[Life after college is hard. Like really hard. But it's not so hard that you should curl up in a ball and watch E! marathons all day long. Not only are we covering the experience from a first-hand perspective, but we're now covering it from a how-to-survive-it perspective. Every week, we're going to bringing the best advice to getting through your first post-grad year. Because sometimes, your grandmother's "just go to law school" advice just doesn't cut it.]

I know how the scenario goes. They put that college diploma in your hand on graduation day, you walk across the stage with your head held high and you think, “This is it. I made it.” Fast-forward to two months later, you’re sweating bullets selling ice cream cones at the town pool’s snack bar. And they said you needed a degree for this?

It’s true. Sometimes the path to achieving your dreams is filled with potholes and pit stops. One of the hardest lessons they don’t teach you in school is how not to lose hope when the going gets…questionable. Surely you know you can’t just wake up and become a best-selling author/award-winning scientist/brilliant businesswoman. These things take work, of course, but they also take time. And a lot of that interim time is spent taking care of the here-and-now. You know- the bills that don’t pay themselves, the post-grad internships and part-time jobs that are often necessary (albeit frustrating), the living with Mom and Dad (again).

Anyone will tell you, the road to becoming J.K. Rowling or Marie Curie or Martha Stewart isn’t an expressway. (Repeat that to yourself every time your successful future feels too far away.) You’ve got a lot of dues to pay before you can reach the top. So what if you’re biding your time babysitting for spare cash? Who cares if you got roped into an internship that isn’t quite in the field you’d like to work?

Jim Carrey used to be a janitor. Chris Rock bussed tables at Red Lobster. Jennifer Aniston got cursed out on the reg as a telemarketer. Rachael Ray worked behind a freakin’ Macy’s candy counter.

Clearly, it’s not what you’re doing, but what you’re taking away from it. Think discipline, responsibility, work ethics and amazingly hilarious stories about the fat kid who belly flopped onto his little brother. Much like Rome, character isn’t built in a day. When you’re up on stage accepting your first award years from now, you’ll be glad you’ve got a substantial library of jokes to reference about the good ol’ days.

[Life after college is hard. Like really hard. But it's not so hard that you should curl up in a ball and watch E! marathons all day long. Not only are we covering the experience from a first-hand perspective, but we're now covering it from a how-to-survive-it perspective. Every week, we're going to bringing the best advice to getting through your first post-grad year. Because sometimes, your grandmother's "just go to law school" advice just doesn't cut it.]

If I were to say “post-grad internship,” would you shudder in disgust or tackle me with five different copies of your resume and a cover letter proofread by Katie Couric?

Much like cilantro, the notion of working for a small stipend (or…gasp!…for free) tends to separate people into two groups. You’ve got those who wholeheartedly support it, and those who can’t run away fast enough. And, unlike happy hour at Dos Margaritas, there’s rarely tequila around the office to help you chase away the taste of shame that comes with being a post-grad intern.

Despite how it may sound, I actually do in fact think internships are a worthwhile endeavor, even after graduation. But you’ve got to be smart about where you accept a spot, if you can financially afford to do so, and all that jazz. So before you tell me I’m crazy for suggesting you throw away your first summer out of college working for peanuts…or before you jump into an internship that might not be right for you…see how things measure up for you in my handy dandy pro-con list:

Pros of a Post- Grad Internship

-Seeing if “what you want to do” is really what you want to do. Priceless.

-Networking. Sure, it’s an overused idea, but it really can make a difference in the end. You never know who’s got a cousin that works for Obama’s niece dog walker and could maybe get you an interview with the guy who delivers the newspapers to the White House.

-Flexibility. Because it’s not a job, per se, you can still actively look for work while interning and not feel guilty if you have to take a day off for an interview.

-Keeping your resume active. There’s nothing worse than a blank space after graduation. Soon enough an interviewer is going to be asking what you did during that missing chunk. Answering with, “Uhh…I worked at the local florist and sat by the pool in my free time,” isn’t going to wow anyone’s socks off. (Though, to all you haters out there, it is admirable to find a paid part-time job.)

-References. The currency of the professional world. The more people you come across early on in your career (ahem: via internships) who like you, the more people you’ll have to go to bat for you when the time comes that someone’s looking over your resume for a “real job.”

-Openings. Just because a company isn’t hiring a full-time person right now, doesn’t mean they won’t be looking in the near future. And who better to hire than the person who’s already working there, trained and ready to go? Case in point: me! I did a post-grad internship right here at CollegeCandy and guess what? I just got hired as their new content editor!

Cons of a Post-Grad Internship

-The money. The most obvious of drawbacks…that is, unless you’re part of the lucky 3% of interns who get some crazy large stipend. Realistically, you’ll be working for minimum wage or your transportation costs (if that much). Not exactly luxurious.

-There’s a chance you’ll be getting coffee for people the same age as you. And as much as you’ll want to give them the finger and tell them to take their condescending stares elsewhere, you’ll have to go with the flow.

-40-Year-Old Intern Syndrome. You may not believe me now, but there comes a point in all post-grad internships when you question your life path a little bit, even if you’re helping out at your dream company working with inspiring individuals. Trust me. When your college friends start to land “adult” jobs (ie: the ones that pay a salary) and move out of their parents’ homes, you’ll end up drinking too much one night and find yourself in front of your bathroom mirror looking for wrinkles, wondering when your turn will come for an actual career. It ain’t pretty, especially when you notice the Cheetos dust around your mouth, but it’s the truth.

And there you have it. The pro-con list that could launch a thousand resumes and internship applications into inboxes everywhere. Or not. Wherever you come down on the fence, recognize it’s a personal choice. What works for me might not work for you or your best friend from second grade whose dad hooked her up with a job at The View. More important than comparing your career path to those around you is knowing (or trying to know…just a teensy bit) where you want to go and what you want to do. So tackle that, then we’ll talk.

You’ve doubtlessly heard it by now. From parents, from professors, from older friends and siblings who’ve “been there.” It’s a sobering phrase that likely enters your mind right after you envision a post-grad summer of margaritas and beach hair.

Not so fast with those grand plans, girlfriend. As everyone knows, looking for a job is a full-time job.

But does it have to be? Absolutely, if you commit yourself to a crazy weekly plan like this one from the media gurus at Cynopsis. Waking up at 7:30 to do cardio and work on your flexibility? Talking to strangers for an hour every Monday, Wednesday and Friday? Videotaping mock interviews on Tuesdays and Fridays? No TV, even during lunch!?

Sounds more like a prison sentence than a realistic way to find a job. And while I know there’s a chorus of you out there saying, “But Alex, this is hardcore for a reason. It probably works!” (and you’re right, you’re right), I do have to counter by asking you the following: What about those of us with part-time jobs and internships? Rent doesn’t pay itself and that resume won’t build credentials on its own. It’s great to get serious about finding a job, but it’s also important to factor in living your life while you do that.

That being said, here’s what I like to call the Real Girl’s Game Plan:

You don’t need to start from scratch every day. Find five job sites to check regularly. Pick ones that update their postings frequently and have them saved along your Internet toolbar or in your favorites folder. (Some sites, like indeed.com even offer daily or weekly emails filled with job postings in your desired industry.) Go in knowing what search criteria to use on each site. That way, when you find an hour each day to devote to the cause, you’re making it as easy on yourself as possible. Then, once a week, instead of checking your regular sites, branch out and conduct broader searches across more outlets to make sure you’re not missing anything.

Sign up for email blasts. I agree with Cynopsis when they say you should keep current on happenings in your industry. But instead of wasting time blindly Googling for headlines, invest a few hours on the front-end finding and signing up for industry newsletters. Once you’ve found a handful and entered your email address, that stuff’ll come right to you every morning. Then it’s just a matter of grabbing a cup of coffee, sitting down with your laptop and actually reading through it all. (Hint: it’s only a smart tactic if you don’t start marking those pesky emails as spam.)

Need some ideas to get you started? If you’re into fashion, often times designers and stylists offer their own daily emails. Rachel Zoe’s got one, and NY Magazine’s The Cut is a fab inbox addition. Maybe advertising’s more your specialty. Ad Age’s blast has got everything you need to go head to head with industry pros. And for all your business, global, artistic and miscellaneous needs, The New York Times offers customized emails. Just tell them what you want to hear about, and they’ll make sure you’re in the loop.

Talk to friends. Facebook is called a social network for a reason. When you go on, pay attention to where people are working. Even if you haven’t talked to the person since freshman orientation, they’re still a contact. Everyone knows times are tough, and it’s completely reasonable to send a friendly message asking so-and-so if their company has any opening is X field. It’s even more helpful if you’ve already taken a peek and have a position in mind that you want to inquire about. Most people are more than willing to share email addresses and phone numbers if you’re polite and sincere (some even get bonuses if they recruit a new hire). And don’t forget to say thank you!!

Keep a copy of your resume in your car. Or in your weekly planner. Or in your handbag. Or even freakin’ crumpled in your back pocket. The point is, always be ready to sell yourself. Want to hear a true story? The summer after I graduated, I happened to have a few spare resumes in my glove compartment. I honestly don’t remember why, but most likely I came out of a stressful interview and just didn’t feel like looking at the things, so I stuffed them away.

Fast forward to Labor Day weekend. I was at the beach with some friends and a massive hurricane was rolling in. Everyone in town was out watching the waves crash over the boardwalk and there were camera crews from all the big networks pulled up along the road to cover the impending storm. Suddenly my mind went to my stash of resumes.

I have a journalism degree! I want to work for you, CNN! Or you, NBC! Or even you, Fox!!

Faster than my friends could ask what the hell I was doing, I ran back to my car and fished out the stack of resumes. I cross my heart when I tell you I stuck one under the windshield wipers of each news van there.

Guess what? Someone responded. Not everyone, not even half of them. But one did. And one is all it takes.

Moral of the story: hang out near natural disasters and recognize that job opportunities exist everywhere. Be ready when they come along.

Whether you’re graduating this spring or you’re hunting for a summer internship, you’re probably stressed about acing your interviews. To help alleviate some of that stress, we reached out to the experts from Excelle and asked them for their tips on making a great first impression. Check back every Thursday for more helpful career tips and articles!

By Carole Martin, Monster Contributing Writer

Too many job seekers stumble through interviews as if the questions are coming out of left field. But many interview questions are to be expected. Study this list and plan your answers ahead of time so you’ll be ready to deliver them with confidence.

1. What Are Your Weaknesses?

This is the most dreaded question of all. Handle it by minimizing your weakness and emphasizing your strengths. Stay away from personal qualities and concentrate on professional traits: “I am always working on improving my communication skills to be a more effective presenter. I recently joined Toastmasters, which I find very helpful.”

2. Why Should We Hire You?

Summarize your experiences: “With five years’ experience working in the financial industry and my proven record of saving the company money, I could make a big difference in your company. I’m confident I would be a great addition to your team.”

3. Why Do You Want to Work Here?

The interviewer is listening for an answer that indicates you’ve given this some thought and are not sending out resumes just because there is an opening. For example, “I’ve selected key companies whose mission statements are in line with my values, where I know I could be excited about what the company does, and this company is very high on my list of desirable choices.”

4. What Are Your Goals?

Sometimes it’s best to talk about short-term and intermediate goals rather than locking yourself into the distant future. For example, “My immediate goal is to get a job in a growth-oriented company. My long-term goal will depend on where the company goes. I hope to eventually grow into a position of responsibility.”

5. Why Did You Leave (Or Why Are You Leaving) Your Job?

If you’re unemployed, state your reason for leaving in a positive context: “I managed to survive two rounds of corporate downsizing, but the third round was a 20 percent reduction in the workforce, which included me.”

If you are employed, focus on what you want in your next job: “After two years, I made the decision to look for a company that is team-focused, where I can add my experience.”

6. When Were You Most Satisfied in Your Job?

The interviewer wants to know what motivates you. If you can relate an example of a job or project when you were excited, the interviewer will get an idea of your preferences. “I was very satisfied in my last job, because I worked directly with the customers and their problems; that is an important part of the job for me.”

7. What Can You Do for Us That Other Candidates Can’t?

What makes you unique? This will take an assessment of your experiences, skills and traits. Summarize concisely: “I have a unique combination of strong technical skills, and the ability to build strong customer relationships. This allows me to use my knowledge and break down information to be more user-friendly.”

8. What Are Three Positive Things Your Last Boss Would Say About You?

It’s time to pull out your old performance appraisals and boss’s quotes. This is a great way to brag about yourself through someone else’s words: “My boss has told me that I am the best designer he has ever had. He knows he can rely on me, and he likes my sense of humor.”

9. What Salary Are You Seeking?

It is to your advantage if the employer tells you the range first. Prepare by knowing the going rate in your area, and your bottom line or walk-away point. One possible answer would be: “I am sure when the time comes, we can agree on a reasonable amount. In what range do you typically pay someone with my background?”

10. If You Were an Animal, Which One Would You Want to Be?

Interviewers use this type of psychological question to see if you can think quickly. If you answer “a bunny,” you will make a soft, passive impression. If you answer “a lion,” you will be seen as aggressive. What type of personality would it take to get the job done? What impression do you want to make?

This is a guest post from our friends at Excelle. Excelle is the premier online community for female professionals in the United States. Empower yourself with high-quality content relating to workplace issues and career advancement. Forge connections and network with other working women in our interactive forums. Join our community of intelligent, highly-motivated career women here: excelle.monster.com.

"Uhhh... what now?"

[OMGeeee. Graduation is coming soon. As in, my graduation. As in, in less than two months I'm going to be donning a really unflattering gown and listening to someone tell me that the world is my oyster and blah, blah, blah. As in, I'm about to be a real adult living in the real world. There is so much to do, to enjoy, to learn before I graduate, that I'm not sure I'll have time to do it all. But I'm going to try, starting with my Senior Year Bucket List, then tackling a little reading....]

With graduation fast approaching, I am trying to cram in all the education and life lessons that I possibly can before I have to leave this place. I go to class, take notes, listen, and really try to absorb the teachings from all my amazing professors, teachers, and friends.

However, there are some life lessons that simply can’t be expressed in a quarter long class or in a classroom at all. There are just not enough practical classes that will ready us for life after graduation, or answer so many of the questions we don’t have the answers to. Like, how do I manage a checkbook? How do I find the perfect apartment in an unknown city? Am I going to stay in touch with all my friends post college? How do I make a cup of coffee? What am I actually going to do? Who will I become?

Since we don’t have much “real-world” experience yet, we can benefit and learn from others’ life experiences, stories, and knowledge. There is so much to be learned from other people, and thankfully, so many of those people have written their wisdom down for us.

So for all my fellow college-seniors-who-are-freaking-out-about-graduating-and-have-no-idea-what-they’re-doing, here are five great books by five great authors that might give us all a little insight and guidance.

How to Survive the Real World: Life After College Graduation: Advice from 774 Graduates Who Did
This book is pretty much exactly what it sounds like. There is solid advice in this how-to guide by hundreds of people who offer up their insight, mistakes, successes, and stories of entering adulthood and how they survived the transition from college life to real life. This guide covers everything from practical problems, like finding the best apartment, to the psychological issues of moving on after college and discovering who you are and who you will become. Obviously real life can’t be learned from a how-to guide, but this book can help make the transition from frat parties to a 9-5 job a little easier.

Oh, The Places You’ll Go!
This list wouldn’t be complete without a little Dr. Seuss. This classic book is a perfect read before any major life transition, whether that be a new job, a new home, or entering a world different than the one you’ve known for the past four years. Dr. Seuss will assure you that you will succeed in life, even if you don’t have that dream job yet or if life gets a little rough. Plus, his rhyming is genius and will make you feel like a little kid again, which is awesome because little kids aren’t graduating yet…so maybe you’ll feel like you’re not graduating yet. My logic is seamless.

What I Wish I Knew When I Was 20
This book will push you to think differently and open your mind to possibilities previously unearthed in your own head. In this day and age, we need all the help we can get and this book is basically a road map to life. Author Tina Seelig, professor at Stanford University (whoop whoop!), gives today’s youth some serious insight through stories, anecdotes, and examples to move into the future with the best version of themselves.

Personal Finance For Dummies
I know, I know, the ‘Dummies’ book series seems kind of lame but these books are surprisingly helpful; complete with tips, advice, and straight up instructions from experts, professors, and the brightest people in their respective fields. I know for a fact that once my ‘rents cut me off post graduation, I may struggle while handling my own finances. And by “may” I mean “without a doubt.” Money, financing and all the other economy related stuff (401K? CD? WTF?) can be confusing and frustrating, especially if you don’t know what you’re doing and you majored in English rather than Econ. If you’re in the same boat, this book is a must-read and a must-highlight-so-you-retain.

(And if those ‘Dummies’ books aren’t for you, definitely pick up ‘So Many Shoes, So Little Money,’ by Lisa Erwin. It will totally speak to you and your personal financial needs post graduation.)

The Velveteen Rabbit
I literally can’t keep from crying when I read this book. (Okay so maybe my tear ducts aren’t as strong as yours, but still I dare you to not get emo when you read this.) I loved this book as a child, and I love it even more today. It explains what it means to be real, which every one of us desires to be and will probably struggle with during the most difficult transition of our lives. In beautiful language and metaphor, this classic children’s book reminds us all of what life truly means and what we all aim to seek from our experience – to be loved. Even better, there is audio versions narrated by the one and only  Meryl Streep. Take a listen and grab a box of Kleenex.

Do you have any book recommendations that you consider a must-read before gradution?

I’ve learned many lessons since graduating from college. I’ve learned that buying a pair of shoes isn’t as important as eating dinner, that keeping in touch with friends is hard and that your first job out of college isn’t always as amazing as you think it will be.

But the biggest and most important lesson I’ve learned is that networking is the key to success.

You may not want to believe it, but when it comes to getting ahead in life, it’s all about who you know. Every single job (from full time gigs to random babysitting jobs) that I’ve gotten since I graduated from college has been because I had some connection to the person hiring. Whether it be the college I went to, the sorority I was in, or just some random person who knew my mom, I would not have gotten the position if that connection hadn’t been there.

And it’s not like I wasn’t qualified.

I went to highly regarded university where I maintained a 3.6 GPA. I held internships, jobs and leadership positions. I had an exceptional resume and did everything in my power to prepare myself for the big job hunt post graduation. But while some of that mattered, what got me to stand out in the endless pile of resumes (of equally impressive candidates) was the fact that someone knew me.

Networking and making yourself known to people in your industry of choice is the best thing you can do to find a job. People are more apt to hire you if they know you, so getting people to know you should be your first priority. It’s not hard and it’s never too early to start.

Here are a few tips you can use to make yourself known to the right people:

1. Find Networking Events: Every industry has them and while they may be boring and stuffy, you should definitely attend. But don’t just go and stand around. Go out of your way to introduce yourself to people. Your confidence will impress people, and your interest and knowledge about the industry will make you memorable.

2. But Don’t Act a Fool: Networking events are often held during Happy Hour and will usually have some booze. It’s totally acceptable to have one drink to loosen up those nerves, but it is not OK to get drunk and say something stupid. You want to be remembered for your intellect and professionalism, not for telling that story about the time you had a threesome with the offensive linemen of your college football team.

3. Stay in Contact: Whether it’s a professor, a family friend, an old boss, or someone you met at a networking event, you must keep in contact with them if you want them to remember you. Send follow up emails to keep you fresh in their mind so they think of you when a position becomes available. The emails don’t have to be long – just a “hello” to keep you on their radar is good enough.

And even if that person is not not one who does the hiring, knowing them can still help you get ahead; you can use them for a reference, or they can recommend you to the person who is. I’ve made tons of friends at various journalism networking events and they are always informing me of new opportunities popping up at their companies and passing my information along the people who are hiring. Had it not been for them, my resume would have surely been lost in the shuffle.

4. Every Opportunity is a Networking Opportunity: I know it seems totally fake and borderline douchey to try and network with everyone you meet, but a girl’s gotta do what a girl’s gotta do, right? If you meet someone (anywhere) who works in your industry, get their information. You never know just who can help you get to the top and the more people you meet (and impress!) the better chance you’ll have.

The most difficult decision that comes your way post college graduation is not where you will be living or who you will be living with – it is what the hell you are going to do with your life.

For those of you lucky enough to have a job already, congrats. You are well on your way to a fulfilling life doing what you want to be doing. For the rest of you, and right now that is a lot of you, you have some big choices to make. Some huge questions to answer. And the most pressing and difficult is:

Take a job you love or take a job that pays well?

I found myself in a similar situation post college graduation. I wanted nothing more than to pick up, move to NYC and become a writer. I had dreams of covering red carpets and touring the country with my first book, all whilst wearing the sexiest pair of Jimmy Choos. I would take pictures with fans, discuss movie deals with Paramount pictures, and wow audiences with my talents.

And then I got my first job. That paid $25,000.

It was an awesome job that totally got my foot in the door, but the money was atrocious. That is $25,000 before taxes. In NYC. Sure, I got to write what I wanted and be part of a magazine masthead, but as I packed my ramen up for lunch every day, I constantly wondered if passion for your work (and artificially-flavored noodles) is enough to survive.

And then there were my friends. Not sure what to do with themselves, they found jobs that had nothing to do with their life goals and just paid really (REALLY) well. Like $100,000 well. The work sucked, the hours sucked, and their bosses sucked, but they got to go home to their sick apartments and eat at nice restaurants and really enjoy their post grad years.

I looked at them and made them buy me dinner wondered if maybe that was a better choice.
They looked at me and told me that money didn’t matter and I should do what I love.

I don’t know what answer is best for you. I do know, however, that 4 years later I am not making my millions, but I am still in love with what I do. And my friends, with their giant savings accounts, are still grumbling on their way to work every morning where they spend their days searching online for new jobs.

I also know that random jobs (i.e. paralegal, consulting, etc.) that pay really well do so for a reason. You will be working ridiculous hours, doing tedious tasks or constantly feeling way too smart for whatever assignments come your way. It’s all a trade-off and it’s really up to you to decide if enjoying your job is more important, or enjoying your paycheck is.

What I can say is this: if you have a passion and want nothing more than to spend your life doing it, don’t be swayed by a large salary elsewhere. Life will not be easy, but at least you will feel fulfilled. And if you’re just not sure of what you want from your life, spending a few years making bank at a crappy job may not be such a bad idea. Just know what you are getting into before you sign away your sanity.

When you are in college it’s almost as if you have to try not to make friends. You are constantly surrounded by people and put into situations (group projects, student groups, beer pong tournaments) where forming new friendships is as easy as finding Milwaukee’s Best at a frat party; get their name, work with them a bit, then go home and Facebook them later.

Unfortunately, the same can’t be said for life in the real world.

Not only are you no longer on a campus surrounded by 400-5,000 people just like you, but the situations that present themselves in college aren’t available after you graduate. At least not as easily. And, no, it’s not going to be like Friends where you live in some giant and totally cool apartment and have hot, funny, and really awesome dudes living across the hall. Not even close.

You can’t walk up to some random girl at the bar and ask for her number (really, really creepy), so how the hell do you make new friends!?

Well, first, you need to realize things won’t come as easily and be ready to put in a little work. Once you’ve mentally prepared, it’s time to put forth some effort:

1. Get friendly at work: The most obvious place to make friends is at work. You spend so much time with these people that it makes sense that you’d get close with them. This is great because it gives you something to look forward to when you wake up at the ass crack of dawn every morning, but it can also be ugly. It’s very easy to blur the line between friend and coworker (especially when $3 tequila shots are the happy hour special) and that can lead to some very awkward interactions down the road. If you play your cards right, though, you’ll make some awesome friends for life.

2. Join something: Be it a community service group, a summer sports league, or a book club, joining a group is one of the best ways to make new friends. You will meet tons of people you wouldn’t normally have access to, you’ll automatically have something in common with them, and you’ll get to know them in a pretty relaxed setting so it doesn’t feel so forced and awk. (The internet makes this shiz super easy, too. Just Google what you’re looking for – “book club, New York City” – and you’ll find plenty of options.)

3. Use your alumni association: People tend to get really attached to their alma maters (and fellow alum) after they graduate. This is great because those same people get super active in their alumni association and plan fun happy hours and events in cities nationwide.  Just look up your city to find a calendar of events and go! You may think you know everyone that graduated with you, but you’re wrong. There are plenty of cool people to be met.

4. Friends of friends: The best referral source for new friends? The few you’ve already got. Ask your friends to facilitate pre-parties or dinners with everyone they know so you can get to know them too. Yes, it seems a little strange to kinda latch onto someone else’s friends, but you already know they are quality people, so why not try and get to know them better?

You aren’t going to find new friends at the bar or sitting around your apartment so get out there and do something. A little effort will reap huge rewards in the form of new brunch buddies, new girls to confide in, and some memorable new experiences.