There Is Life After College - by Jeffrey J Selingo (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

From the bestselling author of College Unbound comes a hopeful, inspiring blueprint to help alleviate parents' anxiety and prepare their college-educated child to successfully land a good job after graduation.

Saddled with thousands of dollars of debt, today's college students are graduating into an uncertain job market that is leaving them financially dependent on their parents for years to come--a reality that has left moms and dads wondering: What did I pay all that money for?

There Is Life After College offers students, parents, and even recent graduates the practical advice and insight they need to jumpstart their careers. Education expert Jeffrey Selingo answers key questions--Why is the transition to post-college life so difficult for many recent graduates? How can graduates market themselves to employers that are reluctant to provide on-the-job training? What can institutions and individuals do to end the current educational and economic stalemate?--and offers a practical step-by-step plan every young professional can follow. From the end of high school through college graduation, he lays out exactly what students need to do to acquire the skills companies want.

Full of tips, advice, and insight, this wise, practical guide will help every student, no matter their major or degree, find real employment--and give their parents some peace of mind.

From the Back Cover

Earning a bachelor's degree used to be a near-guarantee of financial stability and professional opportunity. Employers sought out talented graduates, provided them with additional on-the-job training, and set in motion promising career paths. Today, the paradigm has shifted--and employers expect experienced workers who are capable of doing the job from day one. But rarely does the college classroom develop that ability. As a result, a growing number of grads find themselves adrift, thousands of dollars in debt, and facing an uncertain job market, ultimately leading moms and dads to wonder: Why did I pay all that money?

In There Is Life After College, Jeffrey J. Selingo, author of College (Un)bound, provides a step-by-step plan full of practical advice that every young professional can follow to jump-start a career. Full of tips, advice, and insight, There Is Life After College is a wise, commonsense guide for the years from the end of high school through college graduation that will help every student--no matter their major or degree--find real employment.

Review Quotes

"Jeffrey Selingo digs deep into what frustrated employers have known for quite some time: to fuel the economy with the next generation of leaders and innovators, we need grads who ask questions, have the grit of determination and can make quick, thoughtful decisions in ambiguous situations. A must read." - Edward B. Rust, Jr., Chairman of the Board, State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company

"Amid all the anxiety among parents and students about how to get into college and how to pay for it, Jeffrey Selingo identifies the question we should be worried about: what comes after college? This book is an important wake-up call for anyone concerned with the future of our higher-education system, as well as an invaluable guide for students who want to make the most of their college years." - Paul Tough, New York Times bestselling author of How Children Succeed

"Features many valuable stories from his interviews with students who figure out how to thrive in various career trajectories." - The Atlantic

"Explores several promising experiments that promise to redefine college as we know it." - USA Today

"Jeffrey Selingo demonstrates the radical changes complicating young people's transitions to adulthood; highlights emerging and necessary transformations in the delivery of higher education; and, at the same time, gives students and their parents practical guidance in charting the best course." - Hilary Pennington, Ford Foundation Vice President for Education, Creativity, and Free Expression

"Essential reading for high school and college students and their parents. Selingo doesn't just provide the answers, he makes sure his readers know the important questions to ask. Students looking for a roadmap to the future should get this book and heed its advice." - Patricia Rose, Director of Career Services, University of Pennsylvania

"A necessary and thoughtful contribution to the conversation on the role our colleges and universities play in preparing students for young adulthood. Everyone who has an interest in the development of today's college students and tomorrow's leaders should read it." - Dan Porterfield, President of Franklin & Marshall College

"Why are so many young adults wandering or straggling in the job market? How can parents help their kids thrive out there? Selingo convincingly frames the 21st century job market as a wholly unfamiliar terrain, then provides comprehensive strategies and tactical tips for tackling it." - Julie Lythcott-Haims, author of How to Raise an Adult

"Terrific. ... Covers a wide range of pressing issues in higher education from the perspective and for the benefit of students." - Forbes

"Bursting with fresh ideas and vivid examples. ... The breadth and depth of Selingo's expertise make him a uniquely good guide to what's undeniably a complicated topic." - EdSurge

"Levelheaded advice for students and parents on the best path to take from high school to employment." - Kirkus Reviews

"In an age when jobs and career paths are likely to shift -- and even evaporate entirely -- at an unprecedented pace, Jeffrey Selingo's There Is Life After College offers a practical road map for graduates faced with navigating a challenging and unpredictable terrain." - Martin Ford, author of Rise of the Robots: Technology and the Threat of a Jobless Future

"Selingo provides valuable information about what kids really need to know to not just be employable, but to be in a position to know what they want, know how to get there, and succeed once they've arrived. I will be planting this book in my teenager's bookshelf." - Jessica Lahey, New York Times bestselling author of The Gift of Failure

"Selingo identifies the question we should be worried about: what comes after college? ... An invaluable guide for students who want to make the most of their college years." - Paul Tough, New York Times bestselling author of How Children Succeed

"Selingo provides an important road map for navigating the world of higher education. This is an essential guide for learning what to expect from college, and how to prepare for productive employment afterwards. That the book is written in clear, understandable language only adds to its value." - Janet Napolitano, president of the University of California, former secretary of Homeland Security, and former governor of Arizona

"Jeffrey Selingo's book belongs on the desk of every career counselor, on the shelf of every parent, and in the hands of every young person planning his or her future. There Is Life After College is essential reading for navigating the new workplace terrain." - Daniel H. Pink, author of To Sell Is Human and Drive

"An eye-opening exploration of what the future holds for college grads. It's an essential read for students -- and their parents -- to prepare for launching careers in a radically different job market." - Adam Grant, Wharton professor and New York Times bestselling author of Give and Take and Originals