So You’ve Graduated from College, Now What?
29. Jun, 2010 
33 Comments
With graduation season wrapping up, I’m remembering my post-college days in 2000, just after the “dot com” bubble burst and suddenly all those folks who flocked to Seattle and Silicon Valley were unemployed, fresh out of school and totally screwed.
Ten years later, are things much different?
This spring, I’ve gotten a number of emails essentially asking the same question: “I want to wait out the bad economy, do some traveling, but I’m a broke-ass college student… what should I do?”
If you want to spend your year after college traveling – but you have no money saved – here’s what I would do:
1. Defer your student loans, if you have them. After graduation you automatically get a six month reprieve, but in six months from now, you can defer again. The interest you accrue during this period is nominal, and while you do have to pay them eventually, it’s no reason to not travel.
2. Live as cheaply as possible. That means staying with your parents, sleeping on your friends couch or sharing a place with several people. The point is, don’t spend any money… you’re in saving mode.
3. Get a job. Any job will do. You’ll just be working for the summer, so if you can get yourself to a resort town, you can make good money working as a waiter/waitress or bartender (anything with tips).
4. Save about $1000. Most people can do this in one month, but obviously it depends on how much you drink away, where you live and whether you can land a well-paying gig. At the very most, this will take three months.
5. Get a cheap backpack (check craigslist). Pack about three outfits, a swimsuit and whatever else you can’t live without. You’ll probably ditch 50% of your pack in the first month, because everyone over-packs (and when you have to physically carry it around everyday, it doesn’t seem quite so worth it).
6. Find a flight to somewhere… anywhere. I highly suggest checking out Kayak Buzz for deals from your specific airport. If you can make it to a major city like LA or NYC, you can save a ton on airfare.
7. Relax. Once you’re on the ground, in whatever country you start in, it’s much easier to figure things out. So relax. Don’t email me a bunch of questions about where to buy toothpaste in Guatemala, because it will all become clear once you’re there.
8. Use Couch Surfing for places to stay. You’re young, broke and out to see the world. This is probably the only time in your life when sleeping on a futon is a practical way to travel. Plus you’ll have a guide and a new friend. If you’re uncomfortable with staying at stranger’s homes, use hostelworld.com or hostelbookers.com to book a dorm room (did I mention you’ll still be sleeping next to strangers?).
9. Get a job. You can work under the table. If you have a degree you can teach English. If you don’t have a degree, you can teach English under the table. World traveler and former English teacher abroad Matt Kepnes wrote this country by country guide* that will help you get those jobs. Otherwise, check with the hostels in town. Talk to other travelers, especially those who have been there for a few months. Check with the hotels. There are opportunities.
10. Work, make friends, have fun, explore the local area. When you get sick of it, move on to the next place. Rinse, wash and repeat. You’re traveling and all it took was a month or two to raise airfare and you’re off.
Don’t think this works? Read these posts:
How to Travel the World for Free (Seriously)
How to Travel the World for Free (For 1-2 Years)
What is Couch Surfing? (Video)
Where should I go?
Okay, so a lot of people say it’s easiest to travel from East to West. A very common place to start is Bangkok, Thailand. In fact, a lot of people don’t make it out of there. So a potential itinerary would be:
- Thailand
- Other Asian countries like South Korea, Japan, China, Taiwan, Malaysia and so on.
- Australia
- New Zealand
- Europe
- Africa
- US
- Central/South America
Of course, you don’t have to follow the conventional backpacking wisdom. You can pick a single country to stay in, or an area of the world. You can travel from West-East. Do what you want!
- Asia is popular because it’s extremely cheap and you can get work teaching English.
- Australia will let you get a work visa.
- Europe is great for teaching English and there are lots of couch surfing opportunities.
- Central/South America is really cheap (although the jobs don’t pay very well).
Obviously this is the most ridiculously oversimplified summary of the world and where to travel, but I always wanted someone to break it down for me, and give me a broad overview, so here you go.
But I can’t get a job/save money/travel cheaply!
If you’re stuck in a small town with no jobs, move to a bigger city where you can get work. You’re young! Take a greyhound bus, find somewhere to stay and hit up every temp agency. If you can’t save money because you have all kinds of expenses, trim back your lifestyle. If you’re shaking your head no, “there’s no way I can give up my car” kind of thing, then that’s fine. Just realize you just picked having a certain lifestyle over travel. That’s valid, but let’s not pretend there aren’t kids out there willing to make sacrifices to make it work — travel isn’t just handed to most people (it wasn’t to me).
I will be robbed, kidnapped and killed — my mom saw it on TV!
They actually keep statistics on this and the fact is that you’re more likely to encounter violence at home than you are abroad. If you’re worried about the safety of any particular destination, check out the travel.state.gov website.
What if I run out of money?
I have heard stories of people blowing all their money in Ibiza, an island off of Spain, then getting deported back to the US. I guess if you ran out of money, you’d have to call someone back home, beg them for airfare to the states and eat a little crow. I would try to earn more than I spent everywhere I went, and if a place was too expensive, then I’d go somewhere else. If you’re running through your cash, with no job, then yes, that’s a problem. The thing is, it is much, much cheaper to live most places outside of the US. So if you haven’t traveled before, maybe you’re thinking about how much it costs to live here and worried about being able to pull in that kind of money abroad. If you were really, really broke — like robbed, no money, no family, no friends broke — what would you do in the US? You’d figure it out. You can do that abroad too.
What about when I get back, won’t I be way behind my peers?
In short, no. I would put your travel experience on your resume and since you don’t have a lot of work experience, I’d do a skills resume. This puts the focus on what you bring to the table without highlighting your lack of experience (as a traditional resume most likely would). In this way you can use those travel experiences to your benefit. The fact that you traveled around the world for a year, teaching English in South Korea or working at a vineyard in Australia, tells more about your personality and abilities than a year spent doing grunt work. In my experience, both as an employee and a hiring manager, a year of travel was never a problem, if anything it was a plus.
What if I don’t want to travel?
Then do something else! I write about travel, because… this is a travel blog. But if you want to spend your year after school chasing down some other dream, I say, absolutely go for it. Not everyone needs or wants to travel. Maybe for you, it’s not travel, but trying to become a writer or an actor in LA. Most of the same advice applies; do what it takes to make it happen and go for it.
Pic: 4gb
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Great post! I wish I had this article when I first got out of school.I ended up working as a pizza delivery driver and it was horrible. Sadly, I was unable to live with my family. If that is an option for some,I highly recommend taking it! If I didn’t have rent, I’d be saving like a crazy person.
I’ve been out of school for about two years now and am still trying to figure out what to do. But currently planning an incredible trip. So . . . do it young travelers . . . while you can.
Some great ideas. When I graduated from college, I worked as a waitress for 6 months, lived with my parents, then sold my car and spent the money traveling Europe and then living abroad for a year and a half. I got work teaching English and had my “savings” as back-up, which I needed. I deferred my student loans. A great experience and I think more people should try it.
Jenna´s last blog ..Great Art Series- First Impressions -amp Future Destinations
Absolutely, entirely, 100%, fully, totally, wholeheartedly … agree.
Nothing compares to adventure / travel. Take the advice on this page. My only additions would be to try and meet, talk to and listen to as many people as you possibly can and, for lack of a better expression – attempt (at times) to follow the road less traveled.
You will then understand the REAL REASON you have to work, pay off your student loans, and make gobs of cash. That reason is different for everyone. It might be because you want to save stray puppies in Malaysia. It might be because you want to cruise the Mediterranean in a $3M catamaran while sipping the world’s finest Scotch. It may be because you enjoy diving off the coast of Belize in the coral reefs. It might be because you want to play in a band in Salvador, Brazil. It might be because you absolutely crave the energy and awe factor you experience in the Roppongi District in Tokyo. Or, it may be to do as little as possible wandering around a farm in the Azores.
You’ll find that reason if you travel. You won’t find it working. People should really travel BEFORE they go to college.
Chris.
Thank you for writing this post. This is a question that I hear very often. The answers are quite often straight forward and rather simple, but it takes saying it (sometimes over and over) to make it into a reality. I would add that tracking your progress is essential in leading up to that trip.
Olga´s last blog ..Summer International Job Wisdom- Be Visible-
Great advice. I would never have imagined it was possible to travel the world on nothing. Really helped ease my fears about going to Oz on only a few grand.
Great post with lots of good advice. I left Canada in 2001, right after graduating university, and I haven’t lived there since. I went one-way to Australia with CDN$3000 to my name, got down to AU$10 before landing a job on a sheep farm, saved up a bit more cash and went to the UK with 300 quid.
Things have a way of working out, especially if you’re willing to work hard at any job to get by. Check out your working holiday visa options. Americans can go to Australia and New Zealand these days and having a work visa will make finding a job easier and will mean you won’t get taken advantage of… not too badly, at least! Check out my site: http://www.workingholidayinfo.com for info on where you can go and how to get the visa. (Sorry about the shameless plug, but it’s got the info!)
Also, don’t Couchsurf because you’re broke. Do it because you’re interested in a genuine exchange. People in it solely for a free place to crash aren’t usually appreciated by their hosts.
Check out http://www.helpx.net for a great combo of cultural exchange and work in exchange for food and accommodation all over the world. I’ve had great experiences so far. Hard work and interesting people.
Just get out there and do it and the rest will fall into place!
Kirsty´s last blog ..10 Reasons Why the Olympics are a Better Event than the World Cup
Good post!
But I’m surprised that you don’t mention India as one of the possible travel destinations. Besides offering one of the most fantastic experiences ever, in my travel itinerary, it remains by far the cheapest country to travel in.
You don’t have to be just out of college and debating life. Thanks to the economy collapsing in the Fall of 2009 just when I moved back after living abroad, I decided to go back to travelling. Turns out it was actually cheaper to spend a month on the road than a month at home with silly expenses (like cell phone bills etc.)
There are so many places/countries out there that make you question why you (or I) spend so much day to day in the States. If you can get yourself to another country, are flexible and resourceful chances are you will land on your feet.
The biggest part is just leaving all that you know and are familiar with. But that stuff isn’t going anywhere!
James and I just finished up a RTW trip on under $30/day/pp.
Check out our blog for ideas/inspiration.
http://www.vossdufourworldtour.com
Johanna
Great post. I wish I would’ve read something like this when I graduated back in 2005. I never knew back then how possible it was to go traveling so cheaply.
Now, the challenge is finding out a way to make money while I’m traveling. I don’t really want a 9-5 job ever again, yet I’m currently out of money from my last travel stint, which sucks.
Great post with frank advice. I’d add that http://www.wwoof.org can be a great way to travel the world if you’re willing to do some farming work in exchange for free room and board. Their directory is well worth the fee. Also, there are many paid volunteer opportunities all over the world. You just need to scratch the surface of the web to find them. Have a blast and do some good at the same time.
When I dropped out of college (for the 2nd time) in 2005, I worked for awhile in Alaska, and then in’06 decided “to hell with it,” and bought a one-ticket to Las Vegas. I put everything into a backpack, flew South in the dead of winter, and went off with absolutely no plan. 60 hours on a Greyhound, three weeks living in a tent in New Orleans and a crazy van ride later, I was living in NYC with a great job and had a ton of new friends.
I guess the thing to remember is that if you keep your mind open to possibilities, everything ends up working out. And your article has definitely reinforced this idea.
It’s always a good thing to take a leap into the unknown.
Eli´s last blog ..Five Great Hikes Near Anchorage- Alaska
When you’re just out of college, the world is your oyster. You’re not really bogged down with too much stuff or too many relationships that you can’t just take off and see some of the world. Learn new things, gain new experiences, meet people from somewhere else. Grow and develop as a person and know what’s out there before you ‘settle’. These are great tips and I especially like the live as cheaply as you can. Too soon you can get wrapped up in consumerism and then it can take you years to dig yourself out.
Karen´s last blog ..Happy Canada Day-
I got the job first and then plan to find a way to defer them after working a year to save up and pay as much of my loans off as possible. Luckily I have a pretty solid swing outta dodge game plan so I don’t get stuck anywhere I don’t want to be. I’m in the saving mode, except that drinking part hehe.
Cornelius Aesop´s last blog ..New Brew Tuesday- Pilsner Urquell
When we lived in Prague, we met so many people just out of college teaching English there and cobbling together enough money to live and do a bit of traveling in the area. Bartending and being a waiter/waitress are another professions that are easy to pick up in foreign countries.
If you know you want to be abroad for a couple of years, another good option (for American citizens) is Peace Corps. Sure, you don’t earn much, but you get an international experience and when you get out you have a little bit of cash (around $5-6,000) to play with to either travel more or settle down somewhere.
Audrey´s last blog ..Curiosity Begins At Home
Absolute gem Christine. I love this post – terrific advice. Post college is the perfect time to travel and the US is one of the few places in the world where it isn’t almost expected.
Here in New Zealand, they refer to it as your OE (overseas experience) – your time to get out of NZ, away from home, and experience the world.
I’ll add that New Zealand is an easy place to get a work visa. I applied for mine online and had it within the next 24 hours – free of charge. Good for one year from date of entry.
Matt´s last blog ..5 Ways to Travel Around New Zealand
I took a “real job” for six months and while I quickly realized a cubicle wasn’t for me, it did give me great experience and allowed me to save up about $5000 in four months. Now I’m living in Nice, taking my mom’s advice–go, work, give myself a set amount of my savings to spend within a set amount of time, and if I can figure out a way to make money and not use up all my savings, stay longer. I’m working on the French Riviera as a waitress, getting as much sun as I can and soaking up the culture. I wouldn’t trade it for the world–and I can’t wait to try a new destination in 2011. Cheers on a great post!
Christine´s last blog ..Unusual beverages from around the world
What a great post! I hope it inspires a lot of people to travel the world!!
I lived abroad the year before I started college and it was the best thing I could have done for myself. And it was cheap too! I am from Germany, so the way I found a job might be a little different regarding location, but the same principles apply. I went to one of the biggest fairs for water sports in Europe (the BOOT in Duesseldorf, http://www.boat-duesseldorf.com/) and talked to about every diving center that had a stand there. I found one in Egypt that was willing to hire me as a Dive Master. They offered a place to stay and a small monthly income. I’m sure a lot of Americans could do something similar and find a scuba job (or a job as a surf instructor) in Mexico, the Carribean, or even further south. That might be a good way to go abroad for those of us who’d rather have somewhat of a plan in place Check for example this website http://www.diversjobs.com/. I already had my certification, so it was easier to find a paying job right away, but many, many dive centers are willing to hire people and train them on the spot. And once you get your certification, you’ll start getting paid.
Sabrina´s last blog ..Best Portuguese Food in Macau
Excellent advice. Even for people that are not fresh out of college. Most people could cut down on their spending all around.
I love how you answered all the questions that are probably going through first time travelers heads. I will have to forward this on to my friends that are always telling us that they want to travel more but don’t know how.
You know how your friends and family will never listen to your advice, but they will listen to someone elses?
It think that your post may just do the trick for a few of our friends that have been sitting on the fence:)
Great tips! It is fairly easy to do…only it takes me a little longer to save, then take shorter trips to the places I’ve been wanting to visit.
Christian Carollo´s last blog ..ben franklin- dressed for the occasion
Great tips, Christine! Brought back some memories!
While I wouldn’t personally recommend Australia (as much as I love my own country!) – for a first trip out of college, as it’s so expensive, a lot of young backpackers get work doing everything from working in remote roadhouses in the outback to grape-picking in the wine regions.
There is always plenty of work around in the outback in states like the Northern Territory and Western Australia, and those experiences can be life-changing.
lara dunston´s last blog ..Grantourismo Travel Blogging Competition- July
If I may be the voice of dissent, this is terrible advice. Don’t travel before you have your finances in order. Living and traveling on the cheap is a great idea if you’re working with little income and savings, but don’t travel when you’re in debt.
Turner´s last blog ..Domestic Travel and Being Me
Turner – Most people unfortunately only seem to get their finances ‘in order’ well into their golden years. You’re thereby advocating that only the well-off and the elderly are the lucky ones that should be traveling. That’s specifically why most people don’t ever consider traveling. How’s that different from today? Not good.
The ‘system’ inherently doesn’t like people going out traveling bohemian-style to see the world. They would like everybody gainfully employed, making their monthly payments on car loans and a mortgage, paying taxes, buying iPhone Apps, and spending any extra money they have on crap they don’t need. That’s especially true for newly-graduated students with loans. If 10% of graduating students in North America were to take the advice in this article, that would hit a lot of bottom lines and throw off projected revenue.
But this system is busted. We seem to be losing purpose. Kids who graduated last year expect (rather NEED) a great salary, a nice house, nice cars and all the fixin’s in the house. That all comes with monthly payments. Lending money to 20-something’s is a great long-term investment.
Screw the system – go travel. Don’t let the system dictate when you go travel. Don’t let the system dictate anything you do in life.
That was very well said Chris. I couldn’t agree with you more.
Googie´s last blog ..One last party
Christine, I love this post. I spent the year after college traveling around Europe on the cheap and it was honestly one of the best things that ever happened to me. I love all of your points – here’s my two cents.
1. Your money goes faster overseas if you’re working. You can either work under the table as #9 suggests, or you can get a student work visa (It’s usually good for six months after graduation, depending on the country). I supported myself in London by working as a secretary and bartender – I lived in a cheap hostel and used the rest of the money to travel around Britain on the weekends.
2. Save up during your senior year. Once I decided I was going to do this (about March before I graduated), I saved like it was no one’s business. When I went, I had about $5,000 (in 1991) and an open ticket home. I banked that cash as soon as I got there, and lived off my work earnings.
3. Traveling gives you confidence that transcends gaps on your resume. When I came back and interviewed for jobs, I was so much more confident than I had been a year earlier (navigating a continent on the cheap will do that for you). Plus, I was more interesting in job interviews. Employers remember the applicants who have interesting life experiecnes.
4. And finally, you won’t have regrets. Any time that life gives you time away from the rat race, fill it with the things that move you. If that’s travel, then go for it!
Chris @ CAroundTheWorld´s last blog ..Seeking Nirvana- Kurt Cobain in Seattle
I get hit with this question so much on my blog. You’ve summed it up flawlessly.
If anyone is interested in traveling unconventionally, hit up my blog:
http://www.traveljunkiejulia.com
I’ve got tips, adventure stories, and videos that’ll get you up and runnin’!
Great post! If you have the chance, take it. I promise you won’t remember the money you spent but the memories you made when you took a trip around the world!
@gtrot
http://blog.gtrot.com
After I finished up my undergraduate degree, I headed over to Taiwan to teach English.And then I shortly made my way over to Australia and thought it was just amazing.
I then returned home and went on to work for a number of years. After deciding to pursue a Master’s degree, I made a choice to return to Australia for the degree.
I love Aussie Summers! I can’t say enough…I guess this is even more so as I sit in London contemplating a British Summer. Is there even a comparision?
Fab post! I think #1 is absolutely crucial. My friends and I took a trip to India after graduation and three people in the group dropped out because of student loan issues. Your loans aren’t going anywhere. The period in your life where you have no obligations, no worries, no real job, and nothing holding you back can only last for so long.
Beautiful, beautiful article. I wish I’d had a chance to read this years ago.
And what Chris G said also really resonated with me. Travel can teach us what’s really important to us, because when you’re moving from place to place, everything else is constantly changing.
Byteful Traveller´s last blog ..Can high art be produced with mere chalk The Denver Chalk Art Festival surprises
A lot of people forget to write things down! Half the fun of traveling is your worldly metamorphosis as different cultures infuse into your life style.
I became a travel addict long ago and always kept my little black book. I now use QTripper to create travel scrap books and share them with my friends and family.
My 2 cents, why travel if you soon forget all the stories?
Rupen
http://www.qtripper.com – Backpackers guide to the world