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#CollegeGradJobs : Companies Want Fewer Grad Hires This Year. Companies are Hiring Fewer Graduates & Their Needs for Entry-Level Talent. Got Kids, Great REad!

The Class of 2024 is about to join a job market nearly as turbulent as their college years.

Employers plan to hire 5.8% fewer new graduates than they did last year, according to a spring survey of 226 employers by the National Association of Colleges and Employers. And what those bosses want from entry-level workers is changing, students and recruiters say, from years of experience to sophisticated artificial-intelligence skills. Some companies say AI is taking over part of the work fresh graduates used to do.

It’s just the latest challenge for the graduating seniors who began their studies with Covid-19 lockdowns and Zoom classes and finished them amid protests that disrupted campus life nationwide.

“I didn’t think it would be so hard to even get a screening interview,” said Daniel Cooper, a computer-engineering major who graduated from the Georgia Institute of Technology this month. The 22-year-old accepted a software-engineering job earlier this spring, but the offer was rescinded after the company announced layoffs.

Overall, the job market remains strong, and recruiting executives say new graduate-hires benefit from steady wage growth over the past few years. But it’s taking graduating seniors longer to find white-collar roles. By April 2023, more than a third had accepted a full-time job and stopped looking further, according to research and analytics firm Veris Insights. This year, just under a quarter had.

Cooper has applied to about three dozen other software engineering jobs since his offer evaporated, resulting in two interviews but no new offers. Though he’s had eight internships, some of the job applications he’s filled out ask for years of work experience, excluding internships, he said. That puts him at zero.

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Employers get picky

HealthEdge, an insurance-software company, is among the companies hiring fewer new graduates this year. It’s bringing on five new graduates in the U.S. compared with 20 in 2023. Overall, it’s hiring fewer entry-level employees, and a greater share of them are in India, said Stefani Coleman, who leads early-talent recruiting and programming.

Demand for such jobs, meanwhile, has been overwhelming, she added. At one point, she received about 2,000 applications within 24 hours for an associate software-engineering role.

“The market has changed so drastically,” she said.

The supply of computer-science majors continues to grow as hiring demand for software programming roles appears to be cooling. Two other major campus job recruiting sectors—consulting and finance—are also retrenching after pandemic hiring sprees.

Graduates looking for jobs must meet a higher bar because the market is already crowded with junior workers who recently lost jobs, says Jay Killough, who leads Texas Tech University’s career center.

“Those people have experience,” said Killough, “and most employers we talk to love experienced professionals.”

Payton Poulston, who graduated from Indiana University Bloomington this month, has been looking for a job in medical-devices sales since the start of her senior year. She’s contacted people she met during her three internships. Her mother, who works at a hospital, has also been asking co-workers and others for job leads on her behalf.

Poulston has landed interviews, but no offers. The companies typically tell her they want three to five years of experience, even for jobs listed as entry-level positions.

“It might be easier to hire someone who can just come in and get the job done and know exactly how to do everything,” she said.

The AI factor

Companies are also expecting grads to come in knowing how to use AI in their work, said Mohammad Soltanieh-ha, a clinical assistant professor at Boston University’s Questrom School of Business. In class, for example, his programming students learn how to use AI to find what’s wrong with their codes as opposed to spending half a day figuring it out on their own, he said.

“It’s not that the AI is taking their jobs,” said Soltanieh-ha of entry-level workers. “It’s somebody that knows how AI is working—that’s who is going to take their job.”

AI is starting to supplant some types of traditional entry-level work. Axiologic Solutions, a government technology contractor near Washington, D.C., is deploying AI to take on tasks that new graduates previously did in its human-resources department. An AI tool can send emails and training videos to new hires. A chatbot can answer many of the questions a new hire might have.

When two people recently left the HR department, they didn’t need to be replaced, said Michael Chavira, the company’s managing partner and co-founder. Anyone he does hire needs to have experience using AI, since he’s thinking about using it in other business areas too, such as accounting.

“AI right now is making those entry-level positions—I don’t want to say obsolete—but they’re changing them,” Chavira said.

Back to basics

Jennifer Neef, director of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign’s career center, said that, for now, she is encouraging computer science majors to look for tech roles in other industries. Smaller employers, as well as government agencies, will hire through the middle of summer, she said.

“I always ask students—‘Who knows that you’re looking for a job?’ The response should be everyone,” Neef said.

She has been advising students to “use a scalpel and not a machete” in contacting employers and recruiters. That means making meaningful connections, instead of spamming hiring managers with one-size-fits-all messages, and following up regularly after a first meeting. Employers want to make sure their new hires have the willingness to learn and can fit with their teams’ work styles, she said.

Some career advisers are also advising graduates to refrain from opining about campus protests if asked in job interviews.

“Our advice is to be very neutral, like, ‘Yeah, that’s happening there,’” said Beth Hendler-Grunt, president of career-coaching company Next Great Step. So far, she says none of her clients have mentioned such questions coming up, though many studied at schools where protests took place.

Kali Muniz, who graduated from Texas A&M University this month, landed a job in October, after a couple of snags.

The flight simulator company where she had previously interned told her they weren’t hiring new grads because of budget cuts. She thought she had clinched an interview for a consulting job, then was surprised when she was rejected.

The job she did get—as a financial manager for the federal government—Muniz found by applying online. She included a recommendation from someone at her internship in her application.

“I don’t know if that helped me,” said the 22-year-old management major, “but I hope it did.”

WSJ.com Authors:  Chip Cutter contributed to this article along with  Joseph Pisani at joseph.pisani@wsj.com and Lindsay Ellis at lindsay.ellis@wsj.com

WSJ.com | May 22, 2024

#YourCareer : 5 Recession Proof Jobs Revealed (And The List Might Surprise You). Great REad!

American families are struggling with inflation. As three-quarters of middle-income Americans struggle to support their cost of living, 78% are worried about losing their jobs, while 25% say they’ve been laid off or know someone who has been. Crippling recession and job uncertainty have forced Americans to act, with 40% actively planning a career change, seeking more security and a higher salary.

Today, the job market moves faster than a Tesla in a ludicrous mode, leaving many bystanders gasping for air,” according to Roman Peskin, co-founder and CEO of ELVTR, an online education platform.

The team at ELVTR surveyed 21,500 Americans looking to change or enhance their careers to discover the top five recession-proof professions, helping workers recession-proof their careers and add value to their job search.

Top 5 Recession-Proof Professions

Here are the top 5 professions that, according to ELVTR, are in high demand—each paying up to around $100,000 a year. This list might surprise you:

1. Product Management

In a world driven by technology, there’s no shortage of innovation or demand for talent in the IT sector, but companies aren’t just seeking technologists. They also require those with product management skills to ensure the success of their products. According to Glassdoor, there are 17,725 current openings in the product management field. IT product managers can expect a respectable salary and opportunities to progress. Offering a pathway into the lucrative tech industry that doesn’t require the ability to code. Average salary, Glassdoor: $96,496 per year

 

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What Skill Sets Do You have to be ‘Sharpened’ ?

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Article continued …

2. DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) Management

According to LinkedIn, the number of ‘head of diversity’ professionals has more than doubled since 2015 with companies such as Electronic Arts, Deloitte and Amazon among those hiring. Shown to boost productivity, employee retention and morale, and with 75% of job seekers evaluating a company’s diversity when considering a job offer, investment in DEI management positions will only increase. By mastering skills such as communication, issue identification and conflict management, candidates can secure a career in this growing field. Besides offering a lucrative career choice, such roles are perfect for those hoping to leave a positive mark on our workplaces and society. Average salary, Glassdoor: $89,804 per year

3. Game Production

The gaming industry grew by 26% between 2019 and 2021 and will continue on this trajectory despite the recession, according to PwC, as consumers seek low-cost entertainment. With gaming a favorite hobby among young consumers, this ranks as the most desirable industry among job-seekers as new professionals seek a career doing what they love most. To beat the competition, candidates will need to master scarcely available skills. This is not just an opportunity for those with coding knowledge and experience. To meet demand, the industry will need to recruit a diverse range of skills—from UX/UI to sound engineering, programming to script writing. Average salary, Glassdoor: $87,024 per year

4. Creative Direction

With sector job prospects projected to grow 11% this decade, faster than the U.S. job market average, there is an evident need for art direction skills. A decline is unlikely despite the economic situation as people continue to seek entertainment during tough times and businesses increase their advertising efforts to maintain recognition and loyalty. Opposing the ‘starving artist’ stereotype, art direction roles enable creative types to showcase their creativity with the guarantee of reward. Average salary, Glassdoor: $72,694 per year

5. Data Analysis

With an ever-growing amount of data available to businesses, professionals with analysis skills to transform this into valuable insight are in high demand. According to LinkedIn, data science vacancies have been growing by 37% annually in the U.S. With roles spread across almost all industries, those competent in data analysis have the freedom to pick a role and sector that appeals to them such as banking, healthcare, retail or tech. Also requiring above-average computer literacy and mathematical skills, this is by no means an easy profession, but the rewards are equal to the requirements with even entry-level analysts commanding above-average salaries. Average salary, Glassdoor: $63,731 per year

A Final Word On The Future Of Work

After decades of wage stagnation, the workforce is finally seeking more, Peskin told me. He explained that close to a quarter of employees are considering their options and scrambling to expand their expertise, but so too are thousands of others. “‘Skills inflation’ hits, the supply of candidates increases, and the number of available roles plummets,” he said. “Ultimately, mastering mass market skills are unlikely to improve a job seeker’s prospects. Instead, employees should focus on acquiring skills that are less common among today’s workforce, yet no less valuable and desirable to employers.”

Most of the jobs from the list above didn’t exist 20 years ago, according to Peskin, yet today they enjoy a steady demand despite a slowdown in the economy. “According to our recent research, 40% of people with a college degree don’t believe their profession will be in demand ten years from now,” he concluded. “Lifetime learning is no longer a fancy concept but quite literally a survival mechanism. Learn new skills or get eaten. That’s the deal.”

 

Forbes.com | October 26, 2022 |

#CareerAdvice : #CollegeStudents – 6 Smart Tips for Turning your #Internship into a #FullTimeJob …Got Kids??

Your internship is almost coming to an end and right now, all you want is to turn this small stint into a full-time job, isn’t it?

After all, it cannot get better than starting your career in a company you are familiar with and doing the work that deeply interests you. Internships don’t just add to your experience and give you exposure, they are also a great way for companies to take note of well-performing individuals and assess whether they can permanently fit the bill.

So, if you want your internship to end with a full-time job offer, here are six smart tips to make that dream a reality.

Give it your best

“Oh, that’s a no-brainer”, you might think but a lot of students take internships lightly which reflects in their work ethic and attitude. The key is to treat your internship like a real job and give it your best.

You might be juggling college and this internship, but you cannot let it affect your work. Remember that as an intern, you will always be under scrutiny. Whether it’s asking questions, being on time, adhering to deadlines, dressing professionally and managing your tasks well – all these factors matter. Hence, if you wish to convert this internship into a job, you need to leave a positive impression and stand out.

You don’t have to worry about being a know-it-all. This is your time to imbibe and learn. Work with enthusiasm and a positive attitude, and people around are bound to take notice.

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Be proactive

Internships are your first-hand experience of the corporate world. You need to make that transition from a being a college student to an intern because the latter is a completely different space to be in.

It’s no longer just about finishing assignments on time and studying for tests, internships are a lot more demanding. So, put your problems as a university student aside and look ahead.

Take ownership of your work and be proactive in your ways. Identify loopholes and suggest measures the company can take, take up additional responsibilities and always ask for feedback to understand how you are being perceived.

Everyone appreciates proactiveness because it signifies passion and genuine interest.

Network internally

More than networking externally, it’s important to focus on making connections within the office. Here’s your time to strengthen your reputation and make connections. Start with building a rapport with your immediate supervisor and spend quality time with him/her.

In case there are any office activities or off-sites happening, make sure you participate as these are one of the few times you get to strike a connection with colleagues outside of work.

Building a strong network while working is always beneficial when you are trying to land the job and even if you don’t manage to convert the internship, it helps to make connections as you never know who could help you fuel your next career move.

Identify areas of interest

Internships let you evaluate where your interests lie and the line of work you see yourself in so maximize this time to understand yourself in order to set professional goals. Don’t be the intern who is clueless by the end of the internship – it reflects badly on you and shows a lack of seriousness towards your career.

Express eagerness

Many students hesitate in expressing their interest to work in the company as a full-time employee and are often disappointed when the internship does not end with a job offer. Do not wait to be offered a job because you cannot expect the company to magically know about your career goals.

So, towards the end of the internship, speak to the hiring manager and your supervisor and express your eagerness to work with the company. Tell them how you see yourself fit in, the value you will add and your experience as an intern. Do your bit and leave the rest to them.

Keep in touch

Unfortunately, every internship does not end with a job and the reasons are not always related to your capabilities. You might be extremely capable, but the company has a budget allotted for every team and sometimes it’s difficult to fit in someone they hadn’t budgeted for.

In such cases, don’t lose hope. Stay in touch with your supervisor and colleagues even after the internship comes to an end. You can start with adding them on LinkedIn, offer your assistance and ask them to recommend you if they come across a suitable job. Till then, work on building your personal brand and keep the hunt on!

 

Author:  Adela Belin is the Head of Digital Marketing at Writers Per Hour. She creates content surrounding marketing with a focus on social media and digital marketing. Feel free to contact Adela on LinkedIn.

 

TheLadders.com |  March 11, 2019

#CareerAdvice : Got Kids? – 3 Questions to Ask Yourself When Trying to Choose Your #CollegeMajor … College Freshman? Must Read. Choosing a Major is a Big Decision — Probably One of the Biggest Ones you’ll Make in your First Couple of Years in College.

At this point in the academic year, college freshmen are largely settling into their routines. The initial flurry of activity that comes with living independently for the first time, establishing study routines and, let’s be honest, partying, begins to slow down, and students start to think more seriously about what they want to get out of their next four years. And the question at the top of many students’ minds is, “What should I major in?”

Often, the best way to answer that question is with another question — or rather, a series of questions. If you’re struggling to decide what you should study, ask yourself the following:

1. What majors do different jobs require?

College typically lasts only about four years — but your career will last you a lifetime. So when considering a particular field of study, it’s important to think about what kind of job opportunities it opens up after graduation.

One Glassdoor study took a look at the most common jobs for college students, and the different majors associated with each. Here were the top five:

1. Sales Associate

  • Top Majors: Business, English, Political Science

2. Research Assistant

  • Top Majors: Electrical Engineering, Computer Science and Engineering, Mechanical Engineering

3. Teaching Assistant

  • Top Majors: Computer Science and Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering

4. Intern

  • Top Majors: Psychology, Finance, Economics

5. Administrative Assistant

  • Top Majors: Business, Psychology, Communications

See Full List 

You can also search keywords like “entry-level” or “college graduate” on Glassdoor to reveal tens of thousands of jobs, many of which list desired or required majors right in the description. For example, the listing for this Management Development Program position at Geico states that the company is looking for a “Bachelor’s degree, preferably in Business or a related field.”

You’ll likely find that certain majors like Computer Science will lead directly to specialized titles (such as Software EngineerApp DeveloperData Scientist, etc.) while more general majors like English or Psychology have less of a direct career path, and can lead to a variety of job opportunities (such as Sales RepresentativeMarketing Coordinator and Customer Service Manager).

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2. What pay do different majors offer?

I’m a firm believer that salary shouldn’t be the only thing you consider when deciding on a college major, but it’s certainly worth thinking about. After all, you need to be able to earn enough to cover your basic costs (and ideally, a little bit more).

Hopefully, the exercise in the first section of this article helped you identify a few different job titles that correspond with the majors you’re interested in. If so, you can search salaries for those jobs on Glassdoor. For example, a salary search for Public Relations Coordinator — a great career option for those studying Communications — reveals that the average base pay is $60,474.

Glassdoor also conducted research into what different majors tend to pay — here were the five most lucrative we identified:

1. Computer Science

  • Median Base Salary: $70,000

2. Electrical Engineering

  • Median Base Salary: $68,438

3. Mechanical Engineering

  • Median Base Salary: $68,000

4. Chemical Engineering

  • Median Base Salary: $65,000

5. Industrial Engineering

  • Median Base Salary: $64,381

See Full List 

As you can see, science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) majors dominated the list, but other majors such as Nursing, Economics, Architecture and Business also made the cut.

3. What am I passionate about?

Call it sappy, but as somebody who majored in more creative fields (English and Spanish for the win!), I really believe that people should study what they’re interested in. If you find yourself particularly drawn to a certain field — be it photography, data science, anthropology or anything else — there’s no better time than college to explore it.

Even if you decide not to major in it, you can always pursue your passion as a minor, or just take a few classes in it. Otherwise, you might regret not learning more about what interests you while you had the chance. You don’t necessarily stop learning once you enter the working world, but you usually don’t have easy access to formal classes and expert professors on nearly every topic imaginable, like you do in college.

Not quite sure what you’re passionate about? Don’t worry — there’s nothing wrong with that! Taking a wide variety of classes that satisfy your general education requirements can help you figure out what you like and what you don’t. You can also meet with your academic advisor to brainstorm a few ideas.

Choosing a major is a big decision — probably one of the biggest ones you’ll make in your first couple of years in college. But even though making big decisions can be stressful, you shouldn’t worry too much. As long as you ask yourself the right questions and do your research, you’ll be able to find the college major that’s right for you. Remember: there’s no one single path to success!

 

Glassdoor.com |  |

Your #Career : How To Get A Job In A Field You Didn’t Major In…Your Degree doesn’t Chain you to a Field for the Rest of your Career. Here’s How to Use What you’ve Already Learned to Try Something Else.

The upshot? There’s no need to panic. “It’s natural for college students to change their career direction,” says Donald Asher, author of How to Get Any Job with Any Major. Furthermore, employers aren’t as hung up on your major as you might think. “Once you step off campus, hiring managers care a lot less about what your major was,” says Asher. “They care more about the fact that you have a college degree.”

After you’ve secured a diploma, it’s time to convince a potential employer to hire you, regardless of what your degree is in. These five steps can help you start off on the right foot.

PICK A CAREER, ANY CAREER

You know what you don’t want to do, but before diving into your job search, you need to determine what it is you do want to do. Your best play is to identify what industries are hiring and what skills are in demand, says Anne Brown, co-author of Grad to Great: Discover the Secrets to Success in Your First Career. Refer to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Outlook Handbook, which publishes job descriptions, salary information, and hiring forecasts for more than 300 occupations.

 

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FIGURE OUT IF YOU’RE QUALIFIED

Once you’ve narrowed your search to one field, assess whether you meet the basic requirements to get hired in that industry. If you’re looking to break into a specialized industry (e.g., nursing), you might have to take more college courses before you can start applying for jobs. Fortunately, “for nine out of 10 of occupations, you don’t need additional coursework or training,” says Stephanie Waite, senior associate director at Yale’s Office of Career Strategy.

Want to work in a niche industry that demands specialized skills? You might need internship experience first, especially since most companies intend to convert their interns into full-time employees, according to the National Association of Colleges and Employers’ 2016 Internship & Co-op Survey.

If you don’t want to commit to a full-length internship, you could shadow an employee for a week, says Asher. According to Waite, a growing number of Yale students are using short-term shadowing experiences to get a taste for what jobs are like. Shadowing can also be a great networking opportunity.

BUILD YOUR NETWORK

Although you don’t have a degree in the field you’re pursuing, you don’t have to build a network from scratch. Tap your school’s alumni database and go on informational interviews to learn more about the industry. Asher recommends reaching out to employees with five years of experience. “You don’t want to contact a vice president who hasn’t looked for a job in 10 years, and you don’t want an entry-level employee who doesn’t know the ins and outs of the industry yet,” he says.

If you’re looking at jobs in other cities, don’t hesitate to do informational interviews by Skype or phone, says Asher. Joining professional associations and attending industry events can also help build your network.

LEVERAGE YOUR TRANSFERRABLE SKILLS

Okay, so you majored in a different subject than your desired field. You likely still took a handful of general liberal arts courses—and those classes equipped you with some universal skills like writing, problem solving, verbal communication, and organization, says Kelly Kennedy, a career counselor at the University of Virginia. And if you took a leadership role on a class project, you may even have some project management skills in your back pocket. These transferable skills make you pretty marketable to employers.

Brown recommends seeing what skills are mentioned in job postings and then tailoring your cover letter accordingly to each position.

HONE YOUR INDUSTRY KNOWLEDGE

To show employers you’re worth hiring, you need to prove that you’re knowledgeable about what’s going on in the field. And while that’s a good idea for every job seeker, says Kennedy, it’s especially crucial if you don’t have relevant education or internship experience. Stay current by subscribing to company newsletters, reading industry media outlets, and following prospective employers on social media.

This article originally appeared on Monster and is reprinted with permission.

 

FastCompany.com |  DANIEL BORTZ, MONSTER |  07.23.16 |  5:00 AM

Your #Career : 5 Mistakes People Make Straight Out of College…Whether you’re eady or Not, you will Need to Move Forward after College. Here are 5 Mistakes you Want to Avoid.

Finishing college is a big accomplishment, and for many people, a big relief. College can be a lot of fun, but some people are just ready to start their careers and start the next phase of their lives. Whether you’re ready or not, you will need to move forward after college.

College Graduate

The years after graduating college should be exciting, and you can learn a lot and advance professionally and financially if you avoid financial and career mistakes.

Once you graduate though, making wise choices in your job search and at your first job, and smart financial decisions, will help set you up for a successful life and career. On the other hand, spending money like you will never run out, or failing to appreciate your first job and learn as much as possible, can set you down a bad path that can be hard to come back from.

Here are five mistakes you want to avoid.

1. Failing to take your job search seriously

Ideally, you will have a job set up before you graduate. If you don’t, you will want to make finding one your top priority. According to USA Today, you can get a job coach, and also network and reach out to people at a company that you want to work for. Don’t make the mistake of assuming a job will simply fall into your lap; you need to get out there and apply.

Also, be careful of taking just any job. While you have to pay your bills, you will be in a much better place career-wise if you can find a job in your field. This is another reason why you should start searching early.

 

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2. Coasting at your first job

Landing a job is a big deal, but don’t assume that just because you get a job, you will keep it. It’s important to work hard and prove that you deserve to be at the company. Particularly when you are working at your first job, you want to establish yourself as an asset to the company. Being lazy or doing the bare minimum will only hurt you later.

Even if your first job isn’t ideal, you can still make the most of it: learn as much as you can, grow professionally, and network. You never know how your hard work will pay off. Even if your first job isn’t as interesting as you want, or isn’t at the level that you want, working hard and showing that you are a loyal and innovative team member may lead to just the job you do want.

3. Spending money impulsively

Once you have a job, it can be exciting to spend the money you make. Having a lot of money for the first time can be exhilarating and it can be very dangerous as well. As tempting as it is to go out and buy a new car, new furniture, and splurge on many dinners out, try to limit your extravagant spending. You probably have some time before you need to start saving for retirement, but spending wildly just because you have a job won’t pay off in the long run.

According to U.S. News & World Report, you should consider the benefits your employer offers and take advantage of them; also, think about your fixed costs and about your future savings.

4. Ignoring debt

If you took out student loans, you probably have a grace period before you need to start repaying them. If you have other debt you need to pay off, then it’s reasonable to wait to pay off your student loans, especially if you have other debt with higher interest rates. However, it’s a good idea to pay off as much debt as you can now. You don’t need to pay the minimum due for your student loans, and if you have credit card debt, the same is true. The more you can pay off now, the more available funds you will have to save for traveling, a house, or retirement.

When you graduate college, you will most likely have as few responsibilities as you ever will. Now is the time to pay your debt if you can.

5.Forgetting about your health

Yes, you’re young, and it can be tempting to spend money on the things you want instead of investing in health insurance. However, if you are no longer on your parents’ plan (which you usually can be until you are 26 ifdependents are covered), you do need to think about coverage. Even if you are still on your parents’ plan, you won’t be forever and you need to look at what plans your company offers and the cost of those plans. Also, it’s important to consider how many years you have before you need to pay for the insurance, or how it will affect your budget.

If your parents can’t cover you, then be sure that you do sign up for coverage. Without health insurance, you risk a serious financial hardship if an expensive health surprise comes your way (this is also a good reason to have an emergency fund).

Also, when you are working full-time, it can be easy to neglect other aspects of your health, such as exercise or diet. Maintaining a healthy diet, and finding time for exercise, will help you save money on expensive health care costs later.

The years after graduating college should be exciting, and you can learn a lot and advance professionally and financially if you avoid financial and career mistakes.

 

CheatSheet.com | May 8, 2016 |