Now What, Grad?

Chris Palmer is a professor, speaker, author, and wildlife film producer who has spearheaded the production of more than 300 hours of original programming for prime-time television and the giant screen IMAX industry. He founded the Center for Environmental Filmmaking at American University School of Communication in 2005, a year after joining AU’s full-time faculty as Distinguished Film Producer in Residence. He regularly gives speeches and workshops on a variety of topics, including how to radically improve one’s success and productivity, how to give effective presentations, how to network effectively, how to raise money, and how to motivate and engage students. His first two books were Shooting in the Wild (2010) and Confessions of a Wildlife Filmmaker (2015).

I remember the panic that gripped me my senior year of college when I realized I had to find a job that would start my adult life. The complexities of the modern economy have made that search even more frightening, but Chris Palmer’s Now What, Grad? is a wonderful confidence booster. The book takes readers by the hand and guides them step-by-step through the most difficult parts of that transition. I love the emphasis on thinking first about what you really want and identifying those happy parts of your life that already hold clues to what you should be doing. Get out a note pad as you read the book and by the end you will have a to-do list that will get you up every morning, ready to move forward.

• PrefaceIntroduction ForewordPart I: Reflect on Your LifeChapter 1. Life after College, a Time of TransitionChapter 2. Align Your Actions with Your ValuesChapter 3. Develop Your Personal Mission Statement Part II: Land a JobChapter 4. Organize Your Job SearchChapter 5. Create Your Skill ListChapter 6. Be Super EmployableChapter 7. Ace Your InterviewsChapter 8. Avoid the Worst MistakesChapter 9. Think Outside the BoxPart III: Maximize Your Productivity Chapter 10. Manage Your Time EffectivelyChapter 11. Make Your To-Do List Work for YouChapter 12. Use E-mail Effectively and EfficientlyChapter 13. Manage and Reduce StressChapter 14. Increase Your VitalityChapter 15. Boost Your Productivity Even MorePart IV: Communicate Effectively Chapter 16. Be an Effective LeaderChapter 17. Run Your Meetings EffectivelyChapter 18. Foster Civility and Courtesy in the WorkplaceChapter 19. Survive Bad Performance ReviewsChapter 20. Become a Powerful SpeakerChapter 21. Use Stories EffectivelyChapter 22. Moderate Panels EffectivelyPart V: Make Meaningful ConnectionsChapter 23. Have Your Elevator Speech ReadyChapter 24. Build Relationships through NetworkingChapter 25. Raise Money SuccessfullyAfterwordAcknowledgmentsAppendix A: Examples of Personal Mission StatementsAppendix B. 50 Tips for Success: A Quick Roadmap to Achieving Your GoalsAbout the Author