Christian Long/DN

"After a few months in the working world, I was amazed at all of the little things I had to learn for the first time," Vickey said. "I had to pick an HMO, set up a 401k and buy a mutual fund. Few recent graduates know how to do this. All of my friends complained of the same problem. No one ever explains the 'practical skills' needed for life after college."

Instead of complaining about what college failed to teach him, Jesse Vickey, along with Nicole Vickey, created Cap & Compass. The company created a book entitled "Life After School Explained," which provides insight on everything from health insurance and dinner etiquette to moving tips and money management for recent graduates entering the "real world."

Jesse Vickey said he struggled with little odds and ends in life after he graduated from Duke University in Durham, N.C., in 1997. He moved to New York City and worked on Wall Street before starting the company. The difficult transition from college to career never left his mind, though.
"It seemed like every new graduate had to reinvent the wheel," Vickey said. "After spending a few years on Wall Street, I quit the corporate world to start Cap & Compass.

"We wanted to create one source for all the 'life after school' stuff - one that would be informative and funny."

J.D. Linscott graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln last May and said while he felt prepared for his career and embarking out into the "real world," there were a couple items in the book that would have helped.

"I was on my parents insurance until I graduated, so it would have been nice to have something that could explain all the different types of insurance," Linscott said.

In addition to the book helping recent graduates such as Linscott, Cap & Compass also gives seminars concerning the topics in its book at college campuses. Vickey creates what he calls "starter kits." The kits take out much of the leg work of finding an apartment as well as singing up for a checking account and gym membership in larger cities such as New York, Boston and Washington D.C.

While a traditional education is important, Cap & Compass is looking to fill the holes of life not learned in the classroom.

"College is designed to teach students about academic pursuits - algebra, chemistry, history, etc.," Vickey said. "Although these topics are important, they're not very helpful when you need to find an apartment, fill out a W4 form or buy business clothes."