Flip a Coin

Several big life decisions have been looming over my head lately. They all came to a head today making me unfocused and anxious most of the day.

It started when an old employer forwarded me a job opportunity that she recommended me for. She said that I was the first person she thought of after reading the requirements. I was flattered and so grateful that she is still looking out for me, even though I have not worked for her in almost two years. Shows how much networking really can help in life.

I read about the position, what was required, what was expected, and what it paid. The position did sound like something right up my ally.

Problem number 1: I already have a job that I am not actively looking to leave. This may have been different 6 months ago, but not right now. While I still want to get into a field I love, I have unfinished business at this one. I don't actually want to leave until I accomplish what I need to there.

Problem number 2: I really want to move. The east coast has been driving me insane! I need to get away and fast! I can't think about taking a new position if I'm leaving the area, but this one sounds almost perfect for me.

These 2 main problems, also caused other ones to spin off.

What if I still haven't finished what I need to at my current job when my lease is up?

What if this new career opportunity is what I'm meant to do?

What if I can't find another opportunity that is comparable to either of these?

All of this went through my head while I was showering. I usually relax in the shower. I can't relax when freaking out. It was not a good start to the day.

Then, a very wise woman told me to flip a coin to make any and all of these big life decisions. I was at first very confused. This is a smart, successful woman who I respect professionally and personally, would she really make a life decision based on a coin flip?

Luckily she explained a bit further before I had to also rethink how I felt about her as a person. She told me that if I flip a coin, with heads being move and tails being stay and I get heads, I will know everything I need to. It's the reaction you have to the outcome that makes the decision. If the coin says move and I am disappointed then I guess I'm not ready to move.

Her theory scares me as much as elates me. I would love to just MAKE A DECISION and be done with it so I can plan accordingly. But, if I realize I'm not ready to move a brand new can of worms is opened about what to do with my life here.

Can I flip a coin to decide if I'm going to flip a coin to make this decision?

The Dreaded Post Grad Question

I've met a ton of recent grads since moving to Rochester in 2010. More often than not, the conversations I've had with these new acquaintances start of with a question that's dreaded by many post grads: "so..... what do you do?"

I don't dread this question or judge the people who ask it. I completely understand that sometimes there are only so many things you can talk about with an acquaintance before things take a turn for the awkward. Being new to our jobs is a common bond between most post grads, so it's only natural that talk about them in social gatherings.

While I understand the time and place for filler questions like these, I just hate the way this one is phrased. What do you do? Well... I listen to a lot of music, teach piano for fun, enjoy trying out new restaurants, and love running outside when the temperatures warm enough.

But that's not the answer that society has prepped us for. "What do you do?" means, "what's your job?" While my job is definitely one thing I do over the course of the week, it's not all that I do, and doesn't define everything I am.

I've really tried to avoid asking this question lately, even in the most awkward of conservation lulls. Instead, I'll try ask a new acquaintance what brought them to Rochester. If they like their job, this gives them an in to talk about it. If they don't, they can direct the conservation towards other parts of their lives.

How do you feel about the "what do you do" question?

The Interview

                           

A few weeks ago I wrote about amping up your cover letter to score an interview, but what happens when you land one? Here are a few post grad interview tips!

Dress appropriately- I know you're thinking, no duh, of course I'm not going to where ripped jeans and a tank top. But by appropriately I mean, dress for the job you are applying for. If you're interviewing at a graphic design or production company, you should still be modest, but you might want to include a bit of an artsy flair to your outfit.Someone applying for a job in a more traditional corporate environment would want to stick to a basic suit set.

Think about your five year plan ahead of time- "Where do you see yourself in five years?" Here's a hint, the answer should not be "as a professional singer in NYC" or "a stay at home mom". You don't want to give the impression that this job is just to hold you over a few months until you move or find something better. Companies value loyal employees and will often be wary of recent grads that are unsure of what they want.

Always ask questions-Think of questions ahead of time, and when all else fails, ask the interviewer how they got their start at the company. Never say that you have no questions at the end of an interview. Ever! To me, it gives the impression that you're uninterested in the company itself.

Do your research- Learn about the company! I guarantee that your interviewer will ask the question "why us?" Be prepared with an answer!

Follow Up- Send an email or place a phone call within 24 hours of the interview thanking your interviewer for their time. A little bit of politeness goes a long way.

What are your interview tips?

Disconnecting

Something I think many post grads struggle with is disconnecting from our jobs after work. Whether our bosses can reach us by email or smart phone at any time of the night, or we just torture ourselves by obsessing over work after the day is done, it can get to the point where it's just not healthy.

Last Christmas I whined and complained on this blog about how I only had 2 and a half days home for the entire holiday. At that point, I didn't have paid vacation time, and felt like I was being guilted into only taking one extra day off for the holiday. I hated my friends that got the week in between Christmas and New Years off, resented my company for the limited vacation days, and was generally just in a negative mood for the whole Christmas season.

This year I'm doing things a little differently. I'm taking four vacation days and making the five hour trip home for the entire week between Christmas and New Years. This break is going to give me the chance to see a few more of my downstate NY friends and spend some holiday time with my family that I just didn't get last year. I'm in a much better frame of mind this Christmas season because I have this break to look forward to. I'm allowing myself some time to disconnect.

I think the best way to figure out how you can disconnect is to simply think about what makes you happy (outside of the workplace) and then go for it.  For me, the absolute best disconnect is visiting home and seeing family. I saved up my vacation time for months, and I'm going for it. For others it might be taking a trip to another country, or even having a staycation where you allow yourself to do absolutely nothing.

While taking time away from the office is the ultimate disconnect, it's also important that a disconnect from work can happen on weeknights and two-day weekends too. Here are a few ways to do so:

1. Distract with fun: I'm lucky that my current co-workers and supervisors do not expect me to take work home. However, I'm a stresser by nature and often find myself worrying about various work projects when I'm off the clock. To distract myself, I de-stress after work by running at the gym, reading, teaching myself Dixie Chicks songs on the guitar (yup... maybe I'll post a blog of that sometime..or not), and cooking. All of these activities give my mind something pleasant to focus on that relates in no way to my job.

2. Create space: If your boss has taken to frequently emailing you at your personal email and calling you after working hours, try waiting to contact him/her back until working hours the next day if it's not an emergency. This is a gentle reminder to the company that your home life does not require you to be constantly plugged in, and you might not be available after hours for work related business.

3. Ask for space: If you work in a job that is less regimented with workday hours, consider asking that you be contacted only in the case of emergencies after 7pm every night (or whatever time is comfortable for you). Sometimes being upfront with your employers about your need to unwind can be beneficial, especially if you point out that time for rest means you will be more productive during the day.

Work is an important part of life and being a dedicated employee is great, but allowing work to mentally weigh you down outside of the office is just not healthy. Venting about work to your girlfriends over margaritas is one thing, losing sleep because you are obsessing over the next workday is another.

Do you ever have problems disconnecting from the office? How do you tune out the workday and relax?

Warby Parker

Does your health insurance plan offer minimal or no eye care coverage? Still need new eyeglasses? I would highly recommend checking out Warby Parker.

Warby Parker is an online shop that offers a wide range fashionable and vintage inspired frames for men and women. The best part? Your Warby Parker prescription glasses of choice will only set you back 98 dollars.

As other glasses wearers can attest, glasses are not cheap. Before checking out Warby Parker, I went to a few different stores, including Empire Vision and Lens Crafters, and found that they charge upwards of 300 dollars for very standard frames and lenses. I'm very picky when it comes to shopping for anything, so I always have a tough time finding glasses in stores that are perfect for me, and I really don't enjoy the salespeople that breathe down your neck while you're looking.

Buying glasses online seemed impossible to me at first (how do you try them on???), but it's actually very easy with Warby Parker. Here's how it works:

Step 1: You need your prescription. I see an opthamologist since eye problems run in my family and I had cataract surgery in high school (that thing old people get...), so I got my prescription from my doctor. If you don't see an opthamologist, you can get your eyes tested at an optometrists office for around 60-90 dollars (sometimes there are even sales on eye exams).

Step 2: Visit warbyparker.com and pick out five frames that you like. Warby Parker mails you these frames (including return packaging) for free so you can try them on in the comfort of your own home. And make your family members and boyfriend vote on their favorite like I did.

Step 3: Place your order. You can even scan in your prescription if you're afraid of filling it in wrong on their site, or simply give them your eye doctor's number and they will call to find out your prescription for you!

Step 4: Wear your awesome glasses and feel proud of yourself for getting such a great deal. Warby Parker does not accept insurance, but does offer you a receipt that you can mail to your insurance company if you do get some coverage.

Warby Parker has gotten a bit of a reputation as a hipster brand in the blogosphere which is why I initially tried going the more traditional route when I needed new glasses, but I can assure you that even though some of their styles border on hipster territory, many do not!

My new Warby Parker glasses!

Feel free to ask me any questions if you've considered Warby Parker, or visit them online- their customer service department is very helpful.

(I also just realized this post sounds like an advertisement for Warby Parker, but I wanted to clarify that we were compensated in no way for this review! I just really love a good deal. )

Stupid Questions

My job is very stressful. If that has not been abundantly clear in previous posts, now you know. This week especially I have had an abundance of stupid questions asked to me. I know what you're thinking "But Shikole, there is no such thing as a stupid question! My professor told me so!"

False. Read on and you will understand.

Example 1: Client tells me on Tuesday they would do anything to get Fios installed by the end of the week. I make this happen. The Fios tech calls at 9:30am today to tell me he is on the way to do the install. I alert the client.

Client response "No, now isn't a good a time, can you stall them until noon?"

This is not a valid question. Do not ask me such ridiculous things.

Example 2: A new hire is placing an order for a client on the client's credit card.

New Hire: "Who's address should I put as the billing address, ours or the clients?"

This is not a valid question. Do not ask me such ridiculous things.

Example 3: Client emails with an "urgent" problem. It reads: "I tried calling So-and-So and got a recording saying his voicemail is full and I can't leave a message. Can you fix this?" Well, Lady, this usually means that So-and-So needs to empty their voicemail.

This is not a valid question. Do not ask me such ridiculous things.

Example 4: At 6:30pm, after normal business hours, a client calls because she can't figure out how to email a picture from iPhoto. I explain to her that all my technicians have gone home for the night and we will assist her in the morning.

Client response: "Well why don't you just text Boss Man and tell him I'm waiting at my computer for help?"

This is not a valid question. Do not ask me such ridiculous things.

Today all I wanted to do was scream at the top of my lungs until everyone stopped asking me questions. It was the only way I could think of that would be effective. Or maybe I need to find an anti-stupid drug to put in the DC water supply. For now, I will settle on wine as a resolution.

Cover Letter Check List

When applying for jobs online, your cover letter and resume are what will land you an interview or send you straight to a company's trash bin. The other day, my friend was writing a cover letter for a position and asked me for some input, which led to a debate about how long a cover letter should be and what exactly it should entail. I ended up creating a list of things that I have looked for in cover letters when hiring for my company.

Let's start from the top of the email!

1. Address your cover letter to someone. If the contact person on the job listing is Mr. Bossman, start the letters of with a "Dear Mr. Bossman," even if you're just writing an email. If there's no name on the job posting, a simple "To Whom It May Concern" will do.

2. Use the company's name in the first paragraph. This goes along with tip number one and makes your letter much more personal. The last thing a company wants to see is a generic letter that you copy and pasted to fifty different employers.

3. In the first or second paragraph, state a reason why you would be a great fit for the job based on something you've been able to research about the company. I completely understand that a job is a job in this economy. We aren't always picky when the words "full time with benefits" are tossed around. This doesn't mean that you can't look up the company's website and do a little googling to find out more about the company you'd like to work for.

Bad Example: I have a wide range of skills that would make me the perfect candidate for Company X.

Good Example:  In researching your company, I noticed that Company X offers social media services. My freelance social media consulting work has actually required to me to do the same tasks listed on your website.

4. Avoid overusing cliche phrase like "determined and innovative individual", or saying that you have a "passion for _____" . Believe me, I've been guilty of both of these! If you are a dedicated and passionate worker, instead try to briefly describe how you exemplify these traits.

Bad Example: I have a passion for writing, so I would be honored to work Town X Newspaper.

Good Example: In addition to my full time job as a content editor, I write freelance articles, and run my own blog.

In my opinion, a passion should speak for itself.

5. Keep length in mind! Growing up, when my mom would edit my essays she would tell me to "add more meat" but stay away from "fluff". While meat is meaningful content, fluff falls more into the "I have a passion for..." category. By keeping your cover letter brief but pointed, you will catch an interviewers attention, and keep it.

6. Sign your cover letter with a "Sincerely", followed your full name, your contact info, and a link to your LinkedIn profile.

7. Always attach a resume!!!!!!!!

What do you think post grads? Would you cringe if I was the one reviewing your cover letter, or do you agree with my check list? I'd love to hear your input and some more cover letter tips!

What's Your Walk Score?

One of the major priorities I keep in mind when apartment hunting is walkability. I love where I live in Rochester because I have restaurants, cafes, and grocery stores all within a few blocks of my apartment. I know wherever I live next, I will have to be positive that I can walk to at least some nearby attractions.

It was pretty easy for me to determine where I wanted to live in Rochester since I went to college nearby and could scope out neighborhoods before my move, but this wouldn't have worked if I was moving across the country for a new job. Thankfully, Walkscore.com exists as a useful tool for post grads that might be moving to a brand new area and are looking to live in a walkable neighborhood.

The Walk Score website is extremely easy to navigate and provides a "walk score" for any address or city in the U.S on a scale from 0-100. For example, the walk score for my current apartment is an 82/100.. pretty good in my opinion! The walk score for the town where Shikole and I grew up? 6/100. This is why we moved to cities, people.

Another valuable tool on the website is their new apartment search/ commute calculator. No one likes to be stuck in an hour of traffic after working 8 hours. This tool helps you to locate apartments near your job and takes into consideration your preferred mode of transportation for commuting (by foot, public transportation, or car).

Hope you find some of these tools helpful! Let me know if any of you have experiences with Walk Score!

The Tech World

I used to know nothing about technology. By nothing I mean I could press the "on" button and then I was lost.

After being at my job for about 16 months, I now have some knowledge as to how things work. So much so that I can give instructions as to how to set up email from the server on an iPhone. But now I have noticed that I've crossed over to the dark side.

When friends explain the state of their technology at work I get stressed out. The company my roommate works at does not even have a domain. They use gmail. And not one of their computers has more that 512MB of storage space. I actually had a reaction to this; I needed to fix it. I started laying out an upgrade plan in my head and explaining why my way is better. And I actually knew what I was saying.

I was watching FlashPoint the other night and had a similar reaction. They started talking about assigning a dynamic IP to something and I actually started yelling at the television. You need a static IP to do anything like that.

This is no doubt a sign that I work too much, but it is also a sign that I am learning things I never had an interest in before. I still don't think I have much of an interest, but knowing that rebooting a computer solves most of its issues is very helpful in life.

I am glad that this job has taught me something, but I hate that I am now picking up on tech related issues outside of work. I need to bake something to make this all better. Maple Spice Cookies anyone? (hint: there will be a recipe up for this later.)

Opposites Attract.. At Least In Entrepreneurship

I recently read an interesting article on The Daily Grindstone about how entrepreneurs should look to partner with those who are their opposites when founding a business. We often hear that opposites attract in romantic relationships (which I don't think is true, but that's another story..), but not so much in the business world. Wouldn't it be more beneficial to partner with someone who mirrors your working style?

Look no further that this blog for proof that working with someone different from yourself can be beneficial. While I am generally quieter, more sensitive, and tend to think creatively, Shikole is not at all afraid to speak her mind, is excellent at networking, and is always the life of the party (those who know her can attest to this fact).  These personality traits do not make us complete opposites, but I do see them come out in our writing style and the way we run this little blog. We balance each other out, and since we share the common goal to make this blog the best it can be, we virtually never step on each other's toes.

I would definitely suggest checking out the article if you and a friend are considering starting a business, or even blog, together.

LinkedIn

There's no question that everyone and their mom (literally) is on Facebook these days. But what about Facebook's slightly dorkier and business-minded cousin website? Yup, we're talking about LinkedIn today.

When I thought I might like to have a career in online publishing, I made an appointment to talk with one of my favorite professors to see what options were out there for me. Before we got into career options, the first thing she asked me was if I had a LinkedIn profile. I made one that afternoon.

What is LinkedIn?

For those who are only vaguely familiar with the site, your LinkedIn profile is essentially your online resume with a more personal touch. You can write your own "about me" section and link to personal websites/ twitter pages in addition to providing all of your past job and schooling info.  LinkedIn also has a recommendation feature, where past employers can write up summaries on your work experience that will display on your profile.

What you should include in your profile:

One of my professor's best LinkedIn tips: make sure you don't put "SUNY Geneseo (insert your college name here) student" under your profession at the top of your profile, unless your plan is to become a graduate student. I was ready to hit the workforce, so instead I took stock of my personal writing projects and called myself a "magazine journalist and blogger". Since I had examples of where I was published, I felt okay using this title. It made me feel powerful to stop placing myself into the college student category. This is definitely not to say that you should make up a career, but make sure you are giving yourself a title based on your skills, not where you attend school.

The other tip I have for anyone new to LinkedIn is to make sure you commit to your profile. If you want a career as a social media strategist or writer, make sure your profile reflects your skills. Leaving your profile completely empty with only "I'm a recent grad looking for job opportunities" under "about me" is not the way to go about attracting potential employers.

Instead, take the time to write out a thoughtful LinkedIn page. Contact old employers on LinkedIn and ask for recommendations. Hook LinkedIn up to your Twitter account, join LinkedIn groups, and actively participate in discussions.

Why LinkedIn is so valuable:

Resumes are great tools to use in the job hunt, but they can easily get lost in the shuffle of a busy office. LinkedIn is easily accessible anywhere with an internet connection (which is pretty much everywhere nowadays.) For example, every time you write a follow up email to a potential employer, include your LinkedIn page link under your signature. This not only makes you appear social media savvy, but is also a quick way for employers to scan your qualifications and see what past employers have to say about you.

LinkedIn is also a valuable resource for job openings. I'm alerted at least five times a day about job openings in my field that might be of interest to me. It's possible that you and a potential employer will even be members of the same LinkedIn group.
About half of the people I know the professional world actually don't have LinkedIn profiles, which seems crazy to me, since the site is entirely free and easy to navigate. I hope a few of of these tips can help you turn your LinkedIn profile page into the best one possible or inspire you to create one for yourself!

Calling Out Sick

This is a touchy subject in most offices. On one hand, employers don't want their employees coming in sick and infecting an entire office. On the other hand, it seems like there is unspoken judgement whenever someone calls out. Are they really sick, or do they just have a mild headache that an ibuprofen would cure? Here are a few ways to ensure that you don't get any raised eyebrows around your office. Feel free to leave your other ideas with the comments!

1. If you know you'll want a day off, just schedule it. Don't fake sick to extend your weekend. Most of us are not amazing actors, and after your third "cough, cough.. I'm sick.." phone call on a Friday morning, your employers are going to know.

2. If you are actually sick, make sure to call the appropriate people. Call your supervisor, office manager, whoever schedules payroll at your office, and let them now. Briefly explain why you aren't feeling well (no need to include a puking count or description here..) and say that you'll be sorry to miss work.

3. Catch up on work upon your return in a timely fashion.

4. Don't take "mental health days" unless they really are for your mental health. Example 1: a close relative or friend passes away or you actually need to see a psychologist for an emotional issue = mental health day.  Example 2: You and your boyfriend are taking a break for the fifth time, you need a new manicure, and you want to catch up on laundry = not mental health day worthy.

This isn't to say that you're never allowed to take a day off for "me time", just schedule it in advance so everyone can prepare for your absence!

Whose Job is It?

Last week a co-worker of mine was fired. He did not take it very well and decided to create a scene. While everyone else was watching the commotion, all I could think was "great now I get to do more work."

In a company, what is the right way to deal with a sudden and unexpected loss of part of the team? Whose job is it to cover the workload that is dropped? And don't say everyone should chip in, because not everyone has the skill set to do so. And in my case all the responsibility has fallen to me. Not to mention all the work to find someone to replace the departed co-worker.

So, post grads, this is why I have been out of commission lately. Work has become insanely stressful. More so than usual. Have any of you ever been in the position to fill the gap at work? Did you know what you were doing? And more importantly, did your actual job fall to the wayside while trying to do the 2nd one?

I cannot wait until this weekend when I get to visit a dear friend for her birthday far far away from work. Sigh.

Save or Splurge

As a recent grad, your probably are pinching pennies wherever you can, I know I am! Lately, I've been realizing that buying cheap is not always best thing to do in all situations. Here's a list of a few things that I find are worth splurging on and a few that aren't.

Splurge

Healthy Food: It sucks that organic and healthier food choices are priced so much higher than mac&cheese and sugary cereal, but healthy food is something I would recommend spending the money for, at least in moderation. Your body needs good food to fuel you throughout the work day.

Car Maintenance: Get your oil changed, tires rotated, and brakes inspected regularly. Putting off simple car maintenance because of cost can lead to worse (more expensive) problems down the road for your vehicle. You can often find coupons for general maintenance on garage websites.

A Good Mattress: One of the key ingredients to every productive day is a good nights sleep. Take it from a girl who slept on an aero-bed (type of air mattress) for a year and a half...until it started deflating.. Invest in a comfortable mattress.

Your Health- Is your tooth killing you? Have you been coughing for two months? See a doctor so your sickness doesn't progress to something much worse. An emergency room visit is going to cost you way more than a a visit to your doctor.

Save

Apartment Furniture/ Decor- I love browsing design blogs and daydreaming about my perfect post grad apartment as much as the next girl, but furniture is expensive. Thrift stores, craigslist, garage sale pieces, and furniture warehouse sales are an excellent way to avoid spending your paychecks on new overpriced pieces.


Clothing- I hope I don't offend any fashionistas out there, but I really don't believe that clothing is an investment. It's awesome to have nice clothes that you can wear multiple times in many different ways. Spending a little more money on a black dress you will wear a few times every week is definitely worth it. That being said, dropping 1,000 dollars or more on "the perfect purse" at this point in our lives should probably never be factored into your monthly expenses (unless you've saved up the money or have the means to do so).


Alcohol/ Dining Out- You may have wised up to this one in college, but drinking can be expensive. The same goes for eating out. A 6 dollar cocktail here and 15 dollar dinner there might seem like nothing, but they add up fast. Setting a monthly budget for these types of expenses is a good way to stay on track.


Cable- Cable prices are outrageous and with most networks providing their shows online, they are quickly becoming unnecessary. Hulu, Netflix (their nasty little rate hike is still cheaper than cable), and Itunes are a great options for watching the shows you love.


I'm thinking Save or Splurge might be an interested piece to do weekly. What do you all consider worthwhile investments at this point in your post grad career?

All Work and No Play

I am having a hard time keeping work and the rest of my life separate. My company just instituted an "On Call" schedule that rotates so that someone is always available to assist our clients. While I am not personally on this schedule, because I don't actually know anything about technology, I still have to assist my co-workers during these times.

I also recently have the need to check my work email at home. Not on my BlackBerry, actually logging in and checking it. I feel like if I don't I will get behind in everything that needs to happen. I actually get anxious about what assignments might have built up for me while I haven't been checking my email.

I do not know if this is just because of the line of work I'm in or if this is typical to most fields. Technology seems to be a 24/7 job. Part of me cannot understand why people need their BlackBerries fixed at 1am, but we get requests all night. But when I get to work in the morning, there are so many requests waiting for me it is overwhelming.

And now I feel the need to always be in the loop about what is going on at work. I used to be done as soon as I left the office. I wouldn't answer my work phone, I wouldn't check email. Everything was separated by whether or not I was in the office. Now I am worried I'm being coming the female Ari Gold who works all the time. How do you all balance work and the rest of your life? I'm killing myself the way I'm doing it now.

Lucky

One of the major lessons I've learned from blogging here on The Real Post Grad is to be accepting of the different paths we all take after college. Through this site, Shikole and I have had the chance to connect with grads that are working full time and part time, living in new cities, traveling, staying in their college towns, or moving back in with parents. I've come to realize that no one lifestyle after graduation is perfect. It all depends on what works for you.

This weekend I visited home and attended a street festival that my very small hometown waits all year long for. I saw people from high school that I haven't seen in years, and the first question many asked were, "where are you working??" While my full-time work lifestyle seems to be approved of by most, I hate the looks that my some of my friends who are working part time jobs, or jobs not related to their majors always tend to receive when this question comes up in conversation.

You know the look.. it's the raised eyebrow, followed by "oh.. well you're on your way..." It's almost like silent judgement radiates off of them. Sometimes, I just want to shake these people and tell them to remember just how lucky they are to be working in the exact field in the exact "perfect position" they desire (if they even truly are). I don't mean to downplay the hard work and determination it takes to land a dream job, but we'd be kidding ourselves if we ignored the fact that luck plays into things too.

Before starting my current "career" job, I was ready to become a waitress, a camp counselor, or head back to working retail because it just didn't seem like there were any jobs for writers out there. If I hadn't happened to be randomly job hunting on a site I'd never visited before on a Friday at 3:30pm, I would have missed my chance at this position.

The moral of this rant? If your career is heading in a great direction, take a minute and appreciate just how lucky you are. Remember that you could have easily been among the post grads with less than ideal working situations. Try to offer them help in their search, or words of encouragement instead of judgement.

Beating the Heat

This summer I seem to be stuck in a strange sort of unmotivated state. I'm not sure if it's the heat or work frying my brain, but I'm finding that all I really want to do these days is be near water, or taking part is some sort of cliche summery activity. I've already done mini golf this season, I've gone to the lake, I saw fireworks for fourth of July, and I've been swimming every weekend (although it's in an indoor lap pool, so that doesn't really count).

Unfortunately, I haven't had the motivation to blog much, or use the gym as much as I should, and all of a sudden grocery shopping and other chores that I actually enjoyed doing when I first moved into my place aren't so fun anymore. This past winter, I loved doing all of these things.


It's time for me to get out of this lazy-hazy-crazy days of summer mindset and start accomplishing some personal goals.


How do you all kick start your routines during the summer? Does anyone else feel like they've been in a summer daze the past few weeks?

Meet Liz Funk

Hey readers, in the next week, The Real Post Grad is going to be a virtual book tour stop for Liz Funk, author of the new e-book series Coming of Age in a Crap Economy. Liz is a New York-based freelance writer and author whose already written for many impressive publications, such as USA Today, the Washington Post, Newsday, New York magazine, the Christian Science Monitor, and AOL.com. Oh, and she's only 22.

Although she is clearly accomplished, Liz still experiences the same things we write about on a daily basis here at The Real Post Grad. It might seem hard to believe with her impressive credentials, but Liz actually hasn't been offered the coveted full-time job with benefits that we post grads seem to strive for. Instead of wallowing in the hopelessness of the economy, she instead uses her new e-book to talk about how post grads can create their own opportunities and make the best out of their situation, which is definitely something we stand behind.

We think Liz is pretty inspiring, and we're excited to read and review Coming of Age in a Crap Economy early next week. At the end of the week, Liz will be stopping by at The Real Post Grad to answer some of your questions and give away a copy of her book! Stay tuned!

My #1 Job Hunting Tip

A week ago on twitter we asked you guys what you'd like to see more on the site, and one of our followers suggested more job hunting tips! Here's the trick to how I've landed most of my jobs. It may not work for everyone, but it definitely helped me land my full time position.

Make verbal contact.

I've wrote about this in the past, but it's worth posting on again. I've done a little interviewing work to help hire someone for my company and guess how many resumes were emailed to us within ten minutes of listing an ad on craigslist? About 30.

Every time you reply to an online job listing, imagine that there are at least 30 to 50 applicants applying to the same job. You might have an outstanding resume with lots of work experience, but what happens if it's never even read by the employer?

If you live in the area where you are job hunting, no harm can come from visiting the office to drop off your resume in person. If you don't live in the area, make a phone call! Make sure you touch base with someone at the company so they know that you are persistent and willing to take the extra step.

Never underestimate the power of personal connections, whether you have the chance to speak directly with talk an HR representative, the company president, or even the receptionist.

If you had to choose, what would be your #1 job hunting tip?

Tuesday

Yesterday was the most Monday-ish Tuesday I've dealt with lately.
They were installing new garage doors directly under my office which meant lots of loud drilling and hammering...all day... I also drove five hours on Monday, leaving behind a relaxing weekend at home and was welcomed by an overheated apartment, and internet that wasn't working.

Normally I would have some sort of tip on how to turn the day around, but since I'm currently updating this from the inside of my car in a Panera parking lot (due to my lack of internet), I've really got nothing.

Sometimes days are just annoying, but thankfully, there's always a new one right around the corner.

Maybe I'll leave this one up to you... how do you all turn your bad days around?