Remember to check your postal mail every day. An amazing number of young people neglect this.
Although most of the communications important to you will arrive in other ways, a few crucial things – like jury duty summonses – still come in the postal mail.
Remember that good relationships are the biggest part of your life. Your family, your best friend, your partner…are your primary orbit. Prioritize. If they matter to you, they should have evidence they matter.
Your secondary orbit is pretty much your job. Do something that gives you satisfaction. Be of use to other people. Do work that matters. Try not to pee on other people’s legs, avoid drama. Leave work at work. Do not have sex with coworkers.
Your tertiary orbit is your house/apartment, your car, your stuff. Stuff is great, but it’s not what makes life worthwhile.
Practical stuff other people have said…
Never be without health insurance. Sacrifice if you have to…but maintain decent coverage.
The early money in your IRA counts so much more than the late money. Do your best to make the best contributions you can right now.
If you rent, carry renter’s insurance.
Start a retirement account and contribute to it every month…even if it’s a small amount. Don’t wait to start this.
Travel this summer.
Ditto post #23.
Congratulations on landing a good job! And starting in a few months, not immediately. It is worth it to take time to travel now, assuming you can do it financially. We told son to wait a month to start his post college job but he wouldn’t wait. Once you start working your vacation time will be limited. The extra money compared to the decades of a work life isn’t worth it.
I definitely see why you feel like you have been a college student forever. 4-5 years is a long time and a major chunk of your adult life to date. Take a break from the responsibilities with good summer weather. You are young enough you don’t need fancy accommodations et al to travel. Even a car/bus trip to the Grand canyon, California, New York or any number of places is a well deserved treat. Some find Europe affordable.
A lot of hints about starting out. Insurance (health, car, renter’s), retirement savings, living beneath your means, organizing stuff. It is likely you will have startup expenses including the needed work wardrobe- even if casual. There will be a learning curve with your job so having time to breathe this summer is great.
One thing to NOT do. Do not try to prepare for the job on your own time, to get up to speed sooner than expected. Your job will include required training for which you will be earning your paycheck. Son’s first 3 or 4 months were at a lesser salary but totally nonproductive while he went trough the orientation and training as a software developer.
Expect to be paid for learning job specifics. With a salary your job may be the 60 hours per week but it is NOT 24/7 like the college student experience may have been at times. Initially it will take longer to get the work done. But this is not like needing to be prepared to ace the test. Leave your work at the office. The company does not own you. They hired you presuming you can be of service to them. They are supposed to give you the orientation et al on their dime/time. You do not go into day one of being paid having spent your own time reading all of the training manual etc. in advance.
Have a great summer. Really, whatever you want to do if you can afford it.
The work week will feel “normal” once you get going. I loved working 9-5 plus when in my 20’s.But I understand how you feel, before beginning.
lol
I doubt he gets this reference.
You are younger now than you will ever be. Always embrace where you are in life. Figure out what the developmental challenges/goals are for the next five years, and attain them. Then you won’t have trouble getting older.
glad that some do, post brantly
glad that some do, brantly
IMHO, there’s nothing wrong with having a 60 hr per week job, especially if the work is challenging and rewarding, and if you’re learning things.
One thing I used to ask my kids: “How many hours are there in a week?” After a bit of hesitation, they stated the facts: 168 (24 x 7). If you work 60 hours you have 108 left over, lots of time for having a “life.” Of course you do have to develop a life style that allows you to blend in recreation and exercising, sleep, socializing, eating, etc. But IMO young people just out of school should try to do it all. But they should take care of themselves, too (that includes healthcare, diet, exercise, and recreation broadly defined).
Focus on expanding your competence, professional reputation, and achievements. Take challenges. It’s fun!
At the same time, do take your paid vacations and opportunities for travel, down-time, and learning independently.