When planning for your life after graduation, it’s important to understand the level of pay you will be receiving and the kind of work environments you will be entering. Two resources are available to help you do just that!

Payscale offers data on how much professionals in your field make based on information you enter, such as job title, education level, location, years of experience, and sometimes even employer names. It will show you a chart that details how much you can expect to earn when you start your career and how your earnings will adjust as you continue to work in your role.

Glassdoor offers information about specific roles and openings with various employers. Past and current employees answer questions about pay, the interview process, office culture, and more so that you can understand how the employer operates before you start.

With the never-ending amount of information on the internet, the best starting point for career research can often be elusive. With the right focus, strategies, and mindset, you can ensure that you are informed well enough to make a decision. This article describes how and why you should research an employer before you apply for a job.

Carly Smith Director, Career Education

I like to call myself a forever learner. Growing up, I always loved going to school, both for the classes and for the friendships. It is really not a surprise thinking about it that I now work in education. Apart from learning, I have a passion for trying to live a healthy, happy, and holistic life. One of my major goals is to live as peaceful and joyful of a life as possible, and to help others achieve the same.

College was an exciting time for me. I took a major risk by attending a university in which I knew the academics would challenge me more than I had been challenged before. I also went across the country, not knowing a soul. It was in college that I truly gained confidence in myself and started to find my voice, speaking up for issues that I cared about. As a northerner my whole life, it was in this time that I gained a new appreciation for all things South: country music, cowboy boots, and delicious shrimp and grits. My best advice to current college students is: "Work smarter, not harder."