the brand girls: So you graduated... now what? Tips and Tricks for Navigating post-grad life6/17/2018
 Each graduating class of fierce millennial women who goes through The Brand Girls program impresses us more and more.
Graduating from college is one of the most important milestones in your life. One that’s exciting, scary, and bittersweet all at once! Our CEO Rachael Bozsik always says she created The Brand Girls because she wishes she had The Brand Girls. So we decided to give you the BG secrets to navigating post-grad life we wish we had sooner! There’s no such thing as a ‘traditional’ path: “I wish someone told me that you can create your own roles at companies… you don’t always need to look for applications,” says The Brand Girls Founder and CEO Rachael Bozsik. “You can pitch a company you love.” Be prepared for your plans to change: It’s great to have an idea of what you want to do and how you’re going to get there, but don’t grow too attached to your plans! “Throw your plans and expectations out the window, develop your personal brand and elevator pitch, never miss an opportunity to network, and know that it’ll all be just fine,” says Harris Walker. Nobody ever has it all together: It’s easy to look around and think everyone else’s life is perfect, but remember that the grass is always greener on the other side. Let go of the comparisons - trust us on this one! Challenging yourself is the only way to know what you’re capable of: Don’t be afraid of taking a risk by accepting a job with responsibilities you have never done before. This is the time in your career to go out of your comfort zone and learn. You will figure things out as you go: This might be our most important piece of advice. You’re not supposed to graduate knowing how to do everything. You’re going to make mistakes along the way and there are days that it’s going to be tough. But remember that every mistake you make is also an opportunity for growth.  Once you get your first full-time gig post-grad, it’s so tempting to blow through your paychecks now that you’ve got some money in your bank account - finally!
But, The Brand Girls knows how crucial it is to start your first job with good savings habits. Never been great at managing your money? Don’t worry, our 6 tips make it easy for millennial women to make smart money moves! Set realistic goals: The Brand Girls is all about setting goals in every aspect of your life. Grab your notebook and think about what’s realistic. How soon do you want to pay off your student loans? How much do you want to have in your savings? Don’t forget to schedule check ins to monitor your progress! Write down the goals or events that you’re saving towards: Apps like Qapital make this super easy by allowing you to set aside a little bit each month toward specific goals. The reminder of what you’re saving for pump up your motivation. You’ll be ready to splurge during your trip to Cabo in no time! Don’t forget to pay yourself, too! Forbes recommends putting money aside in your savings before any other expenses to help you build up your emergency savings fund (3-6 months pay). Studies show this method can help boost your savings much more quickly. Set a budget - and stick to it: This is a tried and true method for increasing the cash in your pocket. Now, you can do all of your budgeting right from your phone. Check out Daily Worth’s 5 Best Money Apps for Millennials here. Plan for your future: If your employer offers a 401(k) or pension plan, take advantage of it - especially if they have a matching company contribution. Investors.com shares that the sooner you start contributing, the more money you’ll save over time! Remember, no matter how much money you’re making in your first job out of college, it’s important to set your strong saving habits now - trust us, you don’t want to regret this later! |
