祝賀你們，即將畢業(yè)的學子！你們即將踏入社會，開始多姿多彩的生活。但是且慢，在開始新生活之前，請仔細考慮我給你們的建議，這些將幫助你們生活的更好。
Congratulations, college class of 2008! You've earned your diplomas. Now it's time to get smart about the real world.
Current projections say the job outlook for the class of 2008 isn't bad but it's not great either -- there is an increase in hiring compared to last year, but it's half of what was projected in the fall, and salary growth is mixed as well.
The bad news: Research shows graduating into a recession has the potential to negatively affect your earnings in the long term.
The good news: Surviving and thriving in an economic downturn boils down to managing your expectations and your finances wisely, which is a lesson with a lifetime's worth of value. Here are some areas to concentrate on.
Find Housing You Can Really Afford
租能負擔得起的房子
The "New York Times" did a piece recently on finding your first New York City apartment.
One of the men they profiled is a consultant who chooses to pay more than half of his after-tax income for an apartment in Manhattan. Despite the fact that his income (combined with a roommate's) satisfies the landlord, he is not showing good financial sense. You shouldn't spend more than 30 percent of your income on rent. If you need to split the rent eight ways, then do it. When you're young, living with lots of roommates can be a rite of passage, not to mention a fun way to get to know people and have a home base in a big city.
年輕時和許多室友一起住是一個成長經歷，而且這也是結識新伙伴、在大城市里有一個居住地的好辦法。
Or try starting out in a not-so-big city. The most affordable rents, not surprisingly, are in states such as Kansas, Oklahoma, and Kentucky.
不管在哪里，房租都是不要超過月收入的三分之一，否則的你的生活質量會大打折扣、甚至可能出現(xiàn)財務危機。
Take Care of Your Health
照顧好自己
Young people are the largest and fastest-growing group in the country without health insurance. That must be why I've been invited to several benefit parties for twenty- and thirty somethings who have unexpected medical expenses that they can't afford to pay for.
Doctor's bills are bad for your wealth as well as your health -- they're a leading cause of bankruptcy and credit card debt.
So if you don't have health insurance through your job -- or if you're still looking for a job -- here are a few options:
如果你的工作不提供醫(yī)保，或者你還在找工作，以下是一些選擇：
- In 30 states, you may be eligible for coverage under your parents' plan as part of a family rate, up to your mid 20s (in New Jersey, the limit is age 30). Find out more here.
- You may also be eligible for low-cost coverage under a state or local plan for low-income adults, such as Healthy New York or Healthy San Francisco. Check your state's insurance department for details.
- Consider a so-called catastrophic or major medical plan; these have the lowest monthly premiums and high deductibles, but they will pay off if the worst occurs.
上述的三種情況在中國都不現(xiàn)實。如果你的工作沒有醫(yī)療保險的話，你可以嘗試買一些費，也會起到一定的作用。
剛畢業(yè)的學生腦子里一定要有一個清楚的理財計劃，不然很可能會因為起薪太低、導致你入不敷出、債臺高筑。
Start a Debt Freedom Campaign
負債行動
Got student loans and credit card debt to pay off? One tactic that's worked for a lot of readers is to start a debt freedom blog. Use an online calculator to figure out a date by which you want to be debt free, and a realistic monthly sum to save -- say, $50 -- that will get you there. Then, post about your progress as a way of keeping yourself to that promise.
See this personal finance blog aggregator for lots of great suggestions and models for your blog.
Get Rewards for Saving and Budgeting Online
從在線理財中獲得的好處
Personal finance sites marketed to GenDebt are growing every day, and anything that starts the saving habit is a good idea.
At Billeo.com, you can build by simply paying bills. SmartyPig.com, a startup, offers retail rewards and a relatively high interest rate for saving online, with a fun, social format; Wachovia's Way2Save and the site whatareyousavingfor.com, sponsored by a credit union in North Carolina, offer similar savings rewards.
不知道該找什么樣的工作？想考慮繼續(xù)讀書？仔細想想吧！也許會有更好的選擇。
Consider a Hot or Green Career
考慮更熱門或綠色的職業(yè)
Education and health services top the list of employment sectors with the biggest and fastest growth, and with significant public spending in these areas, they'll still be hiring, even in a shrinking economy.
"Green jobs" are another broad area where I see big opportunities. The UN reported that the environmental industry created 5.3 million jobs in 2005.
Green jobs range widely -- from scientists developing renewable energy technologies, to , green architects and designers, and even organic farmers and gardeners.
Recycling, waste management, and remediation are special growth areas, along with renewable energy. Senator Barack Obama(D-IL), for one, has proposed $150 billion in federal investments to create even more green jobs.
You can find dedicated listings of green jobs at sites such as sustainablebusiness.com, greenjobs.com, and treehugger.com.
Be Flexible and Optimistic
樂觀、靈活
An interesting nuance to the research on recession and income: One study found that "graduating in a recession leads workers to start at smaller and lower-paying firms, and they catch up by switching jobs more frequently than those who graduate in better times." 經濟不景氣時畢業(yè)的學生起薪通常較低，但之后他們會頻繁跳槽、趕上那些在繁榮時期畢業(yè)學生的薪水。
At first, the study by the National Bureau of Economic Research found, recession grads can take a hit in earnings of up to 9 percent compared to boom-time graduates, but those losses are made up over time by trading up more often. So while you're working hard at making yourself indispensable at your first job, don't get too comfortable. Keep an eye out for new companies, positions, and industries that might lead you toward your passion.
One last point: In the past, recessions have led to bumps in grad school enrollment because staying in school looks preferable to jumping into a dicey job market. I would urge any new grads to get a couple of years of work experience under their belts and research their field thoroughly before rushing back to school and taking on more student loans. 在經濟不景氣的時期，研究生考試也會變得競爭激烈，這是因為看起來多讀幾年書要比投身一個不確定的就業(yè)市場要好。這里建議畢業(yè)生們能積累幾年工作經 驗、領域后再回學校讀書，因為讀書可能意味著承擔更多的貸款。
But whatever you do, don't stop learning new skills, developing your particular talents, and keeping an open mind about opportunities. That's what will make you indispensable -- no matter how the economy is doing.
Congratulations, college class of 2008! You've earned your diplomas. Now it's time to get smart about the real world.
Current projections say the job outlook for the class of 2008 isn't bad but it's not great either -- there is an increase in hiring compared to last year, but it's half of what was projected in the fall, and salary growth is mixed as well.
The bad news: Research shows graduating into a recession has the potential to negatively affect your earnings in the long term.
The good news: Surviving and thriving in an economic downturn boils down to managing your expectations and your finances wisely, which is a lesson with a lifetime's worth of value. Here are some areas to concentrate on.
Find Housing You Can Really Afford
租能負擔得起的房子
The "New York Times" did a piece recently on finding your first New York City apartment.
One of the men they profiled is a consultant who chooses to pay more than half of his after-tax income for an apartment in Manhattan. Despite the fact that his income (combined with a roommate's) satisfies the landlord, he is not showing good financial sense. You shouldn't spend more than 30 percent of your income on rent. If you need to split the rent eight ways, then do it. When you're young, living with lots of roommates can be a rite of passage, not to mention a fun way to get to know people and have a home base in a big city.
年輕時和許多室友一起住是一個成長經歷，而且這也是結識新伙伴、在大城市里有一個居住地的好辦法。
Or try starting out in a not-so-big city. The most affordable rents, not surprisingly, are in states such as Kansas, Oklahoma, and Kentucky.
不管在哪里，房租都是不要超過月收入的三分之一，否則的你的生活質量會大打折扣、甚至可能出現(xiàn)財務危機。
Take Care of Your Health
照顧好自己
Young people are the largest and fastest-growing group in the country without health insurance. That must be why I've been invited to several benefit parties for twenty- and thirty somethings who have unexpected medical expenses that they can't afford to pay for.
Doctor's bills are bad for your wealth as well as your health -- they're a leading cause of bankruptcy and credit card debt.
So if you don't have health insurance through your job -- or if you're still looking for a job -- here are a few options:
如果你的工作不提供醫(yī)保，或者你還在找工作，以下是一些選擇：
- In 30 states, you may be eligible for coverage under your parents' plan as part of a family rate, up to your mid 20s (in New Jersey, the limit is age 30). Find out more here.
- You may also be eligible for low-cost coverage under a state or local plan for low-income adults, such as Healthy New York or Healthy San Francisco. Check your state's insurance department for details.
- Consider a so-called catastrophic or major medical plan; these have the lowest monthly premiums and high deductibles, but they will pay off if the worst occurs.
上述的三種情況在中國都不現(xiàn)實。如果你的工作沒有醫(yī)療保險的話，你可以嘗試買一些費，也會起到一定的作用。
剛畢業(yè)的學生腦子里一定要有一個清楚的理財計劃，不然很可能會因為起薪太低、導致你入不敷出、債臺高筑。
Start a Debt Freedom Campaign
負債行動
Got student loans and credit card debt to pay off? One tactic that's worked for a lot of readers is to start a debt freedom blog. Use an online calculator to figure out a date by which you want to be debt free, and a realistic monthly sum to save -- say, $50 -- that will get you there. Then, post about your progress as a way of keeping yourself to that promise.
See this personal finance blog aggregator for lots of great suggestions and models for your blog.
Get Rewards for Saving and Budgeting Online
從在線理財中獲得的好處
Personal finance sites marketed to GenDebt are growing every day, and anything that starts the saving habit is a good idea.
At Billeo.com, you can build by simply paying bills. SmartyPig.com, a startup, offers retail rewards and a relatively high interest rate for saving online, with a fun, social format; Wachovia's Way2Save and the site whatareyousavingfor.com, sponsored by a credit union in North Carolina, offer similar savings rewards.
不知道該找什么樣的工作？想考慮繼續(xù)讀書？仔細想想吧！也許會有更好的選擇。
Consider a Hot or Green Career
考慮更熱門或綠色的職業(yè)
Education and health services top the list of employment sectors with the biggest and fastest growth, and with significant public spending in these areas, they'll still be hiring, even in a shrinking economy.
"Green jobs" are another broad area where I see big opportunities. The UN reported that the environmental industry created 5.3 million jobs in 2005.
Green jobs range widely -- from scientists developing renewable energy technologies, to , green architects and designers, and even organic farmers and gardeners.
Recycling, waste management, and remediation are special growth areas, along with renewable energy. Senator Barack Obama(D-IL), for one, has proposed $150 billion in federal investments to create even more green jobs.
You can find dedicated listings of green jobs at sites such as sustainablebusiness.com, greenjobs.com, and treehugger.com.
Be Flexible and Optimistic
樂觀、靈活
An interesting nuance to the research on recession and income: One study found that "graduating in a recession leads workers to start at smaller and lower-paying firms, and they catch up by switching jobs more frequently than those who graduate in better times." 經濟不景氣時畢業(yè)的學生起薪通常較低，但之后他們會頻繁跳槽、趕上那些在繁榮時期畢業(yè)學生的薪水。
At first, the study by the National Bureau of Economic Research found, recession grads can take a hit in earnings of up to 9 percent compared to boom-time graduates, but those losses are made up over time by trading up more often. So while you're working hard at making yourself indispensable at your first job, don't get too comfortable. Keep an eye out for new companies, positions, and industries that might lead you toward your passion.
One last point: In the past, recessions have led to bumps in grad school enrollment because staying in school looks preferable to jumping into a dicey job market. I would urge any new grads to get a couple of years of work experience under their belts and research their field thoroughly before rushing back to school and taking on more student loans. 在經濟不景氣的時期，研究生考試也會變得競爭激烈，這是因為看起來多讀幾年書要比投身一個不確定的就業(yè)市場要好。這里建議畢業(yè)生們能積累幾年工作經 驗、領域后再回學校讀書，因為讀書可能意味著承擔更多的貸款。
But whatever you do, don't stop learning new skills, developing your particular talents, and keeping an open mind about opportunities. That's what will make you indispensable -- no matter how the economy is doing.