Upon graduating college and entering the working world, many students feel lost and are often inadequately prepared. Why is this? It all boils down to the importance of work ethic, integrity, and a willingness to do research instead of just charging blindly into your professional life. This book intends to expose the mistaken beliefs of college graduates, while also providing a dedicated space for practical tips that evoke a positive mental shift. Also included is a section on career preparation, which will help you take practical steps toward discovering your potential future career. The advice given in this book covers both personal and professional life, since the level of excellence you demonstrate in one area will often impact the other. From Illusion to Reality will provide readers with a better understanding of their calling, as well as hope for the future and a passion that will drive them toward their goals. With personal anecdotes from the authors themselves as well as from graduates and working professionals from different walks of life, this book is both engaging and grounded in real life experience, not in abstract or elitist ideas. Written for average to advanced readers, this book is an easy but engaging read that will put you on the right professional track.

Pratical advice from hundreds of young professionals that every college student should hear, including how to: Launch an ultra-effective career search Implement success strategies before starting your career Avoid common screw-ups that slow advancement Outperform and outclass your co-workers College is almost over, and just when you think the hard work is going to come to an end, the real work begins. The diploma you will have earned and the skill-sets you've developed are just the starting point for your career. While they are suited for education, you need to develop new work skills and behaviors in order to be successful in starting, maintaining, and succeeding at your career. The Career-Savvy College Student: Getting From Book Smarts to A Solid Career Start eliminates the complexities surrounding employment and allows you to sidestep the mistakes that new college graduates consistently make after graduation. Based on interviews with hundreds of young professionals that have just been where you are going, these accounts offer you practical tips, tricks and pitfalls to avoid when transitioning from book-smarts to your career start. A readable, yet effective account of relevant advice from those within your generation makes this a must-read for every college student. Every year, millions of students and families pour vital resources into college educations. Countless amounts of time and money are spent attaining degrees that will propel a student toward their career. Unfortunately, many soon-to-be grads think this is a guarantee for success. The truth is that earning a degree has become the baseline for being considered for positions. To search, earn and succeed at your career, you have to exhibit strong career skills: developing a strong corporate image, advancement strategies, and maintaining a strong professional network are concepts that must be mastered in order to succeed. The keys to these lessons and more are uncovered in The Career-Savvy College Student: Getting From Book Smarts to A Solid Career Start. Put the advice from recent college students to work for you and benefit from the practical, same-generation advice that will prepare, inspire and motivate you for a brighter future...today.

The second edition of the popular career advice book, From Graduation To Corporation, is a comprehensive guide to success in the workplace and is specifically tailored to college students and recent college graduates. It is an invitation to the "Millennials" (Generation Y) to go inside the head of a corporate veteran. By examining the thought processes of a senior executive and learning from his experiences, recent college graduates can be better prepared to narrow the gap between their expectations and the expectations of their supervisors. This edition contains additional information on job search websites, social networking websites, college career centers, career fairs, dining etiquette, and the different generations in the workplace. Other key areas to career success include tips on resumes/cover letters, networking, interviewing, dealing with difficult people, dating at work, how to act in meetings, dress codes, how to stay organized, how to ask for a promotion/raise, Internet/email/telephone etiquette, and Andy's 73 "Corporate Commandments." What makes this book unique is that the author not only gives us his refreshingly honest account of his climb up the corporate ladder, but also discusses his fall from the top rungs. After working for the same two bosses in the same department of a major television and motion picture studio for over twenty years, Andy Teach found himself on the unemployment line. Find out what he did right and what he did wrong so that you can reach the top rungs of the corporate ladder . . . and stay there!

The guide all college graduates need as they embark on life in the real world Graduation is a time of tough questions whose answers we don’t—and sometimes can’t—know the day we receive our diploma. Determined to power through the uncertainty of post-graduation, bestselling author Katherine Schwarzenegger embarked on a yearlong quest to gather the best guidance possible from more than thirty highly successful people working in fields like business, media, fashion, technology, sports, and philanthropy. Along the way, Katherine uncovered the essential and often surprising advice they have for graduates, including answers to questions like: • How do I find my first job in a tough economy? • How do I decide between a career that pays well and one that I’m passionate about? • How do I balance work with friends, relationships, and family? • Should I take a “gap year” before starting my first job? • What should I do about my student loan debt? Drawing on the stories and real-life experiences of contributors such as Anderson Cooper, Eva Longoria, Blake Mycoskie of TOMS shoes, Lauren Bush Lauren, Andy Cohen, Meghan McCain, Gayle King, and more, Katherine has written the must-have guide for recent and soon-to-be graduates as they prepare to seek success and fulfillment in their work, relationships, and lives.

When it comes to creating opportunities for professional success, getting into college is just the beginning. Making the most of your college experience will pave the way to not only being employable, but also being well compensated. Before Reality Hits: A Straightforward Guide to College Success is the up-front, easy-to-use guide by Megan Ann Smith that provides readers with the information and insight to make your college experience a successful starting point to a rewarding career. From tactics to checklists, this comprehensive resource offers a realistic approach to optimize your college years-before the reality of bills, student loans, and adult life hits. Beginning with college applications, Before Reality Hits takes students through the essential career-making aspects of college, from worthwhile internships to landing that first post-graduation fulltime position. It helps anyone starting out avoid the common pitfalls that many college graduates confront, from mountains of student loan debt to a job that is not in his or her desired career field. Current and future college students, parents of future college students, and anyone thinking about going back to school will find actionable, practical advice that can guide them from the evaluating of potential colleges through the crafting of a resume and beyond. Before Reality Hits reveals how ultimate success begins and ends with you. Hard work, dedication, and planning ahead are the three crucial keys to securing your success. This indispensable roadmap to professional life outlines necessary steps to build the proper foundation-and make college the best possible stepping stone to an incredible future in your desired career field.

From the bestselling author of College Unbound comes a hopeful, inspiring blueprint to help alleviate parents’ anxiety and prepare their college-educated child to successfully land a good job after graduation. Saddled with thousands of dollars of debt, today’s college students are graduating into an uncertain job market that is leaving them financially dependent on their parents for years to come—a reality that has left moms and dads wondering: What did I pay all that money for? There Is Life After College offers students, parents, and even recent graduates the practical advice and insight they need to jumpstart their careers. Education expert Jeffrey Selingo answers key questions—Why is the transition to post-college life so difficult for many recent graduates? How can graduates market themselves to employers that are reluctant to provide on-the-job training? What can institutions and individuals do to end the current educational and economic stalemate?—and offers a practical step-by-step plan every young professional can follow. From the end of high school through college graduation, he lays out exactly what students need to do to acquire the skills companies want. Full of tips, advice, and insight, this wise, practical guide will help every student, no matter their major or degree, find real employment—and give their parents some peace of mind.

Professional Advice About Career Preparation for Soon-To-Be College Grads “This book is so real and honest! I wish I had this when I first started out in my career....Every parent should read this book and then gift it to their child! ” —Nancy Barrows, MS CC-SLP, LAUSD educator & speech language pathologist This book of professional advice about career preparation may be the best college graduation gift you’ll receive. Too many people end up working jobs they didn’t study for. It’s time you proactively prepare for post-graduate life. The Prepared Graduate speaks to Generation Z and Millennials, addressing many of the concerns students (and parents) have about pre- and post-graduation. Kyyah Abdul offers extensive job search tips and work advice, such as guidance on writing the perfect résumé, excelling in job interviews, networking in-person and online, negotiating job salaries, paying off student loans, and more. Rely on trusted guidance. Armed with first-hand experience with the lack of preparation universities provide their students, Kyyah set out to forge her own path for finding relevant work post-graduation. Her strategies helped her land jobs in several STEM positions both during and after college. Over time, Kyyah created a comprehensive roadmap chockfull of work advice for college seniors through summer up until the end of their first year as a graduate. The Prepared Graduate is the perfect college graduation gift that provides: • Guidance on finding the right path for career success • An easy-to-follow roadmap with advice about career preparation • Endless job search tips If you enjoyed What Color is Your Parachute? (2021); Brag Better: Master the Art of Fearless Self-Promotion; or You Turn: Get Unstuck, Discover Your Direction, and Design Your Dream Career, you’ll love The Prepared Graduate.