I’ve just graduated from college and all I hear is how difficult the job market is. Do you think it’s better to look for a job in the fall when everyone is back from vacation, or should I start now? If I take the summer off to pursue some interests before diving into my career, will that hurt my chances of success?
The job market is so dynamic and tailored to each individual and their particular circumstances that there can be no general advice about when to jump in — you can’t “time” the market. And the career angst that recent grads feel is self-imposed (with a little help from the media and so-called career advice experts).
Listen closely — — RELAX! It’s a marathon and a journey — not a sprint. With any luck, you’ll be at this for the next 40 to 50 years.
Do you really think it matters when you jump in and what you do with your first summer after college when you might not figure it out for the next 10 years? If you want to jump in now, do it. If you want to backpack across the globe this summer, do it. Just do something, and don’t sleep until 2 p.m. everyday (well maybe for a week, but then get up and out).
How much flexibility is there to negotiate salary and benefits when you’re being offered your first job out of college?
Generally about as much flexibility as there is in getting your professor to change your final grade from a B to an A — unless you were the star student and there were extenuating circumstances.
There’s no harm in trying to negotiate a higher salary — done correctly, the worst that will happen is you’ll hear the offer is nonnegotiable. And for most college grads, that will be the response. Exceptions are made when the individual is in high demand, but this usually occurs in highly competitive professions like finance and law.
With respect to benefits, there’s almost no flexibility no matter what the field — the company can’t negotiate different benefits, particularly at the entry level. (And besides, asking for more vacation time when you’re just starting is bad form.) If you ask for a higher salary, just make sure to express enthusiasm for getting the offer in the first place.