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This
time it really was the dog
By
Latifah Muhammad
Daily Forty-Niner
Contributing Writer
For
many students graduating this May, the idea
of stepping into the real world is scarier
than worrying about tripping across the
stage when they reach to accept their diplomas.
Well,
fear no more because help is on the way.
Father and son team Zach and Larry Arnstein
wrote a humorous book designed to guide
a college student through life after graduation.
The book, "The Dog Ate My Résumé,"
is a road map through the end of your college
career. Each chapter tackles important issues
such as internships, getting letters of
recommendation and choosing bartending as
a profession (yes, there is a whole chapter
devoted to the pros and cons of bartending).
The
book is broken up into five sections, and
it begins with a chapter on turning your
major into a career path. This subject is
important because many college students
graduate and end up with jobs that do not
require a college degree. In order to figure
out what career choice works with your degree,
new grads are urged to visit their school's
career guidance center prior to graduation.
The career guidance center is very resourceful
in getting information on résumé
workshops, job listings and writing cover
letters.
While
in college, living at home is a choice and
a necessity. But sleeping in the same twin
bed since you were a kid can be both good
and bad. In the chapter called "Your
Own Apartment vs. Living at Home,"
the book looks at the reality of living
on your own. Because college students usually
don't make a lot of money, living alone
is sure to put a hole in your pocket. Plus,
there's nothing better than a home-cooked
meal and free laundry. But since all college
students don't have the option to live at
home, there is also a section that gives
tips on how to find the right apartment.
Lastly,
the final few chapters are guides to searching
for a job. Whether it's online or through
the classifieds, new grads should hit the
pavement and start the search as soon as
possible after graduation. After all, simply
having a degree may get you the interview,
but it is not a surefire way to get the
job. For those who have little experience,
there is also a section in the book on building
your resume.
"The
Dog Ate My Résumé" is
a funny book written by a television writer
and his son, a college graduate who had
no idea of what to do with his life. To
appeal to both parents and students, there
are too short summaries at the end of each
chapter. "The Dog Ate My Résumé
" is both funny and insightful.
The
format the writers used is sure to make
you want to read every chapter. And knowing
that one of the authors can relate to the
college experience is comforting to the
reader.
At
some point we all have to graduate and will
no longer be able to rely on our being a
student as a reason to procrastinate.
College
does teach a lot of scholastic information,
but it does not always provide resources
for grads when they're done. This book is
helpful because it is a great start and
helps grads in need of career and life guidance.
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