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Succeeding After College: Finances, Relationships, & Work-Life Balance

Olivia Abbott

One day, you are walking to your first college class, and in the blink of an eye, you are walking to obtain your diploma and begin the next chapter of your life: the workforce. Navigating this change is daunting for many graduates, but Megan and Nicolina, both successful women in business, once in your same position, have shared their wisdom to make the transition less intimidating. 


Meghan Hamilton grew up north of Cincinnati and acquired a bachelor’s degree in business management from Morehead State University. After graduation in May of 1999, Meghan started in the Management Trainee Program at Enterprise Rent-A-Car, now known as Enterprise Mobility; this was just the beginning of what has come to be a rewarding career for Meghan. For a year and a half, Megan worked in the rental division, working her way up to become a Branch Rental Manager. While she enjoyed the time she had running what felt like her own store, a mentor reached out to inform Meghan of an open position in remarketing, which she accepted. At just 24 years old, Meghan was learning to wholesale cars, mostly to men twice her age. In 2005, after having her first child, Meghan transitioned into the Fleet Management division of Enterprise Mobility. This new role was similar to what she had been doing for the last four years in the remarketing branch; however, it allowed her more opportunity to develop her talents and better her work-life balance as a new mom. Meghan has flourished in the Fleet Management division for almost 20 years now, with her position developing into more of a strategic managerial role. 

 

Nicolina DiCioccio was born and raised in Youngstown, Ohio, and chose to pursue a bachelor’s degree in business from The Ohio State University, specializing in finance. Following the completion of her second year of college, Nicolina worked as an accounting intern, where she soon realized corporate America wasn’t the path for her. Unsure of what profession to pursue, Nicolina looked to her passions for guidance. Here she discovered her calling was the world of music, an area she had been immersed in her whole life through competitive dance and her grandpa’s band. Over the next two years, she worked diligently to create connections and uncover opportunities in the competitive industry. Because of this dedication, she secured her first internships in the music industry with Prime Social Group and Breakaway Music Festival. Through these experiences, she gained valuable insight and strengthened her desire to work in the industry. To dig deeper into the world of music, she moved to Nashville the summer before her senior year and interned with Universal Music Group, a dominating record label company. During her final year at OSU, Nicolina worked for The Schottenstein Center and Nationwide Arena as a booking assistant. Now having experienced many different perspectives of the music industry, her resume indicated she was prepared to begin working full time. Following her college graduation in May of 2024, Nicolina moved back to Nashville, where she currently works as an agent assistant at William Morris Endeavor.


Work-Life Balance


Shifting from a flexible college schedule to a full-time work schedule is a major hurdle for recent graduates. Setting boundaries and using time off is crucial to avoid burnout early in one’s career. Meghan suggested strategically planning the time you need off for a personal day or vacations to avoid taking unpaid time. In addition, she emphasized the importance of realizing that work will be there when you get back. Finding a co-worker who you can rely on to cover your responsibilities while you are out can make coming back to the office seamless.

 

Setting aside time for your hobbies and interests will ultimately benefit your performance at work. As a recent graduate, finding the motivation for hobbies after a long workday has been a struggle for Nicolina. She encouraged implementing a “non-negotiable” mindset, meaning finding three tasks that are “non-negotiable” to maintain a healthy attitude. Some examples are exercising, reading a book, making a home-cooked meal, creating a skincare routine, etc. By doing three simple, yet beneficial tasks every day, you are prioritizing your well-being, which will ultimately improve your performance in your personal and professional life. 

 

Building & Sustaining Relationships


Why wait until entering the workforce to start creating professional connections when you can begin building these relationships right now? Nicolina expressed the importance of expanding one’s network, regardless of how daunting it may be. She suggests finding a mutual person, thing, or location that you and the person you are reaching out to have in common. For example, mentioning that you are a student at The Ohio State University will likely catch the attention of an OSU alum. Be sure to include a similarity when you reach out to professionals to stand out amongst an inbox full of messages.

 

As for mentoring resources offered through your organization, take advantage of any opportunity to build meaningful relationships. Nicolina has utilized the mentorship program offered through her company to continue bettering her professional skills and connections. In preparation for meeting with a mentor, do your research on their career path or background and put together questions to make the most out of the time you have with them. Nicolina emphasized the importance of having intention and genuineness at each meeting. Remember to write a thank-you note to express your gratitude for the advice and time your mentor provided you!

 

Financial Tips, Benefits, & Resources 


Creating a monthly budget may seem easy in theory, but maintaining self-control is more complex. Meghan stressed the importance of putting money not spent at the end of the month into a high-yield savings account. While you may be tempted to blow this extra money, finding a savings account that will reward you with interest for keeping your money in their bank will benefit you later. Consider opening multiple savings accounts and searching for banks that offer incentives. An example being opening a high-yield savings account starting with $3,000, and the bank rewards you with an additional $300. Many banks offer incentives, like the one just described, so be sure to do your research to find the financial institution that aligns with your saving goals. 

 

There are two scenarios Meghan urged recent graduates to save for: retirement and emergencies. She encourages contributing to a 401(k) immediately upon starting your career, if this is offered by your company. Most organizations will match what an employee adds to their retirement fund, so consider taking a percentage of each paycheck to put towards your 401(k). A second withdrawal from your paycheck should be put towards a fund to prepare you for unforeseen circumstances. Meghan suggested choosing an emergency, such as a broken vehicle part or an unexpected medical bill, and saving up enough money to cover this situation. Additionally, if you find yourself needing more time to pay off a pricey medical bill, it is beneficial to contact the institution to request an interest-free payment plan. 

 

I encourage you to begin implementing the advice given by Meghan and Nicolina now, while you are still in college. By doing so, you will create a solid foundation and build habits that will make the college-to-career transition appear less overwhelming when it finally arrives. So what are you waiting for? Go become the best version of yourself!

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