Think a career track means only one destination? Well… you’re wrong. Listen to how Maryann Fernandez arrived at Philanthropy Indaba:
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White collar is a term used to describe a particular kind of job. Basically any work that’s not manual labor (i.e. work that’s harder on the brain than on the body) can be described as a “white collar” occupation.
Think research analysts, administrative assistants, and nurses, versus the local plumber or a high school janitor. (Those would be considered blue or pink collar occupations.)
(photo credit: Caro Wallis)
Good news, Unemployed College Grads of America. Go get your mom. We’ll wait.
You know how hard it is to find a job these days, even with that fancy (and expensive) college degree? If you read the news, which is what you must be doing with all the free time you have, you might think that your career and your entire future are slowly crumbling with every rejection letter.
But it turns out that this isn’t the first time grads have been stuck in a recession hiring slump. And you know what? The grads who were facing the same problems you’re facing today – in 1982 – mostly turned out okay. They started slow, but eventually opportunities opened up that allowed them to get into their career groove.
So stay smart, friends, and don’t lose faith.
Need another shot in the arm? Let Kathryn and Amanda take you through the virtues of accepting an imperfect first job.
(© Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images)
If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to be a kid with a horse and a dream and a billion dollar inheritance, now’s your chance to find out. Georgina Bloomberg, the 28-year-old daughter of the mayor of New York City, has just published a young adult book that is technically a work of fiction, but clearly based on her life in the inner circle of Manhattan heiresses.
While it’s not fair to read too far into Georgina’s life based on her book, there are some interesting themes – mostly around the unwanted fame that comes with wealth and good old arguments with dad. What do you do when your father’s fortune allows you to excel at an expensive sport – horse riding – but his business sensibility dismisses it as a career because it doesn’t pay?
It’s kind of nice to see that the tension between parents who want the best for their children and the children who want to follow their bliss is pretty much universal. No matter what your net worth.
Still trying to find your bliss? Watch our interviews with Pretty Young Professional or Ron from CareerCore to get started!
(photo credit: bredgur)
It’s not often that the Wall Street Journal writes for readers under 40, but they just published a really good article with financial advice for the pre-college population. Now, we’re not trying to get all parenty on you, but as pseudo-grownups we can assure you that a little planning goes a long way.* (And it really doesn’t take that much time out of your schedule.) Here are some of the points writer Zac Bissonnette makes:
(TILE Fun Fact: A small amount of debt can actually help you, by rounding out your credit history and boosting your credit score. But ONLY if you use it responsibly – that means pay it off, and never miss a due date.)
The most important question you need to ask yourself is this: What is this college degree really going to cost me, in terms of my dreams? Maybe you’d like to travel the world after graduation, or take an entry-level job in the nonprofit sector, or buy your first house before you’re thirty. Massive debt can really screw up your plans, so plan accordingly.
* For example, if you chose to invest $1,000 at age 18 and earned a paltry 3% return, you could have $3,500 waiting for you when you’re 60. (And by the time you’re 60, 60 will be the new 30.) All that with absolutely no effort. Well, you do have to take an hour to invest that $1,000 when you’re 18. See what we mean about planning?
Play with your own numbers to see what a little investment today can earn you: Compound Interest Calculator
(credit: kevindooley)
New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg just announced a budget that will require 4,100 public school teachers to be laid off. That’s pretty tough news for a city with a challenging (to say the least) public school system. But what’s even tougher is the way those unlucky teachers will be chosen.
We’ve written about the last-in-first-out rule before (LIFO). In New York, the law says that teachers must be fired in reverse order of when they were hired. That means that an idealistic 24-year old with enough energy to start her career in an overcrowded, underfunded public school in the Bronx is more likely to be fired than an underperforming veteran.
What’s interesting is that many of the young teachers who are set to be laid off are actually participants in programs (like Teach for America and NYC Teaching Fellows) designed to bring new energy and drive INTO the public schools.
Well, there goes that idea. How do you think the public education system can be improved?
Is education a favorite cause of yours? Do you know what is? Visit Your Causes to start figuring it out!
Freaked out about your career? Amanda Pouchot and Kathryn Minshew from prettyyoungprofessional.com have been there, and they have some sage words of advice for you:
Check out Amanda and Kathryn’s other TILE appearances here.
>> TILE brings you exclusive opinions, explanations, and interviews from experts in every industry. Have a burning question or an expert you’d like to see interviewed? Just Ask TILE!
If you’ve ever felt like certain school subjects just aren’t your thing, read this essay by Dilbert cartoonist Scott Adams.
He tells the story of how he learned to run a business by simply going out and doing it. He didn’t need to be an expert in anything in order to be an entrepreneur; he just used little bits of different talents he already had, he failed a lot, and he kept trying.
(He apparently hasn’t heard that Algebra II is the key to success.)
Seems like every piece of advice ever tells us that the only way to accomplish anything is by trying to do something. Keep that in mind when your campus lemonade stand is crushed by a competitor. At least you’ve done something.
And next time, you may be the ruthless competition-crusher!
(photo credit: stuartpilbrow)
Apparently, Algebra II is one of the best predictors of a student’s success in college and beyond. (You know, that great beyond where you actually have to get a job?) Several studies show that people who have made it through Algebra II tend to do better in college and end up in higher-paying careers.
Now, nobody’s going to say that algebra is easy, but although it may be the basis of rocket science, it is not, in fact, rocket science. And once you learn it the first time, you don’t really have to learn it again.
We’re willing to bet that students who spend a little time learning the basics of personal finance also tend to end up in those higher-paying careers. So unless you want to be this guy, maybe it’s time to hit the books.
Books? Worry not – you can learn your maths and watch videos on the Internet at the same time!
Freddy Dico is the co-founder of Sir New York, a modern menswear label that launched in Spring 2010. He’s from Macau, but grew up in San Francisco. And before getting into the world of design, he was actually a star student in the biochemistry program at U.C. Davis. Since switching gears and graduating from FIT in New York, Freddy has worked with companies like Polo Ralph Lauren, J. Crew, and Brooklyn Industries, and designed an entire line for mass-market men’s label Scappino in Mexico. You can check out his latest work here.
TILE: Being a designer involves much more than a creative vision and talent with scissors and thread. What are some of the costs of starting your own fashion label?
Freddy: Since we are a really small start-up with practically no capital, time is the #1 cost.
To start, you need a product, which means sourcing fabrics, making patterns, sewing/fitting, creating labels, etc. Once the product is perfected, you need to document and promote it through a website, lookbooks, business cards, fashion presentations, models, invites, etc. The lists really goes on and on and on… Luckily, I have a partner (Auston Bjorkman) who is equally well-rounded in many areas, so we try to personally execute most tasks to lower our costs.
Of course there are only 24 hours in a day, which means you can’t do it all. We’re fortunate enough to have many people who believe in us and who are willing to volunteer their time and effort.
Oh, and let’s not forget about getting a business license and all that legal stuff…
TILE: How does a piece get from the designer’s head to the runway?
Freddy: At the start of the season, Auston and I will brainstorm and finalize the themes/concepts we want to use. Then we create sketches, source fabrics, make patterns, and sew the samples. After that we set up a photoshoot, cast models, send invites, create a website, scout locations for the show, and stress ourselves out making sure the event goes off without a hitch.
TILE: And how does that piece get from the runway to the retail store?
Freddy: There’s a lot of following up on our part. Before your runway show, you need to figure out pricing and where will you produce the garments. Once you have all the business details – the linesheets – figured out, you’re ready to potentially attract buyers to place your product in their stores. Once orders are confirmed, you actually need to produce and ship the pieces to them.
TILE: How can you be a “smart shopper” when it comes to designer clothing?
Freddy: Well, the answer to that question depends on what kind of person I’m talking to. But in general, I always believe that the value of a garment is based on the number of times worn. So make sure you love it!
TILE: What advice would you give to your teenage self?
Freddy: Enjoy the ride!