It's a Great Job Market, So Move Back Home

The unemployment rate is rising, but the National Association of Colleges and Employers says that the prospects of finding a job after college are actually "robust." Forbes agrees. Deloitte's research shows that (thanks to demographic trends) recent college graduates will have their pick of jobs for the next 10 years.

Don't believe me? I recently spoke with Aaron Bare, CEO of Career Tours, an innovative, video-based job board. They are consistently attracting every kind of client, from the Minnesota State Patrol to huge corporations, like Microsoft and Nike. And the clients are all trying to figure out how to reach Millennial candidates.

That suggests that corporate America is no longer chasing just the class presidents and Ivy League elite–it's the middle-of-the-pack folks, too. But being chased is a tricky game that young professionals–and their parents–need to learn how to win. And winning the game means learning some new rules.

Whatever you do, do not get sucked in by promises of a big salary, quick promotions, and a fancy office. That's what a successful career used to be, but not anymore. By watching our parents, Millennials have learned that such things are just superficial rewards that leave you feeling burned out and empty at the end of the day (and at the end of your career).

Today, a successful career means finding a job (or two) that provides you with interesting work, a sense of fulfillment, and plenty of room for professional and personal growth. To find this kind of career, you must forget the money. Even in an amazing job market, no one gets perfect work at a great salary.

But passing on the big salary is not an easy thing to do. The average college student graduates with more than $20,000 in debt, and shacking up in any big city can put a serious dent in your wallet. I spent last year living in a two-bedroom apartment outside of Washington D.C. for $3,000 per month. When you figure in credit card debt, food and a social life, your monthly burn rate can be ridiculous.

This is where the parents come (back) in. You can call them overprotective and over-involved, but the smartest parents today are encouraging their kids to come back home for a couple of years after school. Moving home allows you to get a handle on your student loan and credit card debt by saving on rent. Plus, it enables you to jump-start the process of building a truly successful career, based on today's standards, not the old days.

Only in America, and only in the past few generations, has living at home well into your twenties been frowned upon. But if you're truly opposed to moving home, or you can't stand your parents, get creative and find a job in a cheap city. Ryan Paugh and I have managed to live in Madison, Wisconsin since September on a minimal salary. Rent is a fraction of the price that it would be on the coast, and the living conditions are better in many ways.

Finding a great job in a smaller city might take a little more effort, but they're out there, you just need to look in the right places. I know first-hand that Madison, Wisconsin and my home town of New Haven, Connecticut have a bunch of cool companies looking to hire hard working twentysomethings. I have to admit, it's definitely time to give myself a raise, but the point is, you can live cheap if you face the reality that big cities aren't always what they're cracked up to be and good jobs do exist everywhere.

You'll know you've achieved success when you wake up almost every morning excited about your job. So if finding that job means trading a couple of years on your own for a room at Mom and Dad's, or giving up on living the dream in New York until you can afford it (when you're a millionaire) that's cool with me. I guarantee it's worth it in the long run.