Parent to Parent: Life After College

WSVN -- This week, across the country, many students are saying goodbye to college life and hello to the real world.

Christy Brown: "For me it's absolutely amazing to be graduating and going to a management position."

Christy Brown has a reason to be proud. Only a week after graduating from the FIU School of Hospitality, she landed a great job.

Christy Brown: "I was offered operations manager at a Courtyard, a Marriot Courtyard."

The key to Christy's success was all about having the right attitude.

Dr. Diann Newman: "They are not complainers, they are not whiners, they are not coming in thinking, 'Because I have a bachelor's degree, I have to start at the top.'"

Academic adviser Diann Newman's best advice: if you want to get a job after you graduate, start working while you are in college.

Dr. Diann Newman: "Without work experience they can have a 4.0 master's degree and they are not going to be as marketable as somebody who has been working forever and maybe has a less GPA."

Seven's parenting expert Dr. Valerie Goode says students need to start thinking about getting their first job as early as their sophomore year.

Dr. Valerie Goode: "A bachelor's degree is not what it used to be. You need to have that work experience in college in order to get the job."

Dr. Val says get an internship, be proactive, willing to work hard and remember to always market yourself.

Dr. Valerie Goode: "You never know who will be your next employer, so you always have to be willing to give 100 percent."

Check out your school's career center. They offer resume writing workshops and tips on interviewing techniques. Finally, don't miss those job fairs.

Advice that recent graduate Jesse Shlachtman took.

Jesse Shlachtman: "There is a lot of different events and a lot of industry people. You can really show off your skills and abilities."

Lynn Martinez: "The graduates agreed that working and going to school was difficult at times, but they knew it was a sacrifice that would pay off. Congrats to them."