Will Work for Beer

As a soon-to-be-graduated senior, the pressure is on to find a job. As we entered our college careers with bright eyes and high expectations for what our education would bring us, we thought of as this time a distant obstacle to tackle in the faraway future. Well now it's 2010 and we're completely broke with many of us feeling like we didn't learn more than how to BS really well. It's time to make some money.

As it turns out, a lot of jobs just require you to have a college degree. It's amazing the kinds of things a person can qualify for because they were willing to put in the work for four years. So even if you don't think you qualify for a certain job, check it out. You may be pleasantly surprised to learn that there's not that much to it.
-Craigslist will be your best friend. Though it may not be the top sight for Fortune500 companies, there's a lot of privately owned, start ups and other quirky places that advertise on there that could be a lot more fun than sitting in a cubicle.
-It never hurts to ask. Even if it doesn't seem like a company you want to work for is hiring, you can still send in a letter explaining yourself. Maybe they'll have a position opening in the near future that they haven't started looking for yet, or maybe your amazing writing skills and passion for what they do will make them remember you.
-Everybody has to start some where. So you can't seem to land that CEO position. That's really ok, a lot of companies promote within, and starting at the bottom will be a temporary move.
-Internships are still ok. Yes, moving back in with your parent would suuuuuuuck, but if you landed the BEST internship that would give you amazing experience and a possible job once it's done, it is a small sacrifice to make. Not to mention, free laundry and good *real* food? Always a plus.
-Look at your connections. What do your friend's parents do? Who do they know? Ask around, get the word out that you're looking for employment. This day in age it sometimes doesn't matter what you know, so much as who you know.
-Lastly, be aware that we're in a recession. Yes, it would be nice to know that you spent all this time, effort, and money to get yourself a good job once your done with school, but the cold truth is that there aren't too many jobs out there right now. You might have to settle for something that you're not that into. This is part of what being an adult is about, doing what you have to. Just because you have a job that you don't like right now, doesn't mean you'll always have that job. And if you hate it that much, it will just motivate you in the future to get somewhere better that will make you happier.

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I thought I would take this opportunity to discuss why being smart with your money is very important, ESPECIALLY when you're on a tight budget as a student.
I currently have a friend who is a full time student, and now has two jobs. He has spent his money on things that he really didn't need, and then put himself in a living situation that he was not going to be able to afford. Now he is in debt and there's a pretty good chance he will fail some classes this semester because he has no time to do homework (which is really just a waste of more money).
Don't end up like him! Be aware of things that you NEED, as opposed to what you WANT. Having a roof over your head is way more important than getting drunk this weekend.

Some common areas that students tend to spend their money: booze, food, entertainment, clothes. I know that these are all things that help make your college experience more grand, but think before you spend. If you want to get drunk, try to either pre-party before you go to the bars (Safeway and BevMo are the best for alcohol deals) or go for a bigger bulk of alcohol and split it with more people.
Go grocery shopping with a list of things that you need, so that you don't forget anything and you don't buy things you don't really need. And then use that food. Don't go out every night and let it rot. If you do go out, look for places that have student discounts (particularly the taquerias). Check out places like FoodMax that have good deals on food.
If you need a new outfit, check out Plato's Closet for some really great deals on good clothes. Not to mention you're helping recycle.
As for entertainment, a lot of places have student nights where there's either a discount or it's free. Pay attention to posters on campus, because they have some great things happening, like Free Pizza and Comedy night.

Really you just need to pay attention and use your common sense. Don't do things you know you can't afford just because you're friends are. Look at your bank statement a lot to make sure you're not getting too crazy, and always look for good deals.