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Sponsored by Gillette Shave Club
As we explained earlier in our “First Job 101” article, life after college can be daunting, but also it can be a pretty rewarding experience. With any luck, you learned some helpful tips on how to approach your first job after graduation, but chances are that you’re not spending the entirety of your postgrad life in a cubicle or office. At least that’s what we’re hoping…
So now that you’ve gotten the hang of the politics within your 9-to-6, we’ve partnered with Gillette to take some stock in what you’re doing with the rest of your day/night. You’re making all of that money for a reason, right? We pulled together a couple of important dos and don’ts that should help you with the exciting transition to your new life. Think of them as life pro-tips from some people who’ve been there a couple of times.
Do Pay Attention To Your Personal Health
You might not have been the healthiest person in college, but the amount of free time you’ll have as a post-graduate will be a fraction of what you had in school. So take care of your health (physical and mental) whenever possible. That means not only eating decently but engaging in some exercise a couple of times a week. It will serve two purposes: helping to keep you in shape and giving you something positive to come back to when you get stressed about life in the “real world.”
Ideally, you should join a gym, but that’s not a realistic possibility for everyone. If you can’t do that, wake up early and stretch, or maybe even walk/bike to work.
Sadly, you won’t be a 21-year-old forever and the earlier you start these habits, the easier they’ll be to continue. Added bonuses of taking care of yourself included: increased energy, boosted moods, and a better immune system.
Don’t Forget About Your Appearance
You’ve probably heard the phrase, “First impressions are everything.” Guess what? They’re right. First impressions are important for pretty much every interaction you’ll have from now until the end of time. Of course, you’ll have the opportunity to either improve or worsen a relationship as you start spending more time with that person, but it’s always nice to have a head start.
If you think that you might need a haircut, it’s already too late. If you’re fresh out of college, it’s best to get one every five to six weeks. As you get older and more successful, you can start getting them more frequently.
The same thing goes for a shave. If you’re looking in the mirror at 3 PM and thinking that you should have shaved earlier that morning, others might be thinking the same thing.
The best way to care for your face and beard is with regular grooming. There are a lot of razor and shaving options out there, but we think your best bet is with the Gillette Shave Club–a fully-customizable subscription service that offers free shipping on the great quality Gillette razors you’re familiar with. Simply choose the blade you want, the frequency you with which you want them delivered, and bingo-bango that’s one less thing you need to worry about.
You should care about your appearance for more than just jobs. When you’re out with friends and being introduced to people, how you look is an immediate reflection on how you’re perceived. Even if you’re not interested in dating the people you’re out meeting and being introduced to, now that you’re out of college it’s called “networking.” You do it every day. You never know who you’re meeting and where you’ll be in a year from now. We know that you already know, we’re just telling you again. Because we care.
Do Explore Your New Surroundings
This suggestion really only applies to those of you who have moved to a new city or town after graduating from college, but chances are that a majority of you reading this are now working in someplace new. Hopefully, you like your new home, not just because of the job, but because of the new opportunities that you’ll have to see a new part of the country.
So why not go out and see it? Spend your first few weekends exploring the area, in addition to doing things you need to do for your first apartment. Be a tourist. Visit the sites. Do it while you have the time, before you make a network of new friends. That way when you finally start making new acquaintances or going on dates, you’ll have a better idea of what to do.
Don’t Be Afraid To Go Outside Your Comfort Zone
While you were in college, you were all about checking out different clubs and people. The same thing should apply to life outside of your campus–except this time everything’s probably going to cost a little bit more. But honestly, there are going to be events, concerts, and art showings that will be discounted or even free.
If you’re not too keen on going to the newest gallery, that doesn’t mean there aren’t other new experiences you can try. Go biking, fishing, or learn a fun hobby or skill. You never know how much you might like it.
Do Learn How To Cook
As you’ve probably learned firsthand, food and drink are going to be the two most expensive things in your budget. Learning how to cook and what to cook will help keep your checking account in order. Yes, sadly that includes lunch (unless your coworkers offer to take you out).
We suggest mastering the art of prep cooking, that is spending one evening (or weekend afternoon) getting all of your food ready and prepared for the week. That way, all you need to do when you come home is throw the prepped food in the oven or skillet and eat.
Cooking is also an essential life skill that you’ll learn and appreciate as you grow older. It’s a skill that your dates will also appreciate.
Don’t Forget To Call Home
You’re away from home and without friends for the first time, but you know who feels more nervous than you? Your mom and dad. Don’t forget to call them at least once a week to check in. It’s too easy to let time pass you by. If you feel like your schedule is too cramped to give them an hour, do it in smaller doses throughout the week via emails, texts, and quick calls.
Not only will they appreciate it a lot more than you’ll know, it also helps grease up the wheels for when you finally have to call them and ask for something.
Do Make A Network of Friends Outside of Work
If you’re starting a new job in a new city, the biggest hurdle for you is how you’ll spend your free time. Are you going to be stuck in your apartment watching TV alone because you want to? Or because you don’t have any friends to . In our article on “First Jobs 101” we mentioned that while it’s important that you make friends in the workplace, it’s also important that you separate work and play.
In order to keep your sanity, it’s imperative that you find people with similar interests outside your 9-to-6. Join a rec league. Find your NFL team’s local bar and go by yourself. Meet a girl and steal all her friends’ boyfriends and make them your friends. These are just suggestions.
For some of you, making new friends is going to be easier than it is for others. And even if you head to a new city with an old friend, it’s equally important that you both find new friends of your own.
Don’t Stop Learning!
You’re not in school anymore, but that doesn’t mean that you should stop soaking up new information. Learning about topics you’re interested in is much more fun than writing topics on those required classes.
Need some suggestions? If you’re big into reading, start mixing in some educational non-fiction books into your routine. If you’re not big into reading, watch some documentaries–Netflix is literally filled with them. Not only will this exercise help you talk about cool stuff with hot chicks you meet, you might even enjoy it! Heck, maybe you’ll even be able to impress a potential employer with your knowledge. (A common question among recruiters is to talk about some of the most recent books you read).
