May 11, 2009
- 3:00 pm
By Carrie - Duke

If you’re graduating this spring and you’ve managed to score a job you’re probably thanking god (if you still believe there is one) and thinking you’re super lucky. But think again. Because according to the WSJ, those currently entering the labor market won’t only be suffering from low-salary syndrome this year, but for, uh, ten more to come. Yes, ten years—or more!
See, supposedly if you graduate when the economy, uh, sucks (like in 2009), you’ll end up making about 100K less over the next 20 years than your bud (soon to be mortal enemy) who will graduate in better times. Why? WSJ says that even if the economy bounces back in a few years, while you’ve been working your butt off in the tiny firm no one has heard of, your luckier friend has just been hired at Bank of America. And now, although he’s two years your junior, he has more experience, a better resume, and a bit, or a ton, more moolah than you do. So while he will move steadily up the ladder, you will have a much harder time finding better and brighter pastures, and your wages may suffer (what seems like) eternally.
But hey, money doesn’t matter, right? Read More »
Tags: bad times, college grads, college graduate, corporate ladder, economy, firm, graduate, job hunt, job market, jobs, low wages, new job, salary, school, wages, wall street journal, work, WSJ
February 3, 2009
- 1:00 pm
By Sara - NYU
Questiony for Tuffy? Email her at tuffylove@collegecandy.com to be featured in her column, which runs every other Tuesday! ASK. ANYTHING.
Dear Tuffy Luv,
I’m graduating from a small liberal arts college in May and I’m starting to get realllllly nervous about job hunting. Everyone says this is a terrible time to start looking for a job. What am I supposed to do?????????
Thanks for your help!
Terrified Senior
Dear Senorita Senior,
Honey, boy do I feel your pain. You think there’s a lotta work out there for stylized advice columnists? Hint: There ain’t.
The economy here in the US definitely sucks right now. As of December, the unemployment rate was up to a very frightening 7.2%. But, listen. Tuffy’s got a few tricks up her sleeve for you. And it’s a very large sleeve. Bell, maybe. Or perhaps kimono. Read More »
Tags: advice column, ask tuffy luv, college grad, economy, graduating, job hunt, job market, job search, mortgage lending, network, new hire, new job, resume, senior year, tuffy luv, unemployment, writing a resume
September 18, 2008
- 8:49 am
By Lauren - University of Michigan
Last night’s episode of Project Runway was strange without Blayne. No “icious,” no hot pink sweatshirts… I felt bad that he had to leave, but I know he is happily lying in a tanning bed somewhere, soaking up the artificial rays.
We are down to six designers now, but only one of them really has any talent: Korto. The rest are just sorta coasting by with their crappy designs, poor quality and total lack of a fashion sense. And that couldn’t have been more obvious than in last night’s challenge.
The challenge was actually an interesting one that we can all connect to. The designers were to create a look for recent college graduates who were heading out into the working world. Oh, and their moms were coming to stir things up a bit.
As I watched the designers attempt to appease both mother and daughter (or in the case of Anna, drag queen and daughter…seriously, did you HEAR HER TALK!?), I tried to imagine how it would go if my mother and I were part of the episode.
“I like black, white, and gray. I like classic lines, but very trendy looks.” I would tell the designer.
“What about this bright orange and yellow swirly pattern? Or these culottes?! HOW CUTE IS THIS LEOPARD SKIRT?!” My mother would react. And then she would somehow guilt the designer into making what she wants me to wear, which she has been doing to me since I was 4. Read More »
Tags: bell sleeves, boring, bravo, business, business suit, culottes, designers, drag queen, Elle magazine, fashion, fashion sense, graphic designer, guilt, jerell, joe, kenley, korto, moms, mother and daughter, new job, pin stripe suit, pocket squares, poor quality, Project Runway, recap, recent college graduates, season 5, skirt, Style, suede, sweathshirts, swirly pattern, tranning bed