way I categorized myself That's the biggest
mistake I made as an undergraduate, not
taking advantage of the situation to see what
it was I really wanted to do. There's too much
pressure at school to decide right away on
a career path, but really there's no hurry
There's plenty of time, and there’s nothing to
say that if you're going for another degree
after college you have to get started right
away That's a fallacy and a dangerous fal
lacy and the worst thing is not that it can set
someone like me back a couple of years in
the short term, but that it can push someone
in the direction they don't want to go That
pressure can force someone into career
decisions they 're too timid to change "
LOOKING BACK
AT THE AMERICAN
EXPRESS REAL
LIFE PLANNER*"
Over the past academic year, we
hope that we've offered valuable
tips and expert advice to help you
navigate the real-life waters that lie ahead
Readers who’ve followed our post-college
survival guide from the start have learned
how to interview for their first job, how to
dress for success, where to look for a first
house or apartment, and how to make a
small paycheck work toward a sound and
promising financial future
Below, some of the highlighted words
of wisdom that have appeared in these
pages:
Real Life Planner Installment # 1
GETTING STARTED
"/ see a lot of complacence. I had a student
come in in April who was graduating in June,
and she hadn't started looking for a job yet
By that time. I'd say about three quarters ot
the jobs are filled because the companies
have been recruiting since October and
they've made most ot their offers She lim
ited herself to one-quarter ot the market and
that kind of complacency can really hurt you "
John D Shmgleton, director of placement,
Michigan State Uriversity
"For a student to come and ask me what the
hot fields are is, I think, an inappropriate
question, the tail wagging the dog And the
presumption is, whatever I say well then
that's what they're going to do So if I say
geology is hot they'll say Great, I'll be a
geologist.' Well, that's ridiculous "
Christopher J Shinkman, director of career
planning and placement, Stanford University
"The most important thing in a job interview
is to be yourself That doesn't mean don't
prepare Prepare and be yourself If you don't
want to take time to prepare, well then don't
interview with that company, you don t realty
want to work tor them anyhow ”
Don Fleshman. college recruiter. Goodyear
Real Life Planner Installment« 2
NETWORKING
"One ot the best things to do is /om a profes
sional association related to your held and
volunteer your time Vbu meet these people
not on networking pretenses, but on the
pretense ot getting to know the held and
those people will tell you how they got
started Vbu'li learn how they can be ol help
to you and how you can be of help to them "
Karen Dowd, director of placement,
Darden Graduate School ot Business.
University ot Virginia
"Ybu have to know what’s going on in your
held, and networking is a great way to do
f/iaf It tells you who you are. what you re
worth, where you should be. whether you're
falling behind Networking tells you whir it's
time to go for more money and if you can t
get it from your own company you'll fine out
where you can get it"
George Mazzei. author.
The New Office Etiquette
"It's very important for young workers tc uy
to understand that most millionair> -
especially self-made millionaires-are t> > "0
verted and very personable people Ur r
tunately, much of the college educai n
doesn't reflect that."
Thomas Stanley professor of marketing
Georgia State University
Real Life Planner Installment« 3
THE RULES OF THE GAME
"The whole idea that you can do your w
and ignore the interpersonal relationship
among the most arrogant ideas that
body could possess It you do that you ■■*
your fellow workers. 7 know you have si
needs and problems, but I don’t have
intention of meeting them ‘"
Marilyn Moats Kennedy, founder, Car
Strategies. Chicago-based counseling li
"It s very important to know who really S'
Vfes’ or No' to whal protects, and who