The 9 Worst Pieces of Advice for College Graduates

The 9 Worst Pieces of Advice for College GraduatesWhen youre a new graduate, everybody and their uncle has advice for you. And everyone you talk to will assure you that their advice is the key. They cant all be right. Avoid getting advice fatigue by keeping a keen ear out for some of these clunkers. Theyre usually well-meaning, but can often knock you off your path. googletag.cmd.push(function() googletag.display(div-gpt-ad-1467144145037-0) ) Here are9 of the worst (and yet very common) bits of advice tocollege graduates.1. Go to grad schoolDo not pass go. Do not collect $200. Delay the inevitable. Stay in school and get more degrees and be guaranteed more money when you graduate the next time. Sound good? For some, it is. For some fields, a Masters or even PhD will be required. But for others, its just an expensive distribution policy to hide out from the real world. Unless youre truly passionate about a career or field of study that requires advanced degrees, do a bit of soulmusik searching to make sure grad school is right for you before you decide to apply automatically and end up wasting years and thousands upon thousands of dollars on something you wont use in your future career.2. Just show up and ask for a jobYouve got a dream job or a dream company. Right? Everybody has a goal. But sometimes the well-meaning grandparent or drunk uncle will tell you just to go on into that office and show them what youve got Theyll have to reward your gumption and enthusiasm with a job Right? Wrong. This is a rookie move which will betray your lack of experience and knowledge of how the work world works. The more conventional job search route, albeit slow and sometimes frustrating, will work out better for you.3. Hide your tattoosIt probably used to be true that tattoos could disqualify an applicant. But thats not necessarily the truth now. There are plenty of industries and more creative fields where your individual style could be an asset in showing how well youd fit into a company culture. Use your discretion, obviously. But on occasion, its okay to bare your ink.4. You need to get a job in your industry right awayIn other words if you get an interim job that doesnt have anything to do with your chosen profession, youll have killed your chances before youve even begun. Not true. If you cant find a job in your dream field right away, then you can and should look for jobs in other industries or fields that will give you a boost in skills or experience that can easily translate into the job you ultimately want. Learn as much as you can, realize that diversifying your talents and experience might even make you an asset someday, and keep an open mind.5. You should teachDid you study humanities in undergrad? Does no one understand why? Think you have no viable career prospects? Write you off before youve even begun your professional life with the assumption that teaching is the only job available to you? Unless teaching is actually your calling, smi le and nod and walk away.6. The Get Rich Quick SchemeAgain with the drunk uncle. Or the corner-cutting acquaintance who tells you about that opportunity just too amazing to pass up. Avoid any shortcuts that people dangle under your nose. There is no instant wealth or renown to be had without hard work and perseverance. Dont stop chipping steadily away at your goals, and dont put all (or even most) of your savings into an investment opportunity, no matter how enthusiastic your bro is that its the next big thing.7. You have to give it your all all the time100% or 110% all day every day for the rest of your career is actually impossible. Certainly there are times when youll need to go all out, and times when youll have to work even harder than that in pursuit of a particular project or goal. But there are other times when youll need to take your foot off the gas and catch your breath. Its okay to slow your pace now and again to avoid burnout. Just choose your moments carefully so as no t to interfere with your goals and progress toward meeting them.8. Follow your blissDo what you love and love what you do, right? Well sometimes its not quite so easy as that. While following your dreams is always a good idea, dont just expect that everything will fall magically into place because youre pursuing something you care deeply about. You still have to be smart. Save money. Strategize how to be on solid financial footing and dont get lazy. Risks are one thing. Being stupid and expecting the money will just fall out of the sky is another9. Get a stable job and stay thereThis is the advice of a dying generation. A stable job is great. Job security, benefits, good money. All great. But settling isnt. If you get stuck in a job you dont really enjoy and which doesnt challenge you too soon in your career, it could really hurt both your productivity and your earning potential. Not to mention your qi. Find a balance between following your bliss and providing for yourself and your future. If you hit that sweet spot, then youre good to go. Steady sailing from here on out.

The 9 Best Media and Entertainment Companies for Women

The 9 Best Media and Entertainment Companies for Women While media and entertainment may binnenseem male-dominated, there are organizations in the industry working hard to change the status quo. From supporting powerful women in leadership to offering the benefits new moms need, these nine companies are instituting female-friendly policies that make media better for women. Read on to see why women love working for each company and to get the inside scoop on their employee perks. 1. Turner BroadcastingTheres lots for women to love about working at Turner Broadcasting. Reviewers on Fairygodboss say its a great company that is very employee friendly, offering flexible working options and a casual atmosphere. The company has a wealth of benefits from a matching 401(k) to generous PTO and parental leave and invests in the personal development and wellness of its people. Turner hosts Make You Matter Weeks series of classes, workshops and special events for career development. Plus, Tur ner is a member of Time Warners Fit Nation program, which encourages employees to achieve their personal fitness goals through free or discounted training and events.2. PlayStationWomen cant get enough of working at PlayStation. Even within the male-dominated gaming industry, reviewers rate PlayStation highly for its strong female-friendly programs. When it comes to family benefits, PlayStation offers paid parental leave, annahme an kindes statt assistance programs, elder care coaching, back-up childcare and generous PTO. The company also offers a wealth of popular financial benefits including a 4.5% 401(k) match and student loan repayment assistance. And if youre a gamer yourself, employees get discounts on Sony Products and monthly PlayStation Network vouchers.3. The Walt Disney CompanyWorking at Disney is a dream for many women and for good reason. The Walt Disney Company receives rave reviews on Fairygodboss, with women saying they feel empowered by leadership and receive grea t tolerance for family-related things. Beyond competitive insurance packages and paid time off, Disney offers a host of benefits to helps its employees meet their personal and professional goals. For instance, the company pays 100% of tuition for full- and part-time employees at Disney Aspire network schools. It offers retirement plans and employee stock options, along with commuter assistance programs and on-site childcare. Plus, the company inspires employees to give back with Disney VoluntEARS and keeps the magic going with complimentary theme park admission.4. ViacomYouve definitely watched a Viacom channel on TV, but thats not the only reason its a great place to work. Women on Fairygodboss love that Viacom is family friendly and diverse, with plenty of women in leadership to champion others. Along with a supportive environment, the company offers a comprehensive benefits package that helps everyone perform at their best. On top of wellness programs, competitive insurance packa ges and a 401(k) plan that would excite anyone, Viacom offers some amazing work-life balance programs. These include adoption benefits, back-up childcare, pet insurance, tuition reimbursement and more5. NetflixNetflix is an exciting opportunity for women for too many reasons to count. While reviewers love the culture of equality and flexible workstyle thats been fostered at the media company, its support for female employees doesnt stop there. Netflix offers several family-friendly benefits, including 100% paid parental leave, 10 days of back-up care, family forming benefits that assist in your fertility, surrogacy or adoption journey, and unlimited time off for full-time, salaried employees. The company offers other valuable benefits, too. Salaried employees receive free commutes between home and work via Uber, Lyft, or any other rideshare service as often as they want. Plus, Netflix offers a 401(k) employer match of between 3.5 and 4%, and a unique stock option program.6. NBCUniv ersal Media, LLC.One Fairygodboss reviewer said At NBCU, theres a strong, family-friendly culture and a tight-knit community that transcends job categories and verticals. And thats evident from the companys commitment to offering benefits that help women succeed at work. NBCU offers 16 weeks of paid parental leave, along with child and adult care programs, and fertility and adoption assistance. It also offers commuter benefits, 401(k) matching up to 6% of your eligible pay, competitive insurance packages and tuition reimbursement. Plus, if youre looking for a company that prioritizes your wellness, you probably want to look into NBCU It has personal counseling, on-site fitness centers, relaxation spaces and flexible work spaces.7. Discovery, inc.Women on Fairygodboss call Discovery Communications a great, family-oriented company. And its benefits explain why. Reviewers love the companys flexible working options, generous PTO and child and elder care through BrightHorizons. Plus, Dis coverys comprehensive insurance plans, 401(k) matching and other financial perks give employees another reason to love their work. After all, theyre very well compensated.8. Sony Pictures EntertainmentIts not just the exciting projects that make Sony Pictures a great place to work. The company is dedicated to fostering a diverse and inclusive company culture, complete with the resources employees need to succeed. Employees at Sony Pictures receive comprehensive medical and dental plans, employee assistance programs, learning and development opportunities, and cool perks like film screenings and gym memberships.9. XO Group, inc.Whether youre an avid reader of The Knot and The Bump or not, you should consider a job at XO Group. Women on Fairygodboss call it a positive and accepting environment and a great place to work, but the benefits at XO Group go far beyond its great company culture. XO offers flexible work arrangements, company-wide telework days, comprehensive insurance package s and wellness programs. Plus, employees at XO have the opportunity to request assistance with the cost of their educational expenses.