Current projections1 say the job outlook for the class of 2008 isnt bad but its not great either -- there is an increase in hiring compared to last year, but its half of what was projected in the fall, and salary growth is mixed as well.
The bad news: Research shows graduating into a recession has the potential to negatively affect your earnings2 in the long term.
The good news: Surviving and thriving in an economic downturn boils down to managing your expectations and your finances wisely, which is a lesson with a lifetimes worth of value. Here are some areas to concentrate on.
Find Housing You Can Really Afford
租能负担得起的房子
The New York Times did a piece recently on finding your first New York City apartment.
One of the men they profiled is a consultant3 who chooses to pay more than half of his after-tax income for an apartment in Manhattan. Despite the fact that his income (combined with a roommates) satisfies the landlord, he is not showing good financial sense. You shouldnt spend more than 30 percent of your income on rent. If you need to split the rent eight ways, then do it. When youre young, living with lots of roommates can be a rite4 of passage, not to mention a fun way to get to know people and have a home base in a big city. 年轻时和许多室友一起住是一个成长经历，而且这也是结识新伙伴、在大城市里有一个居住地的好办法。
Or try starting out in a not-so-big city. The most affordable5 rents, not surprisingly, are in states such as Kansas, Oklahoma, and Kentucky.
不管在哪里，房租都是最好不要超过月收入的三分之一，否则的你的生活质量会大打折扣、甚至可能出现财务危机。
Take Care of Your Health
照顾好自己
Young people are the largest and fastest-growing group in the country without health insurance. That must be why Ive been invited to several benefit parties for twenty- and thirty somethings who have unexpected medical expenses that they cant afford to pay for.
Doctors bills are bad for your wealth as well as your health -- theyre a leading cause of bankruptcy6 and credit card debt.
So if you dont have health insurance through your job -- or if youre still looking for a job -- here are a few options:
如果你的工作不提供医保，或者你还在找工作，以下是一些选择：
- In 30 states, you may be eligible7 for coverage8 under your parents plan as part of a family rate, up to your mid9 20s (in New Jersey10, the limit is age 30). Find out more here.
- You may also be eligible for low-cost coverage under a state or local plan for low-income adults, such as Healthy New York or Healthy San Francisco. Check your states insurance department for details.
- Consider a so-called catastrophic or major medical plan; these have the lowest monthly premiums11 and high deductibles, but they will pay off if the worst occurs.
上述的三种情况在中国都不现实。如果你的工作没有医疗保险的话，你可以尝试买一些费用低的商业保险，也会起到一定的作用。
刚毕业的学生脑子里一定要有一个清楚的理财计划，不然很可能会因为起薪太低、导致你入不敷出、债台高筑。
Start a Debt Freedom Campaign
负债行动
Got student loans and credit card debt to pay off One tactic1 thats worked for a lot of readers is to start a debt freedom blog. Use an online calculator to figure out a date by which you want to be debt free, and a realistic monthly sum to save -- say, $50 -- that will get you there. Then, post about your progress as a way of keeping yourself to that promise.
See this personal finance blog aggregator for lots of great suggestions and models for your blog.
Get Rewards for Saving and Budgeting Online
从在线理财中获得的好处
Personal finance sites marketed to GenDebt are growing every day, and anything that starts the saving habit is a good idea.
At Billeo.com, you can build your credit score by simply paying bills. SmartyPig.com, a startup, offers retail2 rewards and a relatively3 high interest rate for saving online, with a fun, social format4; Wachovias Way2Save and the site whatareyousavingfor.com, sponsored by a credit union in North Carolina, offer similar savings5 rewards.
扩展：面试中最糟的错误
Hiring managers dont want to hear a lot of things during an interview -- confessions1 of a violent past, a cell phone ring, a toilet flush. Yet job seekers have committed these interview gaffes2 and worse, according to CareerBuilder.coms annual survey of the worst interview mistakes.
招聘经理不希望在面试时听到太多东西比如对过去暴力行为的忏悔、手机铃声、冲厕所声。可是根据CareerBuilder网站对最糟糕面试错误的调查显示，求职者们在面试中都犯过这些错误，甚至更糟的错误。
Hiring managers say dont offer personal details that can be controversial during an interview.
招聘经理称不要在面试中透露具有争议性的个人细节。
Odd behavior isnt the only way to ruin your chances of landing a job.
古怪的行为并不是唯一会导致你得不到工作的原因。
When hiring managers were asked to name the most common and damaging interview mistakes a candidate can make, 51 percent listed dressing3 inappropriately.
51%的招聘经理认为穿着不当是面试者最常见最具破坏力的错误。
Forty-nine percent cited badmouthing a former boss as the worst offense4, while 48 percent said appearing disinterested5.
49%的招聘经理认为说前雇主的坏话是最坏的错误;48%则认为是应试者对工作态度冷淡。
Arrogance6 (44 percent), insufficient7 answers (30 percent) and not asking good questions (29 percent) were also top answers.
傲慢(44%)、回答问题不充分(30%) 及没有提出好的问题 (29%) 也被认为是最糟的几个错误。
