the webgreek blog

While I comfortably watch game one of the NBA finals, I find myself reminiscing on the first time I saw the Lakers take on the Celtics in a championship game. It was the summer of 2008, and I had just graduated from UC Berkeley. I sat in my living room, basking in my recent achievement, anxious for the next chapter in life. I had no clue what page would unfold, but one thing was for sure, the world was up for grabs. Two years later, I have learned a hell of a lot. And while many of you are or soon will be in this same position, here are a few suggestions for answering that lingering question…what’s next?

1. Start a Blog: Starting a blog may seem arbitrary at first, but it is a great way to stay productive and fill in some free time over summer. Hop on wordpress, blogger, or posterous, and start writing about something your passionate about, or even better, a topic related to your career path. You will find that your ability to write with a clear and concise voice improves, and you’re forced to stay knowledgeable on current events relating to your topic. An active blog is a great way to impress an employer, and you never know who might stumble across your next entry.

2. Take a Test: There is no time like the present to utilize your brainpower and motivation to take that important test like the GMAT, LSAT, or GRE. As the summer goes on, you will realize that your motivation starts dwindling. Once finals are over, take a small break to cool your engines. However, don’t wait too long. You still want your brain in “go” mode when you pull out the study books. Heck, you just did 4 years, what are a couple extra months. I guarantee you will be grateful when the test scores come back, and a few extra doors open up for your future. Take it now, most of these tests are good for 5 years!

3. Learn a New Skill: I cannot stress enough how important it is to constantly add new skills to your arsenal. Something as simple as basic proficiency in Photoshop can make a difference in thousands of dollars in annual salary. Use this summer to take a class, or teach yourself something new using the plethora of free resources on the Internet. Even something as trivial as Salsa dancing, or surfing can make you stand out from the pack. Employers like dynamic, useful, and multi-dimensional candidates. There is no better time to stock pile useful skills while your still young enough to retain the knowledge.

4. Train for a Marathon: Ok, so maybe a marathon is a little extreme. The point is to do something active, requires mental fortitude, and will challenge your body and mind in new ways. Seeing something as basic as “completed the xyz marathon” or “annual participant in the abc triathlon” makes a huge difference on a candidate’s resume. Not only will it help you stand out from other applicants, it will increase your energy, focus, and endurance in the business world. There is a strong correlation between confidence and fitness, and you’ll be surprised as to how a little extra confidence can go a long way.

5. Join a Community: I’m not talking about renewing that subscription to World of Warcraft. Find a group that provides some sort of meaningful service. Charities, sports teams, and book clubs are all great ways to get involved in a new community. Jump outside of your comfort zone and meet new people. You will make new friends, possibly find that special someone, or maybe acquire a business card for that dream job you’ve always wanted. “Take a small example, take a tip from me,” get up off your butt and join a charity!

So there it is. Some of these things I wish I had done when graduating, and some I did do. The fact is: “life is short, so love the one you got, cause you might get run over or you might get shot.” If you have any other recommendations please feel free to drop them in the comments section.