SoFi Blog

Data this week confirmed that the slowdown in the US economic growth seen in August was a temporary one. Market-derived probabilities of a Fed rate hike by December continued to rise along with a stronger dollar and higher 10-year Treasury yields. Oil continued to climb as U.S. oil inventories fell and the prospects for an OPEC agreement remained intact. The rising price of oil caused emerging markets (many of which export oil) to outperform.

At SoFi, we’re lucky to have an extraordinary group of members who have navigated this whole ‘career thing’ with aplomb. From getting promoted or laid off to changing industries, members have faced whopping challenges—and they have the insights and battle scars to prove it. So we asked a few to share their best career tips based on their personal experiences.

Here’s what they said:

The final week of the quarter was an exciting one. Continued troubles with European banks led to volatile stock markets (more on this next week). Oil prices were sent sharply higher after a productive meeting among member countries of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). Inflation data out of the United States continues to move towards the Fed’s target, but came in at expected levels leading to little change in the 10-year Treasury yield.

Graduate school is all about lots of work, little sleep, and often tight budgets. But after years of ramen and roommates, you’ll graduate with an advanced degree and likely some student loan debt as well. Fortunately, new data from SoFi reveals that your extra work really can lead to increased earning power —and the ability to pay down your debt faster.

For SoFi’s millennial members, Twenty One Pilots’ hit “Stressed Out” is more than a good song—it’s an anthem. And this lyric says it all: “Out of student loans and treehouse homes, we all would take the latter.”

How could it not? Roughly 70% of 2016 college graduates borrowed to get their degrees, leaving them with a whopping $37,172 in student loan debt, up from about $35,000 in 2015.