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.

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.

• PrefaceAcknowledgmentsIntroductionPart I: Reflect on Your LifeChapter 1. Launch the Transition to Life after CollegeChapter 2. Align Your Actions with Your ValuesChapter 3. Develop Your Personal Mission StatementPart II: Land a JobChapter 4. Organize Your Job SearchChapter 5. Create Your Skill ListChapter 6. Be Super EmployableChapter 7. Spruce Up Your Online PresenceChapter 8. Ace Your InterviewsChapter 9. Avoid the Worst Job Search MistakesChapter 10. Think Outside the BoxPart III: Maximize Your Productivity Chapter 11. Manage Your Time WellChapter 12. Make Your To-Do List Work for YouChapter 13. Use E-mail Effectively and EfficientlyChapter 14. Manage and Reduce StressChapter 15. Increase Your VitalityChapter 16. Boost Your Productivity Even MorePart IV: Hone Your On-the-Job Skills Chapter 17. Be an Effective LeaderChapter 18. Run Meetings AdeptlyChapter 19. Become a Powerful SpeakerChapter 20. Use Stories EffectivelyChapter 21. Moderate Panels SuccessfullyChapter 22: Be a Good ListenerPart V: Embody ProfessionalismChapter 23. Foster Civility and Courtesy in the WorkplaceChapter 24. Show GratitudeChapter 25. Demonstrate the Qualities of a ProChapter 26. Make Punctuality a PriorityChapter 27. Manage Workplace Conflicts the Right WayChapter 28. Overcome Bad Performance ReviewsChapter 29. Turn Criticism into OpportunityPart VI: Forge Meaningful ConnectionsChapter 30. Have Your Elevator Speech ReadyChapter 31. Build Relationships through NetworkingChapter 32. Make a Winning First ImpressionChapter 33. Send a Thank You NoteChapter 34. Raise Money SuccessfullyChapter 35. Capitalize on CrowdfundingPart VII: Mold Yourself into a Successful PersonChapter 36. Adopt the Habits of Successful PeopleChapter 37. Don’t Waste Time on ... Chapter 38. Eliminate These Bad HabitsChapter 39. Make Weekends CountChapter 40. Overcome ObstaclesAfterwordAppendix A: Examples of Personal Mission StatementsAppendix B: Fifty Tips for Success: A Quick Roadmap to Achieving Your GoalsAppendix C: Examples of Cover LettersAbout the Author