On May 23rd, I'm launching my very first ecourse The Post-College Survival Kit! Advice on loans, leases, live-in lovers! The course is being led by yours truly, Alex Franzen (Unicorns for Socialism) Sally McGraw (Already Pretty), Sarah Storer (The Naked Redhead) and Marie Joseph (Money Monk). Here we each share our stories of how we navigated our post-college lives.
Name: Alexandra Franzen
Location: Minneapolis-Saint Paul // Los Angeles // Brooklyn
Current profession: Promotional writer & pro-active pimp
School graduated from: University of Otago (New Zealand)
When you were in college, what did you imagine post-college life was going to be like?
I was pretty 'grown-up' in college—I lived by myself (not in a dorm), I had non-college friends (in addition to school chums), and I worked at least 25-30 hours a week to support myself. I already had a lot of self-discipline. And although I got sweet-ass grades, I never took college that seriously. I treated my professors like intelligent peers, not Gods on high. So the transition from “College World” to “Real World” wasn't that shocking for me. My mental framework was already in place.
How did your reality differ from what you imagined?
I graduated with a BA in English from a prestigious university…in New Zealand. I also had "licensed helicopter pilot" on my resume (I'd earned my license two years earlier). When I returned home to the United States, I found that most employers were baffled, confused or downright suspicious about my credentials. I got the sense that they thought I was joking—or lying. For a while, it was hard to get past the initial screening phase, and into a face-to-face job interview. It was so frustrating! I wanted to bellow at people, "I'm not joking—I'm just AWESOME!"
What was your financial situation like when you entered The Real World?
I graduated from college debt-free, which was an incredible feeling. I think I had about $17,000 in my checking account, which felt like all the money in the universe. I wanted to roll around in it, like Scrooge McDuck. I also had a car, a laptop, and a super-vintage flippy-McGee cell phone. No texts, folks. Just calls.
Financial independence has always been one of my tip-top priorities, so I was deeply concerned about finding a j-o-b and making mo' money, as swiftly as possible. I was terrified about burning through my cash, which I'd worked my bootie off to save.
What was your first job out of college?
My first job out of college was delivering LGBT magazines to retail shops in Minneapolis. I cut my bare hands on binding twine, slipped on frozen sidewalks, got lost every 5 minutes (no GPS, kids!), and quit after, uh, 72 hours. Sorry, Charlie.
My next job was writing artist profiles and interview pieces for an indie newspaper. They went bankrupt and tried to pay me in ski lift tickets. No thanks, bucko.
After 6 months of fervent resume circulating, I (finally) landed an internship in the Communications department at Minnesota Public Radio/American Public Media. I spent the next couple years at MPR, rising through a series of positions in various departments. And then on April 1, 2010—during the depths of The Great Recession—I quit my job and went full-time freelance. Again—not joking. Just awesome.
How did you meet people after you got out of school?
Craigslist. OKCupid. Random bus stop conversations. Work comrades.
I met the lovely Sarah Von after cheerfully stalking her online, and insisting that we meet for coffee! Fortunately, she conceded.
How did you get from your post-college job to the job you have now?
Balls. Haha! Also: unabashed hustling, networking and connecting. A steadily increasing belief in my own abilities. Trial & error. And an incredible career coach named Michelle Ward.
What was the biggest shock about adult life for you?
Real World Adults have many of the same unspoken fears, communication obstacles, vocational desires and habitual life-patterns as college students. They just drink significantly less Red Bull & Jägermeister.
What advice would you give to recent grads?
While you’re in college, maintaining a stellar GPA can feel like the ultimate goal. But most employers (and clients) couldn’t care less about the grades you got, back in the day. They wanna know what you can DO. How you can be of SERVICE. How you can make their lives EASIER and their businesses BETTER.
Rather than obsessing over your GPA, focus on developing marketable, meaningful, high-impact SKILLS. Start visualizing the type of LIFE you want to design—and then work backwards to determine the type of career that’ll support your ideal lifestyle.
To break it down: I’d recommend devoting 65% of your energy to College World priorities—digging deep into classes and subjects that really turn your crank—and dedicating the remaining 35% of your waking hours to Real World activities, like expanding your professional and social network, getting an off-campus job, strengthening your resume, building a portfolio of work, and making powerful connections in the industry you wanna work in.
If you start living in the Real World while you’re still in school—instead of waiting till graduation day—your transition will be much more joyful.
Thanks so much, Alex! Do you guys have any questions for her?
All fired up? Pre-register for The Post-College Survival Kit and save!
Name: Alexandra Franzen
Location: Minneapolis-Saint Paul // Los Angeles // BrooklynCurrent profession: Promotional writer & pro-active pimp
School graduated from: University of Otago (New Zealand)
When you were in college, what did you imagine post-college life was going to be like?
I was pretty 'grown-up' in college—I lived by myself (not in a dorm), I had non-college friends (in addition to school chums), and I worked at least 25-30 hours a week to support myself. I already had a lot of self-discipline. And although I got sweet-ass grades, I never took college that seriously. I treated my professors like intelligent peers, not Gods on high. So the transition from “College World” to “Real World” wasn't that shocking for me. My mental framework was already in place.
How did your reality differ from what you imagined?
I graduated with a BA in English from a prestigious university…in New Zealand. I also had "licensed helicopter pilot" on my resume (I'd earned my license two years earlier). When I returned home to the United States, I found that most employers were baffled, confused or downright suspicious about my credentials. I got the sense that they thought I was joking—or lying. For a while, it was hard to get past the initial screening phase, and into a face-to-face job interview. It was so frustrating! I wanted to bellow at people, "I'm not joking—I'm just AWESOME!"
What was your financial situation like when you entered The Real World?
I graduated from college debt-free, which was an incredible feeling. I think I had about $17,000 in my checking account, which felt like all the money in the universe. I wanted to roll around in it, like Scrooge McDuck. I also had a car, a laptop, and a super-vintage flippy-McGee cell phone. No texts, folks. Just calls.
Financial independence has always been one of my tip-top priorities, so I was deeply concerned about finding a j-o-b and making mo' money, as swiftly as possible. I was terrified about burning through my cash, which I'd worked my bootie off to save.
What was your first job out of college?
My first job out of college was delivering LGBT magazines to retail shops in Minneapolis. I cut my bare hands on binding twine, slipped on frozen sidewalks, got lost every 5 minutes (no GPS, kids!), and quit after, uh, 72 hours. Sorry, Charlie.
My next job was writing artist profiles and interview pieces for an indie newspaper. They went bankrupt and tried to pay me in ski lift tickets. No thanks, bucko.
After 6 months of fervent resume circulating, I (finally) landed an internship in the Communications department at Minnesota Public Radio/American Public Media. I spent the next couple years at MPR, rising through a series of positions in various departments. And then on April 1, 2010—during the depths of The Great Recession—I quit my job and went full-time freelance. Again—not joking. Just awesome.
How did you meet people after you got out of school?
Craigslist. OKCupid. Random bus stop conversations. Work comrades.
I met the lovely Sarah Von after cheerfully stalking her online, and insisting that we meet for coffee! Fortunately, she conceded.
How did you get from your post-college job to the job you have now?
Balls. Haha! Also: unabashed hustling, networking and connecting. A steadily increasing belief in my own abilities. Trial & error. And an incredible career coach named Michelle Ward.
What was the biggest shock about adult life for you?
Real World Adults have many of the same unspoken fears, communication obstacles, vocational desires and habitual life-patterns as college students. They just drink significantly less Red Bull & Jägermeister.
What advice would you give to recent grads?
While you’re in college, maintaining a stellar GPA can feel like the ultimate goal. But most employers (and clients) couldn’t care less about the grades you got, back in the day. They wanna know what you can DO. How you can be of SERVICE. How you can make their lives EASIER and their businesses BETTER.
Rather than obsessing over your GPA, focus on developing marketable, meaningful, high-impact SKILLS. Start visualizing the type of LIFE you want to design—and then work backwards to determine the type of career that’ll support your ideal lifestyle.
To break it down: I’d recommend devoting 65% of your energy to College World priorities—digging deep into classes and subjects that really turn your crank—and dedicating the remaining 35% of your waking hours to Real World activities, like expanding your professional and social network, getting an off-campus job, strengthening your resume, building a portfolio of work, and making powerful connections in the industry you wanna work in.
If you start living in the Real World while you’re still in school—instead of waiting till graduation day—your transition will be much more joyful.
Thanks so much, Alex! Do you guys have any questions for her?
All fired up? Pre-register for The Post-College Survival Kit and save!
7 comments:
Wow, this was really helpful! I LOVE the confidence!! I am only just learning now that employers don't really care about grades..or my degree at all actually. They just want someone who will do the best and not hide behind a piece of paper. Great interview!
Dude... high five! you are definitely awesome and ballsy. Thanks for sharing your tips.
That is really great advice. I wish I had read that like four years ago!
I was always really pissed about working during high school and college but when it came time for a real job, I was so much more prepared than many friends were. It worked in my favor.
The advice to recent grads is actually advice for current undergrads. Not really helpful ... :(
I admire the confidence, but most recent grads won't have zero debt and 17 grand (!!??) in their bank accounts. At least I don't! So somehow this advice seems utterly irrelevant to my situation...
I agree with Edy
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