Don’t Panic, Seniors. Focus.

Are your ears burning, seniors? They should be because everyone is talking about you. It’s hard to flip through a newspaper today without seeing stories that concern you; how tuition is rising faster than the rate of inflation, how college graduates are working minimum wage jobs rather than changing the world, how you are oriented toward achievement and recognition rather than practicality and hard work. You would have to live under a rock to not hear these kinds of things. Just today, I read an opinion piece discussing whether the Baby Boomer generation has done current students and recent grads a disservice by raising them to go after the best grades, the best colleges, and the “right” majors, rather than investing in activities they love, engaging in more part time work experiences, or in general, coming face to face with failure.

Whose fault is it that the job landscape has changed for college graduates? Whose fault is it that the Millennial generation is struggling? It doesn’t matter. A lot of factors have brought us to the current state of affairs and there’s no sign that things are going to become more stable or predictable for college students and graduates anytime soon. But, that doesn’t mean all is hopeless, as long as we remain in touch with reality. For example:

College graduates do get jobs. While the national unemployment rate hovers between 9 and 10 percent, the unemployment rate for those who hold a 4-year college degree remains closer to 4 percent. That means 96 percent of college degree holding members of society are employed. These are good odds.

Some of your friends already have jobs; most of them don’t. The students who score job offers in the fall of your senior year will always be the loudest on campus. So much so that you feel if you are not employed by Thanksgiving, you are somehow eons behind where you should be. Not true. The majority of industries are not recruiting students who still have a semester or more of school to complete. For most companies, jobs become available when they are available, not in line with when you’re going to graduate. For this reason, it’s much more common for college graduates to land their first position 3 to 6 months after graduation.

Your first job is just that; a first step toward a career, not your whole career. There is a pretty good chance that the job you land right out of college won’t be ideal. Let that settle in, and know that it is okay. What you’re doing in your first job is gaining experience, building skills in a full-time or part-time environment, and beginning to develop a network of professional colleagues. So, while you may not be in love with your first job, remember its practical value; skills development, experience in a professional environment, and networking contacts.

Lastly, as the semester winds down and you’re preparing for your last few months on campus, remember that persistence, determination and resilience are rewarded in the job search process. Prove all those people out there talking about your generation wrong. Your William and Mary education is just the beginning; it’s a phenomenal foundation for future success. But you’ve gotta use it and you have to work hard. A college degree alone entitles you to nothing. Consistently focusing your time and talents on getting a job will result in interviews, opportunities, and jobs.  Be bold and assertive. Use what you’ve learned here to go after what you really want. No one can do that for you, but trust me, you’ve already got the tools you need to do it yourself.
If you want some help in the process, please contact us at the Career Center. We have lots of resources to empower you in your career search.