Link love: un(der)employed graduates edition

Graduated, but having trouble finding a job? Having to work retail or waiting tables again to make ends meet? Trying your hardest to get into a competitive field with fewer openings? Join the club! With the combination of the global economic downturn and the current job market, it's going to take longer to find a job.

(I'm in this situation myself. And I'm hearing similar stories from my graduate friends in NZ, the US and the UK.) So what should you do in the meantime, apart from getting to know the inside of your local WINZ office better?

Some options for unemployed graduates from Kevin at 20's Money.

JD Roth has some excellent tips on finding a good job in a bad economy, and whether to stay in a more secure job, but one which is not in your field. (The comments are interesting, too.)

Penelope Trunk has a good post about 5 things to do when you're unemployed. (It's not job-hunting.)

Here's something to make you feel better.

Don't be afraid to take a temporary role, and look for something better on the side. I'll post later about internships, and why you should do one.

First-years: The Honeymoon

Right now, uni's like one big long honeymoon. The sun is shining, the classes are interesting. You're meeting people. There are parties every single weekend. You go out clubbing afterwards every single weekend.

Make the most of it, people - it's going to die right about the time your first assignment is due, and you realise that you really didn't want to know that much about the Mongolian Death Worm. Or Postmodernism. Or whatever. But don't let this faze you - it will happen all over again next year as well. And the year after that. And you'll realise that you enjoy uni regardless.