What’s left after College?
by Michelle J. Burton

After high school the majority of students move onto College with a vague sense/ idea of what they want to be and as they move on toward achieving their degrees, they move closer to deciding what they want to do and careers to pursue. College is seen as that integral time for young adults to find themselves, try different things, and try to find their place in the world through what they pursue in their education. They pride themselves with a college education and taking that extra step to prepare themselves for the real world and its work force. However, today many college graduates are finding that their degrees and many years of education are amounting to less than they imagined. Today’s graduates are stepping off their campuses with a degree but into the real world with a low sense of optimism that they will be able to find a job because they are seen as inexperienced before they are given the opportunity to prove themselves.

With the cost of a post-secondary education and all the time that goes into it, it is a wonder why there is such difficulty in obtaining a job. “An Associated Press analysis of the US government’s 2011 Current Population Survey data and other government data found that around 1.5 million of 53.6% of all college graduates under 25 were either jobless or underemployed” (Rampell). Employment rates have also fallen within the past couple of years and many college graduates find themselves working jobs that are below their area of general expertise such as fast food chains and bar tending which generally do not require a degree. Upon applying for the work force many potential employees are struck down due to their “inadequate preparation for the work force and weak resumes” (Measom). Also, about “66 percent of managers see college graduates as too inexperienced” (Rampell).The question that stems from here is, besides internships and the college preparation if these graduates are not allowed the jobs they shoot for, how else are they supposed to gain the real world experience? They go through a number of years in college depending on what degree they are looking to obtain internships, and other world applications within their major. Internships are hard to obtain as well because they too are very competitive with many people within the same major across many schools and programs searching for the same thing. Some people have better luck than others in obtaining a job, internship, externship, etc. This should be taken into consideration when a potential employee is applying for a job or in an interview. Everybody does not start off at the same place with an equal opportunity. A recent college graduate expressed his opinion, “I have friends with the same degree as me, from a worse school, but because of who they knew or when they happened to graduate, they’re in much better jobs,” (Rampell). Networking takes people along way and can open the door to a whole new world. It is a form of communication generally with those in your career path who can offer you jobs, advice, or any help that will take you further. It is highly suggested to many people that networking is a must. Students who take advantage of this can find themselves in a better job situation and make connections that will most likely help sustain them if they ever do in the future find themselves out of work or struggling.

If students are going into and even being encouraged to enter college and seek higher education then why are they being met with what seems resistance? As they near graduation they seek a stable job to set themselves up for a fulfilling life. However they are met with denial after denial and in the slight chance they do find a job it is not “suitable” for them. Over the years the number of college graduates has increased and “there are more jobseekers with college degrees than there are openings of the college-level jobs” (New York Times). The truth is hardening, more and more people coming out of college seeking jobs in an economy that is already somewhat dysfunctional that has less jobs available. With the recession that was from 2007 to 2008 the economy was in decline and to deal with it many companies and businesses had to downsize and make budget cuts which ultimately led to people being let go and fewer jobs. Just between 2001 and 2011, “the number of recent graduates rose by almost half” (The Economist). With the numbers increasing, the outlook on finding a job after college only becomes dimmer. Everybody is looking to show their skills and find a high paying job but because there are so many graduates, “It is not surprising that some moved down market to find work” (The Economist). This means that many college graduates end up settling in jobs that they are often overqualified for and do not require anything above a high diploma. They are pushed farther down because jobs are going to many other graduates so they must find and grab what job they can find.

The question that fails to be answered is why are students pushed to go to college if they are not guaranteed a job once they graduate? With the statistics and difficulty to find a job, many college students and graduates are beginning to question “whether higher education is worth it” (Rampbell). There is however a reason as to why many college students seek higher education, this is their awareness “that the labor market favors college graduates” (Mittelhauser). While the difficulty of finding a job post grad is still there, it is still a well understood fact that those with a degree in higher education “earn more and experience lower unemployment rates that workers without a degree” (Mittelhauser). College students have not given up on higher education because it is still understood that opportunities are ever-present and they will always be at an advantage. It is better to have the assurance/ know that you will be making more holding a degree than only a diploma. A degree can take you further but it is also what you do with that degree that can make an even greater impact. Networking is often suggested because the people you meet can set up great opportunities and jobs enabling you to move further in the post grad world.

Among the many reasons as to why students look for such high paying jobs after college is the fact that they only have about a six month period until they must begin paying back their loans. If they cannot find a job how will they pay back their loans? They can only ask their parents for so much, but how will that affect those trying to be self-sufficient and independent. With the more higher education one seeks, it I inevitable that they will pay take out more loans, unless they are being paid to go back to college or have a full ride.  The “average U.S. student loan debt climbed to $27,253–a 58% increase in just seven years” (Tourlayai). Before this, is 2005 the average debt was $17, 233. Many students take out loans not knowing how they will be able to pay them back or expecting that they will find a job right after college that will pay them enough to be able to pay back their loans. This is a false and dwindling hope for most students. “The median starting salary for students graduating from four-year colleges in 2009 and 2010 was $27,000, down from $30,000 for those who entered the work force in 2006 to 2008” (Rampell). The irony here is the starting salary is just about the same amount as the average student debt after under grad and it is decreasing. Graduates face the problem of not having a job to pay back their loans which then has the effect of lowering their credit or they don’t make enough to even use elsewhere besides mainly to pay off their loans.

Colleges and Universities like for their students to have picked a major by their sophomore year and many students at that time begin declaring. By the time they hit graduation they have thought about their career path and what they want to do and that is the path they have taken in college to prepare for it. However, in the end the type of degree and major chosen do have a huge impact on the grad students’ ability to find work. It has been found that:

The graduates facing the toughest job searches are those who earned degrees in language, literature social science, advertising and marketing. Those who hold degrees in education, finance, health, economics and accounting are more successful in finding jobs in their fields. (Measom)

If students who have chosen to pursue language, social science, advertising and marketing are already at a disadvantage what do we tell them? Are we supposed to tell them that they will find the job market more of a struggle than those who pursue a degree and job in education, finance, health, etc. Many people want a job that they know they will enjoy and are very passionate about but here they get stuck in one they did not strive toward, work for, or intend to be in. They are forced to settle for something other than their dream because the job market is down and they are already looked down upon or given less a chance because of what they decided to study and pursue.

Finding a job after college was not always as difficult as it is today. Upon conversation with two family members, one who graduated in 1982 (my mother Denise Burton) expressed her job search saying, “it wasn’t too bad, I found a job 9 months after graduation as a job placement counselor Downtown Boston”.  The other family member Larry Byrd who graduated from Northeastern University in 1976 experienced a more fortunate job opportunity and started work the day after he graduated. He worked in a 5 year co-op which hired him straight out of college. Students who get the chance to participate in internships and co-ops gain real world experience and generally have a greater chance of getting hired by that same job or a similar one. Upon interviewing a variety of people who graduated during the 1970’s and 1980’s it is concluded that finding a job after college was easier than it is today. One family member talked about how he didn’t go to college:

You didn’t really have to go to college back then, you got created on the job. However today if you have a better education then you will find a better job that pays more. I started as a printer by trade but then I moved to the MBTA which provides very good pay. You have to network for yourself. (Turner)

This goes along with how the higher and better education you get the better job you are likely to find. It is not a guarantee as mentioned before and does not happen immediately but you will be more ready. He also mentioned networking, Networking is important because you meet people and make relationships which will benefit you in the long run.

Everybody college student wants to be successful. They have taken that step toward higher education to ensure themselves a place in the workforce and move toward financial independence and steadiness. Though the numbers are a bit discouraging students should not be deterred from seeking higher education or deviating from what they want to do. There will always be hardships but they should not deter us from our goals. The best one can do is work their hardest, obtain their degree, and make sure they take advantage of all the opportunities offered them in college as well as network so that once they graduate they will be all set. One must not doubt that because they will not move up in life or that they will be stuck in a position they do not favor. Every student is an asset and benefits all.

Copyright 2015 by Michelle J. Burton

Works Cited

Burton, Denise. Personal interview. 29 Dec. 2013.

Byrd, Larry. Personal interview. 29 Dec. 2013.

Measom, Cynthia. “Difficulty Finding Jobs for College Graduates.” Everyday Life. Demand Media, n.d. Web. 21 Nov. 2013.

Mittelhauser, Mark. “The outlook for college graduates, 1996 – 2006: prepare yourself.” Occupational Outlook Quarterly Summer 1998: 3+. Academic OneFile. Web. 22 Nov. 2013.

Rampell, Catherine. “Many With New College Degree Find the Job Market Humbling.”Nytimes.com. Associated Press, 18 May 2011. Web. 21 Nov. 2013.

Touryalai, Halah. “More Evidence On The Student Debt Crisis: Average Grad’s Loan Jumps To $27,000.” Forbes. Forbes Magazine, 29 Jan. 2013. Web. 27 Nov. 2013.

Turner, Tyrone. Personal Interview. 29 Dec. 2013

“Room at the bottom; education and jobs.” The Economist 10 Mar. 2012: 37(US).Biography in Context. Web. 24 Nov. 2013.

“College, Jobs and Inequality.” New York Times 14 Dec. 2010: A34(L). Academic OneFile. Web. 24 Nov. 2013.