The sun is shining, flowers are blooming and students across the nation are smiling from ear to ear because they are finally college graduates. Gone are the days of mid-term exams, finals and countless nights of not getting adequate sleep. It is now time for many to face their dreams and others to face their nightmares.
A recent survey of 500 hiring managers conducted by Adecco concluded that 5% of the managers polled had no intent to hire recent graduates this year. The remaining 42% said if they hire an entry level candidate it would only be 1 or 2 company-wide. These startling statistics are leaving many students terrified about the future that awaits them. In desperate need to escape the reality that they may or may not have a job post-graduation more students are beginning to apply for graduate schools in hopes that additional education would increase their chances of becoming gainfully employed.
While gaining additional education could make you look good on your resume many hiring mangers still want to see the experience you have outside the classroom. This leaves many students asking the all too familiar question "how do I get experience if you do not give me a job." Easy. Volunteer or better yet get an internship.
The society most graduates have grown up in has taught them to never want a job you can't get paid for. Of course being compensated for your work is vital it also important to note that interning or volunteering with no pay shows you are not driven only by the penny. If perhaps you are not interested in taking on an internship in order to gain work experience then consider accepting a job after graduation that is not directly related to your major such as customer service. This may not be your dream job but it does reinforce and teach great skills that could be transferable in any job you may accept later in your career. Remember the quote: "do what you do not want to do now so you can do what you want later?" Live by that.
Earlier this week CNN money reported that student loan rates are expected to go up to 6.8% in July. This increase will not only hurt those students who are unemployed but it will also affect those who are employed who have also accumulated thousands of dollars in debt and are now bringing less money home. Suddenly the harsh realization that the refund checks you got each semester really should have been saved begins to sink in. No longer is money just something that is spent at the mall every weekend. Money has now taken on a new meaning and that meaning is leaving many students in the red before ever stepping foot off the graduation stage.
As graduation parties and celebrations come to a one thought lingers in the minds of graduates across the globe: "was college really worth it?" Yes and no. Yes, if you're willing to go above and beyond in the classroom and outside the classroom. No, if you're expecting a handout that requires no work and all play. The answer to this question and your fate lie in your hands.