For the class of 2024, 80% report they have felt burned out by feelings of exhaustion and unusual negativity or cynicism regarding their post-grad career choices and finances, according to CNBC.
Pepperdine professors, career advisors and finance students said they want to turn that feeling of negativity around. They have hopeful advice for helping students manage their fears, live within their means and negotiate a job that is the perfect fit for the transitional post-grad time.
“There will be peaks and valleys along the way, and each of those points will help students grow as people and become better equipped at problem solving,” Visiting Professor of Finance John Ned said.
Professor Stories and Advice
Ned became more interested in finance during his professional career because he saw how complimentary the finance field is with accounting, his undergraduate major, he said. He now teaches Financial Management and International Finance and encourages students to take as many finance courses as they can.
For graduating seniors, loan repayments start kicking in six months after graduation, Ned said.
“I still use those same budgeting principles today — if I can’t afford something I leave it alone until I can afford it because I don’t like using my credit cards unless it is an emergency situation,” Ned said. “I keep my credit cards with a $0 balance.”
Ned said his budgeting tool is a Microsoft Excel sheet. He knows his monthly income will be the same so he can plan ahead with all his monthly expenses.
Next, Ned budgets for monthly tithes for church and monthly discretionary fund — this includes dining out, entertainment, shopping, treats for students and more, he said.
Assistant Professor of Finance Haley O’Steen said she suggests people financially live as frugally as they did in college, even after graduation.
“[Once graduated] you finally feel like you have a little more money, and it’s like, ‘Oh, I can relax; I don’t have to think so much about all this,’ but that’s not the time to do it,” O’Steen said.”
O’Steen said, in terms of seeking financial advice that is easy to understand and beneficial for young people starting their independent lives, she has found books such as “I Will Teach You To Be Rich,” by Ramit Sethi, to be most helpful.
Books can help answer questions like, “How do I buy insurance? What do I do with this credit card? How does this credit card work? How do I choose a savings account?,” O’Steen said. A book can give you insights most students will not get in college, O’Steen said.
“I think it’s so important for people not to feel like they deserve a whole lot,” O’Steen said. “If you can develop the discipline of living on less than you make and making yourself live on less than you could afford, I think this is really good for you financially and mentally.”
Finance Education
O’Steen said she teaches Financial Management, Entrepreneurial Finance Investments and Financial Markets and Institutions. This semester, Ned said Pepperdine started a Financial Literacy course (BA 292) in the GE division.
“The University is addressing this need that students have because we know that financial literacy is very important for all of the students in Seaver College, not just the students in the Business Administration Division,” Ned said.
Samuel Sinks, senior and LMU finance major, said he initially became interested in studying finance because of his nature to problem solve, and he found computer science less appealing due to a need to connect with the outside world.
“I switched to finance because I could leverage my understanding of code and models with Excel while still getting to connect to the real world through markets and trends,” Sinks said.
Sinks said his most challenging class and most rewarding class is Entertainment Finance. This class involved getting certifications over winter break, hearing from high-profile guest speakers and participating in a mentorship project — with real-world entertainment finance workers for a project model that predicts the investment value of an upcoming film.
“I’ve always been comfortable with budgeting, and I think the main thing being a finance major has instilled in me is the discipline to track my own spending,” Sinks said. “Being good with your money isn’t necessarily about how much you know but more about how you can live within your means.”
Sinks said he has learned to build an emergency cash fund of $1-2 thousand before investing due to expenses one cannot predict such as car troubles or medical bills. Of U.S. adults, 56% lack an emergency fund of $1,000, and 35% said they would ask a friend to borrow the money for an expected expense, according to Fox Business and CNBC.
Sinks also said he learned not to necessarily save credit cards only for emergencies either, but he personally, as a college senior, spends $100 on his credit card each month and includes paying that off in his master budget he keeps track of. This way he is building credit for car loans, home loans and more.
With three older siblings and a dad working in business, Sinks said he is confident in his support system and personal organizational habits to manage post-grad ups and downs.
Career Negotiating and More
It is expected to negotiate with an employer for one’s first job, Ned said, and negotiating is more than agreeing on a salary. If students wonder if what they are asking for is too much or too little, they can ask an adviser, mentor or professor as they are more than happy to help.
“They should try to negotiate those things that will help them with the proper work-life balance,” Ned said. “My motto is, ‘If we don’t ask for something, then we will never get it.'”
Ned advised a graduating senior earlier this semester who wanted to know if the negotiations requested were too much, Ned said. The student was able to get most of what they asked for in the negotiation.
If a student does not have someone they feel comfortable enough to talk about finances with, Ned said he recommends Google or Yahoo Finance as they help students become accustomed to certain financial terminology.
O’Steen said what helps when she is nervous to negotiate at a job, which she still needs to do years into her career — is she remembers that the hiring managers want to hire, and they most likely do not want to keep going through the process.
“You’re not going to hurt somebody’s feelings,” O’Steen said. “If they liked you enough to give you an offer, then they’ll like you enough to say, ‘Sorry, we can’t give you any more. Can you accept the offer as it stands?’ I don’t think it’s reasonable or rational to worry about losing an offer.”
Mia Islas, career advisor at Seaver College Career Center, said she focuses on helping students find opportunities in creative fields.
“As a first-generation college student, I was always intimidated by the prospect of graduating without guarantee of a career in the creative field,” Islas said.
Islas said, in regard to negotiating, the key element is understanding the value you bring to a team. To figure this out, one can start by analyzing one’s past experiences and researching the average compensation for an individual at one’s desired level posted on job listings.
While entry-level positions may have more standardized pay ranges, there may be room for negotiation if you have unique skills and relevant experience or if the company has a flexible compensation structure, Islas said.
There is no harm in requesting informational interviews with alumni or other entry-level employees across different companies, and this option is a path to understanding a clearer standard for negotiation, Islas said.
“The better-researched candidate you are, the more excited a company will be to hire you,” Islas said.
Islas said she has found self-advocacy and determination are the most important values to have if one desires to succeed in the arts. She encourages students to take advantage of the access to resources at their disposal.
Islas said she wishes she would have told herself to seek out more scholarships and fellowship opportunities. If a student is planning on continuing their education after their bachelor’s, they can check for graduate fellowships.
Islas said her career advice includes doing company research, preparing application materials, networking with alumni and possibly reaching out to recruiters if appropriate.
“Everyone’s financial situation is different, but if employment after college is the next logical step for you, I would recommend preparing for the search as soon as possible,” Islas said.
When it comes to post-grad opportunities and finance, Islas said everyone’s life path will look different, and one should avoid directly comparing oneself to their peers. She also encourages having honest conversations with parents as one prepares for post-grad — as living at home might help cut expenses, but living in a city and independently might help with career advances.
“Transparency and communication are key,” Islas said.
Professors said to approach a chapter of change like graduation with curiosity and remember a transitional period is a fantastic time to explore.
“General advice that I share with graduating seniors is to enjoy life and embrace the journey ahead,” Ned said.
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Contact Beth Gonzales via email: beth.gonzales@pepperdine.edu
