away, which is a big disadvantage. Companies are hiring in the springtime, right when school lets out -- not in mid-August, when I returned from Azerbaijan and when most companies are on slow schedules with many managers taking time off."

Copyright © 2011 Studio One Networks. All rights reserved.

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Pros & Cons Of Taking A Year Off After Graduation

Study Abroad: Stephen Snyder graduated from the University of Michigan in spring 2010 and is now an alumni ambassador for the Critical Language Scholarship Program (CLS). CLS enables current students and recent grads to study for approximately two months at an overseas institution in one of 13 languages deemed critical for United States diplomatic, trade or security purposes.


Says Snyder: "For me, this was a once-in-a-lifetime chance to visit a country to which I never otherwise would have been. CLS was an unparalleled opportunity to build up foreign language skills by immersing myself in a foreign country. … Not to mention, it was a fully covered scholarship, so I was lucky enough to not have to pay any expenses out of my own pocket."

Volunteer Abroad: Government programs such as the Peace Corps offer opportunities to work and learn in 77 developing countries.

Not sure where to start? Here are some great resources:

Peacecorps.gov
GoAbroad.com
CLScholarship.org
JETProgramme.org (Japanese Exchange and Teaching Program)
TeachForAmerica.org
ISVOnline.org (International Student Volunteers)

Pro No. 2: It amps up your resume.
Taking a gap year can make your resume more attractive, especially if your gap year plan leads you toward a relevant career goal. That extra experience will position you as a well-rounded candidate -- giving you an edge over your competition in the applicant pool.

However, Snyder warns, "Make sure that, if you spend two months partaking in professional development, you have a clear plan to integrate it into your career. For example, going abroad to develop an intermediate knowledge of Chinese might not help you if your career plan is wildly unrelated." If it is related, "by living and breathing a foreign language, you build up a unique skill set that sets you apart from other candidates on the job markets," says Snyder.

It is important to keep in mind why you've chosen a particular career path. Ask yourself: What are my main objectives? What do I want to accomplish, and to what do I want to contribute my time? If you graduated with a degree in marine biology, say, perhaps an eco-travel tour is more your speed -- and more conducive to your career goals.

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10 Things Employers & Recruiters Want From Job Seekers

Recruiters are looking for the following:

1. People who can show they volunteer to do more than is required of them in the workplace

2. People who “know what they don’t know,” make no bones about it, and constantly strive to learn to fill in the gaps of their knowledge and experience.

3. People who can explain what they did in a past job that makes them valuable to a future employer.

4. People who can understand recruiters are professional service providers who deserve respect. (If you are dealing with a recruiter who doesn’t deserve your respect, move on to another one!) Understand recruiters work with candidates, but ultimately for companies.

5. People who make an effort to establish a mutually beneficial relationship, by addressing them personally, offering to help find other candidates for positions if they aren’t the right fit themselves.

5. People who recognize it is counterproductive for both themselves and the recruiter to do the “end run” around the recruiter and deal directly with the company they represent.

All of this goes to show the importance of seeing the search for a new position as a “hunt” which requires a coherent strategy and a consistent message. Getting a job is a job! For more information about what recruiters are advising job hunters, don’t hesitate to be in touch with me directly. I offer an initial free consultation to any job hunter. Happy hunting!

What other qualities are employers looking for in a candidate? Comment below!

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Top 5 Resume Sins

4. You did not proofread the last draft.

A last minute change might affect your entire resume. For example, if you add a word on page one, it might force a line awkwardly onto page two or even create a blank page. Or perhaps you corrected the spelling of a company name in one place but neglected to change it in another place. Always proofread the last draft as carefully as the first draft.

5. You never sent the resume out.

You had so much advice from friends and relations that you became paralyzed by the chance of making a mistake. If you never send out a resume, you will never be asked to interview. In truth, no one keeps track of how many resumes you send out or how many never receive a response. All you need is one “yes.” Send your resume out today and start asking for that “yes.”

What would you place in your top five resume sins? Comment below!

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Job Market Looking Up For Grads

Traci Rouse, who is vice president of marketing at Wesley Medical Center, said there is a difference in what employers are looking for now versus what they wanted in potential employees 10 years ago.

Rouse received her marketing degree in 2000 and worked part time as coordinator of the Miss Hospitality Pageant before moving into a full-time position with the Hattiesburg Convention Commission.

"Employers expect you to be the complete package. Prospective employees should have done internship, made top grades, volunteered and done research on the company and be able to articulate why you want to be a member of the company," she said.

Anderson said students are getting jobs but the difference now over 10 years ago is that some have one job offer as opposed to having options for employment.

He said health care and accounting fields have made rebounds but the fields aren't were they were 10 years ago.

"We have to keep in mind last year wasn't a very good year for hiring," he said. "It's a good news, bad news scenario. Any sign of a hiring increase is welcome."

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Job Market Looking Up For Grads

Leslie Sellers, Student Support Services director at WCU, said there were more employers participating at the school's job fair this year compared to last year.

Dana S. Lamey, works for Palazzo & Co., an accounting firm in Biloxi, was at the job fair Wednesday recruiting graduating seniors.

She said the economy is picking up and leading to an increase in clients for the firm.

"Our company is seeking to hire at least 12 accountants and searching job fairs is a great way for the company to find people we are able to train," she said.

Nationally the job market is improving but Lisa Parker, marketing director with Career Services and Student Employment at Southern Miss, said the pace is a little slower here in the South.

Rusty Anderson, Southern Miss Career Services and Student Employment director, said companies have scaled back over the course of 10 years.

What I've seen is that 10 years ago, recruiters might project they need 11 people and hire 13," he said. "Today, they know exactly how many they want to hire and that's the exact number they'll hire."

Anderson added the job market is tighter now than it was 10 years ago.

"We saw a 50 percent decrease from 10 years ago and companies have scaled way back on campus recruiting visits," he said. "We continue to grow our enrollment. With more and more graduates every year, it makes the job market even tighter."

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10 Phrases That Kill Your Job Interview

4. "I don't have any experience."

If you are applying for a job in a field in which you have no experience, you are going to have to work extra hard to sell yourself. This is not an impossible task, however. Attitude and enthusiasm will go a long way. If you are inexperienced, do not lie about or exaggerate your experience. Rather, make the most of what you have. If possible, think of some things you have done in your life that are somehow related to the position. For example, you may not have supervised employees in the past, but you may have raised four children and smoothly run a household for many years. Perhaps you were the leader of your daughter's Brownie troop or coached your son's football team. These are all positions of leadership requiring supervisory skills. Demonstrate your enthusiasm for the job and show off the skills and experience you do have that will contribute to the position.

5. "I'll work for free just to get my foot in the door."

In most cases, offering to work for little or no pay in order to get your foot in the door is a mistake. When you offer to work for little or nothing, you are not valuing yourself or giving yourself worth. If you do not value yourself or your talents, how can you expect someone else to do so? Before going into a job interview, make sure you know what the industry standards are as far as pay rates for the position for which you are applying and the amount of experience you have. Know what you are worth, and expect others to know and appreciate that as well.

6. "I'm not willing to work overtime."

Employers do not want to hire employees who are just there to put in time and pick up a paycheck. They want to hire employees who are dedicated to what they are doing and who are willing to go the extra mile when necessary. If the job for which you are applying may require overtime, and you are unwilling or unable to work extra hours due to other commitments, then this may not be the job for you. Otherwise, it is best not to make a blanket statement that you completely rule out the concept of working overtime. Of course, there may be times when you will be unable to accept an offer of overtime hours due to family obligations, but if the job requires it, you had better be open to the possibility of putting in extra hours now and then.

7. "I'm looking for a position that is less stressful and will allow me to work less hours for more pay."

When your prospective employer asks you why you want to come to work for her company, believe me, she does not want to hear that it is because you want a cushy position that will not require much of you. Even if the position will offer substantially better working conditions, what your future boss really wants to know is whether you have a good attitude, enjoy challenge and are excited about opportunities for growth, increased responsibility and career advancement.

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10 Phrases That Kill Your Job Interview

8. "I don't like to stay in one place very long."

If your job history shows that you have hopped from one job to another in quick succession, a prospective employer is going to see this as a potential problem. Be prepared to explain why you have three jobs in as many years. Did one company close its doors? Did you outgrow a company because you had advanced as far as you possibly could? Were you recruited away from a company by another company which offered a better salary and more opportunity for career advancement? Your employer is going to want to hear that you had good reasons for changing jobs so many times and to be assured that you are not going to jump ship from his company the minute something better comes along.

9. "I'd like a large salary and a corner office and a private secretary."

You are a salesperson, and what you are selling is you. This is not about what this company can do for you at the interview stage; it is about selling them on what you can do for them. It is important that you value your own worth. If you are at that stage in your career where you can command a high salary, a corner office and a private secretary, then by all means negotiate these items as part of your requirements. But even then, no matter how high up you are on the career ladder, no employee has value to a company if he or she brings nothing to the table. Let your prospective employer know what you have to offer to the company, why he should hire you rather than someone else, and why you would be honored to accept a position within his company.

10. "9 to 5? Boy, that sure takes the best part out of the day, doesn't it?"

I had to throw this one in because it's something that was actually said during a job interview by an interviewee who was less than enthusiastic about work schedule that would be required of her. Needless to say, she was not offered the position. Even if you learn during the interview process that the position may not be exactly right for you, now is not the time to say so. Keep in mind that you may be compelled to accept this position, depending on your circumstances. Remember, too, that even if you do not accept or are not offered this position, it is important to make a good impression. Other positions may open up with this same company in the future, or the person interviewing you may remember you down the road when a friend at another company is looking for someone.

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College Grad Stays Positive And Makes A Difference

"It involves things people haven't done before," Borazjani said. "Goals for the field are very beneficial and very possible."

Borazjani said a 2010 internship with a South African hospital changed his life. After seeing so many women there affected with post-pregnancy bladder dysfunctions and babies born with bladder problems, he decided to find some opportunity to help.

Returning home, he joined with Weed and faculty mentor Jun Liao, an MSU associate professor of biomedical engineering, to begin work on possible solutions.

Borazjani also enlisted assistance from the university's Entrepreneurship Center and the Office of Technology Commercialization to help turn his vision into reality.

Gerald Nelson, director of MSU's E-Center and the Thad Cochran Endowment for Entrepreneurship, said some institutional partners have shown interest in assisting as the company grows. Among others, the business plan recently was reviewed by Bill Aulet of Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Sloan Entrepreneurship Center, Nelson added.

Having reached the milestone of a bachelor's degree, Borazjani has his mind clearly focused on making a difference in the lives of as many people as possible.

"We want to make sure mothers are alive to be with their children," he said.

Borazjani is the son of Abdolsamad and Fatemeh Borazjani. His father is a research associate in the basic science department of MSU's College of Veterinary Medicine.

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College Grads Facing Tough Choices

A former journalism student at WVU, Liddle transferred last year to Delaware County Community College near his home of Downingtown, Pennsylvania when faced with mounting student debt. A year into the change, with his sights now set on transferring to Temple University as a Political Science major, Liddle's demeanor is upbeat and positive. Despite having to work three part-time jobs while going to community college in the year he was originally supposed to graduate from WVU, Liddle claims to have hit upon "The New American Dream."

Liddle declared the new code for the Austerity Generation would be both simple and hard to follow. "First off, find a job that pays enough so that you can save at least a little, if not more. Doesn't have to be a job you necessarily want. Just has to pay the bills and, preferably, pay off your college loans quickly. Secondly, live as cheaply as possible. Don't do anything stupid like have kids early or get sucked into BS status purchases. " he said.

Liddle maintained that although times would be tough for many in our generation, others had found ways before and opportunities will be everywhere.

"Always remember: it's a jungle out there, but there's a ton of cash floating around for the person that's willing to work the hardest. Get that money, but don't buy into the BS. You're not a company man, and anybody who is is a fool. ," Liddle said.

A lot of the "status symbols" may not be as flashy as you imagine. Liddle considers buying a home "for suckers unless it is your goal to live in it for the next 30 years." As housing numbers continue to slump, according to the U.S. Commerce Department, many homeowners are defaulting on their homes – Liddle's cautious advice rings true.

As an extension of this, many people of our generation – graduated or not – will have to face the possibility of moving back in with their parents. While not mentioned directly by Liddle, living on your own is the archetypal status symbol many will have to forgo in order to attain financial freedom in the future.

Mocked within our own culture as a bastion for nerds and recluses, but embraced by previous and current immigrants, living with family will be the first of many necessary bitter pills to swallow.

Accepting the unknown, unfamiliar and enduring a lot of hard work will be the path to success for all graduates into this brave new world.

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