A Flaw in the System?

When in college, you assume you’ll be able to find a job upon graduation. And why shouldn’t you? You’ve been active over the past four years, you’re knowledgeable about your major and you have a degree… so why haven’t you been hired?

As most current graduates realize, landing a job is not easy. I realize we are in a recession; however, it’s not necessarily a lack of jobs, but the flaw in the job search process. I have thankfully realized this by working with Janice Worthington, who has shown me that universities fail in preparing students for the job hunt. Throughout college, you learn about your major and professional development. Unfortunately, not enough focus is put on how to obtain your first job.

My experience with the Office of Career Services at my alma mater was not the best. I feel they were not beneficial for any student, unless they are actively pursuing an accounting, engineering or pharmacy degree (which, ironically, these are the majors that don’t need their services). And after talking with several recent graduates with similar aforementioned degrees, Career Services didn’t even help them. For this reason, I feel universities and other higher education institutes need to reevaluate where they are allocating their money and time.

I propose constructing a new system that will work for students. Universities should have a mandatory senior seminar course in which graduating students learn how to successfully conduct a job search. At my alma mater, we have a freshman orientation class to help adjust new students to college life, so why not have a senior course? I also feel that having a stable and well connected Office of Career Services for students, despite their major, will lead to successful alumni.

I believe this makes sense – undergraduates have spent the last four (or more) years learning about their major. For this reason, students should learn how to effectively search for jobs so they can apply their knowledge and won’t be working at a job they hate. If you feel the same way – whether you’re a parent, educator, recently employed, actively seeking a career or an undergraduate student – talk to your university. By working together, we can make a change.