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Fine so maybe going to Tahiti wouldn’t be the best choice, but wow, this year sure is a tough year to be graduating college. Thinking about how many people are going to settle. Thinking about how many dreams will never be fulfilled.
Ok, fine so maybe going to Tahiti wouldn’t be the best choice, but wow, this year sure is a tough year to be graduating college. Besides dealing with the many emotions that everyone deals with when entering the “real world”, many college seniors are entering into a job market that is one of the worst in recent history. As I was thinking about this thought, as well as debating my own personal future, I suddenly became very scared, and not about myself, but about my fellow graduating classmates.
Take this situation for example: I thought about what happens to me when I’m really hungry and all I really want to eat is a hamburger. So like any hamburger craving college student, I go to the nearby J Box, but it was closed. Then I go to Wendys – Closed, Carls – Closed, McDonalds – Closed, etc, etc. Not a single burger joint open! But yet my stomachs grumbling and I need food, so I decide to settle for a burrito. The problem is that now I feel completely unsatisfied because all I wanted was a burger, but hey I guess food is food… right?
Now take that same situation and instead of a hamburger, I’m looking for my dream job, whatever that may be. I’m looking for that job everywhere, submitting my resume and contacting everyone I know that could possibly help me get that job I’m looking for. But I find nothing, not one of the places that offer my dream job is available. Yet, I still need a job… right? So I settle and take an average paying job, doing average work that I have no real interest in, but I need to pay off my college loans so I take it.
It’s that exact situation that I’m scared of. Thinking about how many people are going to settle. Thinking about how many dreams will never be fulfilled. Thinking about how many people will be sitting in cubicles 10 years from now regretting that they didn’t follow their dreams when they had the chance.
Now obviously everyone is in their own personal situation and they need to decide for themselves what the best route is, but I think that there is no reason for a graduating senior to settle for that mediocre opportunity. I have an alternative, actually a couple alternatives, that could help college students not feel like they’re being forced to take a job, a career, a life that they don’t really want to be in… I’ll just make sure to write about it in my next blog post.
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Comments
03.05.09
My only question is: While you're looking for your dream job, you're living on what income? Shelter, food, college loans, and other bills don't wait for dream jobs.
03.05.09
We are all destined for indentured servitude to the man in a cubicle. Just take it like you should.
03.05.09
Why not do a year of service through AmeriCorps? It's a way to follow your passion, get some financial support for your educational expenses, gain valuable experience, give back to your community, and wait out the job market....
03.05.09
As an old person, with a daughter and son in Gen Y, I have another perspective. At this stage of your life you learn from EVERY step, as long as you are engaged in whatever it is. Get a boring job, engage, you will learn what you require and can contribute in a good job. Sit on your mom's sofa and play WOW, well, if you really engage and love it then maybe you can get a job designing games. Only time spent avoiding yourself and your life is wasted at your age.
03.05.09
I agree with LPC. Any job is going to teach you things, and its not a damning step to take a less than perfect job; just always keep your resume up to date and always be on the lookout. You never know when you might find that your dream job actually isn't your dream job, something else is. It happened to me, and I doubt I'm the only one.
03.05.09
I had the same thought about AmeriCorps, Molly, though AmeriCorps VISTA (which empowers you to live in poverty- ick!) is really where alot of broader skill building and infrastructure-design comes in. Only if you are looking to work in the social service industry is AmeriCorps state and national the better choice, in my opinion.
I'm very much afraid that it is a damning step to take a less than perfect job. I've found myself is a role that I'm ashamed to put on my resume and now feeling unable to find something more appropriate to my skill and education level because of the job market. This job IS teaching me a lot, but if no one will give me a second thought because I've pigeon-holed myself, what's the point?
03.06.09
Tahiti sounds like a good idea to me. However, finding a job is a good idea, too. I would like to send this message to the class of '09 from the class of '93 (we graduated in a similiar economy). It may be tough, but hang in there. Don't give up. Things will turn around and you will come out the other end stronger than you ever thought you could be. Plus, 16 years from now, when this happens again, you will have a frame of reference and no fear because you know you got through it at 22, you can get through it at 37.
By the way, when I was graduating, my mom gave me this advice regarding the tough job market - "You have to take your sh*t sometime, you might as well get it over with." Somehow there was comfort in that :)
03.06.09
Jennifer, my guess is that you are still too young to be pigeon-holed. As you progress in your career, it will be seen as a good sign that you were willing to face realities and soldier on when required. Just make sure to always be looking for the right job even as you are doing now what you have to do.
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03.06.09
I read an article today about how this girl, Mari, landed her dream job only two months after she graduated even in these tough economic times. She used this website called Careerealism.com and applied for The Careerealism University program, which taught her everything on how to get her job. J.T. O’Donnell, the founder of the website, coached her personally in every aspect of job searching. Careerealism University taught Mari everything she needed to know to be noticed and stand out from the crowd of over 100 people who applied for the position she got.
Check out this website and read the full article. I think you will find it very interesting/helpful.
http://www.careerealism.com/december-grad-gets-dream-job-in-2-monthshere...
03.07.09
I recommend the book Delaying the Real World, by Colleen Kinder. It gives about 1000 ideas of what to do after college, as well as practical advice on how to make it happen. I have nothing against Tahiti if that's where you really want to go, but I think it's important to approach the adventure as an opportunity rather than a cop-out. Good luck!
08.23.09
Getting that dream job is what everyone dreams of, but then reality sets in. Office Space is the reality that alot of us end up in, which sucks. Working for someone will never be fulfilling and thats why so many people hate their job. Hopefully you have found the job that you were looking for already.
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