>Does she have enough credits to graduate? She declared a minor rather late, so it might take her a summer session or an additional semester. Not a problem; my degree took 4+ years.
Will she need interview clothes? Somehow, attending an interview in Old Navy jeans and Converse All-Star sneakers doesn’t seem professional.
What constitutes interview attire these days in her field? In any field?
What kind of portfolio will she prepare? She’s a journalist and photographer.
Does she need a web page? Does she need to revise her Facebook page in case her employer sees it?
How long can she survive without her own set of wheels? I keep hoping she holds off as long as possible. Once she starts paying insurance and repairs and gas, well, it’s an awful lot of money.
Will she keep her summer job at least one more year? I hope so. Today’s economy is so weak, it’s not a good time to jump into a new career.
Has she started creating a resume? It takes a lot of tweaking to make one look just right.
I keep having random thoughts about her impending leap out of college and into real life. When Husband and I leapt out of our graduation robes and into our wedding clothes, the economy was a lot like today’s recession/depression. Jobs were hard to find, and starting a career was even harder. We defined a “good job” as “one with a paycheck.” La Petite has shown some entrepreneurial skills in the past, including one rockin’ lemonade stand en route to Lambeau Field when she was only 7. I saw a small store building near our neighborhood go up for sale and immediately thought “Photo studio?” It’s okay, I didn’t buy it.
Maybe I could start a coffeehouse in the storefront until she needs it…
cross posted at MidCentury Modern Moms
>Most of us remember going through tough times trying to get our lives on an even track. Everyone seems to go through it. My daughter just graduated from grad school and I found myself asking similar questions like you have raised. While she has found a job in her field, I am still am anxious for her future. I guess parents never stop doing that. We’re protective to the last.
>Well, congrats on her pending graduation. I worry too about our kids future, and I’m a million (well, probably not) years away. I’ve worked in recruiting though, so always want to tell future grads what to do 🙂
>Interview attire: Better dressed than what the people that do it everyday wear. Not necessarily a suit, but something nice (real shoes, not Converse).
Facebook-more and more potential employers search for these. It can’t hurt to “clean it up” if it needs to be (no drunken party shots, etc.)
Web page-Al Gore invented the internet after I graduated so I’m not sure, but again I don’t think it would hurt to have an online portfolio/CV webpage that you could put out there. Print up some nice business cards with your name and the webpage address, as well as other contact info.
I would think a journalist/photographer would carry a portfolio containing both examples of her best work, as well as any “lesser” work that got published in high profile venues. Burning CD-ROM’s to give to potential employers with your portfolio on them is another idea.
Unfortunately, starting salaries in journalism are not that great (my brother used to work in journalism) so trying to pick a job where you don’t need a car (public transportation or bike or walk to work) would definitely be better.
In lean times, don’t forget to look at jobs that you may think are a bit peripheral to your field, like PR, advertising, corporate publications, etc.
It sounds like she’s got a good head on her shoulders, so I think she’ll do fine, wherever she goes.
Joe