Six Figure Stress

Dear CRCers: 

I can't believe I'm thinking about turning down a six-figure job offer for after graduation. Why?  During the final round interview, I asked about their clients, whom I'd be supporting. As I listened to the list, I couldn't shake the feeling that something wasn't right, in terms of my feeling about the core purpose of the work I'd be doing.  But now what? My friends around me are having no trouble accepting these positions. They think I'm crazy. Am I?  

Signed, 

Feeling Conflicted

Daniel Stolle | New York Times

Turning down a six-figure salary?  Well, yes, for most people on the planet, that is crazy!  Your doubts though are confirmed by the stories of millennials in this article about retiring in your 30s with $1 million in the bank. Your upcoming status as a Brown alum will continue to reap its rewards; your positionality as an Ivy League college graduate will continue to give you options many would give up a limb to have.

The companies that come to Brown's campus to recruit can afford to.  There are many, many other opportunities for work; you'll have to search these out, though even via CareerLAB's Handshake job board tool, you don't have to go far.  

Brown's alumni network is vast, as you'll see via BrownConnect or by searching LinkedIn if you have a profile. Dedicate some time this semester to introducing yourself to alumni who are doing work you find interesting and perhaps even rewarding.

By casting your net wider as you look through job postings, and talking with alumni and other professionals, you'll have a better sense of what's out there. Additionally, it's critical to reflect on your values, and figure out what you want and need to have for your first couple of years out of school. The Careers in the Common Good program developed this self-reflection tool and this database of over 1,000 common-good resources. The Get Your Bearingsprogram provides resources about financial literacy to help students figure out money issues like budgeting, credit, loan repayment, and what your net income and take-home pay will be.

At the time of graduation, about 50% of the graduating class has a job or school lined up, but about 50% don't; it may take some time to land what is right for you, so trust the process!