The Worst Career Advice Parents Can Offer Options

[Mommy]

Honestly, I think whoever wrote this article is an idiot. Tell me what you think.

http://finance.yahoo.com/expert/article/careerist/32601

Basically, she says that worst advice parents can give is:
1) Get a graduate degree

2) Don't job hop

3) Don't ask about time off until you have the job

4) Don't have gaps in your resume

5) Earn enough money to pay rent and buy food

She explains why each point is bad advice, including saying that a graduate degree is pretty much useless these days and that job hopping is somehow good? My parents didn't teach me that shit. My friends in the workforce, college professors, and managers have. I would be surprised if anyone on here agreed with her.

[impala454]

and on her amazing advice:

1) Not true. Getting a grad degree is very situational. Some fields are better off with them, some aren't. It's stupid for this chick to say "graduate school generally makes young people less employable, not more employable." At the worst a grad degree means you owe two more years worth of school loans. BFD.

2) This is just stupid. Job hopping is expensive for the employee. You never get into the meat & potatoes of a job, and it typically involves moving. You also have problems with health insurance not overlapping, you never start building a respectable retirement fund, or tenure with a company.

3) I agree some, disagree some. I agree with stuff like "I have a vacation planned for a month from now, is that ok?". But it's pretty dumb to come into a company (if it's a typical 8-5 M-F job) and ask for Tuesdays off. If a company is that flexible, they'll tell you up front.

4) So this bitch says you should take time off for "gaps" in your resume, to show that you've done reflecting on your life? Geez.

5) This is complete BS. Even the business majors I know that started at the bottom of the totem pole made around 30k starting. If you can't pay the f'n bills with 30k, you need to lower your standard of living. This bitch totally misses the real reason kids can't pay the bills with their new life after college graduation: The kid tries to live the life his rich parents did. Like has been said on here many times, the Thirty Thousand Dollar Millionaire.

[pebkac]

and on her amazing advice:

1) Not true. Getting a grad degree is very situational. Some fields are better off with them, some aren't. It's stupid for this chick to say "graduate school generally makes young people less employable, not more employable." At the worst a grad degree means you owe two more years worth of school loans. BFD.

2) This is just stupid. Job hopping is expensive for the employee. You never get into the meat & potatoes of a job, and it typically involves moving. You also have problems with health insurance not overlapping, you never start building a respectable retirement fund, or tenure with a company.

3) I agree some, disagree some. I agree with stuff like "I have a vacation planned for a month from now, is that ok?". But it's pretty dumb to come into a company (if it's a typical 8-5 M-F job) and ask for Tuesdays off. If a company is that flexible, they'll tell you up front.

4) So this bitch says you should take time off for "gaps" in your resume, to show that you've done reflecting on your life? Geez.

5) This is complete BS. Even the business majors I know that started at the bottom of the totem pole made around 30k starting. If you can't pay the f'n bills with 30k, you need to lower your standard of living. This bitch totally misses the real reason kids can't pay the bills with their new life after college graduation: The kid tries to live the life his rich parents did. Like has been said on here many times, the Thirty Thousand Dollar Millionaire.

I think you're looking at her advice the wrong way. It's not so much saying "Don't get a grad degree, job hop all you want, ask for vacation up front, have gaps in your resume, and live at home" as it is saying that conventional wisdom isn't always true and there's not necessarily anything wrong with doing some of these things if the situation demands them.

This post has been edited by pebkac: May 18 2007, 04:05 PM