It really looks as though these students or college graduates are happy. Honestly, they are extremely upset, saddened, and quite distraught that there are no jobs and apparent solutions as to when this economic situation will change in their favor. It has recently been reported that one in two graduates or half are without jobs. Some of them have found part or temp work. Some cities and towns across the country there are fewer opportunities.
Ironically, there’s an increase in students electing to go to college. In terms of marketing education for all in America, this isn’t how to fix this problem. Add this to the pressures these students and their families face with the rising interest rates attached to student loans and the inability to find a place to stay once they leave school. Many of these students are living with their parents.
While visiting a local restaurant the other day I happened to meet this couple who had recently graduated from college. We exchanged hellos. I quickly asked them after a short conversation, “So, What do you do?” One of them responded quickly by stating she had a job, the other person mentioned, still looking, after I told them that I was a life and career coach.
I could use your services, he replied. I noticed a brief moment of frustration with trying to find work.
So where am I going with this story. You saw the title that somewhat reveals that “it’s a challenging time to be young and seeking employment.”
My work does involve helping my clients navigate first and foremost career aspirations. What challenges and angst do they face? How prepared are they? Where have they simply opted out of finding that ideal job or any job for that matters? What are there next steps or goals?
These are questions that surface daily in my own mind around the services I provide helping clients prepare and then find employment in today’s economy.
Let’s for the moment place this “difficulty with finding a job thing, as a college graduate, out on the table.”
Perhaps you know someone or you’re in your mid to late 20’s, back at home after four years of college, your skills consist of writing, texting, meeting coursework assignment deadlines, building relationships, and trying to maintain some sort of social life. You’re passionate about what you studied in college but in reality there are no jobs. You manage to stay afloat temping somewhere, waiting tables, bartending, or simply free-lancing all over the place.
All the rest of you are on an early sabbatical, nothing elaborate, or on a forced vacation away from home to find out what other opportunities are elsewhere. Surprisingly, some of you have taken up, yes pan-handling in which I found or find quite the social experiment into survival of the fittest.
Should I as a career coach, social worker, and educator have any problems with your new entrepreneurship? I choose not to respond to this question, but you must do what you think you must do.
Your parents are questionably dumb-founded and quite frankly helpless as how to help you beyond the provision of a roof over your head and (bf&d) breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Over happy hour or a ball game, you fault the economy and the government on the fact that there are real statistics that show half of your population group (college graduates in 2012) are underemployed or unemployed.
What questions or remedies are you/we facing or addressing?
Should you return to school?
How are you marketing yourself?
What are your real skillset(s)?
Are colleges and universities preparing students adequately for today’s and tomorrow’s marketplace?
How confident are you that this is all temporary?
What’s the likelihood that you will ever be able to pay off your student loans?
What would it be like to consider relocating to a more attractive market?
What are your plans beyond your internship?
Have government let you down?
*What are your true passion and can you forgo career for now, taking any job that’s out here?
Obviously, I could cite recent supporting statistics and comments from disturbing stories on this growing economic and social problem we all face.
America, we have a problem?
It’s apparent that conceivably, if there are fewer or no jobs, then, how are we going to address this issue of college students not being able to find work? Then again, should all of us simply seek a college education as a solution?
I find it admirable to have a college degree but if you can’t attract employment it has very little value in our existing economy and workplace.
Let’s not report back to the class of 2013-14 that we continue to graduate more college students who will simply not find work, or work, in their field of study.
Let’s report back that (more) college graduates are finding at least a job if not a career.
Dear College graduate, I am here to listen with and for you and to help you map out your strategy for attracting meaningful employment. Don’t even think about giving up, you will eventually find work.
At the moment the ratio of jobs to college students actively seeking work and for those that are graduating from a school of higher learning, this scenario simply does not match up!
Awe-Struck no Spellbound!
Curt Canada, Board Certified Coach, advises clients in the areas of leadership, personal development, and career at Adapting2change in Washington DC. He holds a Masters in Teacher Education from American University and a Masters in Social Work from the University of Iowa. Further training in Life Coaching and Leadership Development from the Institute for Life Coach Training. Curt is a member of the International Coach Federation and the Christian Coaches Network.
