Archive for the ‘Career Advice’ Category
An Alternative Graduation Speech for Parents of New College Grads
Wednesday, May 9th, 2012There ought to be a second graduation speech just for parents, in the afternoon,
after the celebratory lunch, while the kids are off whooping it up. It should go like this:
We know you have a great kid. We also know that, as amazing as she is, she may not
have a job lined up, and that this fact is eating away at you.
Oh, sure you may have heard that hiring on college campuses is up more than ten percent
from the past few economically horrendous years, but you’ve also heard that there are
still over 30 applicants for every job and a backlog of unemployed young people milling
round out there. You want to hear a speech full of practical advice about how you can
help your kid land a job. Here it is:
From College to Career in 2012: No Bright Light at the End of the Tunnel
Tuesday, January 24th, 2012In July, 2011, newly minted young college grads faced an unwelcome pinnacle: at 13.1%, the unemployment rate for bachelor’s degree graduates under the age of 25 was the highest on record.
Since the past summer, Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data show several months of relative improvement in the job outlook for young grads. But, statistics from 2007-2011 provide plenty of reasons why optimism should be tempered with caution.
For the past three years, the average unemployment rate for bachelor’s degree grads under 25 has remained stubbornly rooted around 9%.
A Model for College Grad Career Success in 2012
Sunday, November 27th, 2011In 2008, Brittany Haas left college with a newly minted degree in Apparel Design. A few months later, the stock market took a nose dive, leading to years of double-digit unemployment for young college grads. Hit worst have been those with degrees in art and design and liberal arts. But this is not another story of doom and gloom. At age 24, Brittany is US Retail Planner for a world-renowned fashion house, managing a multi-million dollar budget—along with her own business.
Advice for the Parents of Liberal Arts College Freshmen
Friday, August 26th, 2011When students return to college, or set foot on campus for the first time, it’s normal for parents to have conflicting emotions. One of those emotions is frequently anxiety about the cost of education and the value of that education in the real world. But such concerns are likely to be brushed away by the assumption that as long as their sons and daughters take it easy on the partying and pay attention to their studies, they’ll be rewarded with a good job at graduation. At a time when the unemployment rate for recent bachelor’s grads is at an all-time high (13.1%) it’s essential to question this assumption. The path from college to a good career is not automatic; it takes considerable work on the student’s part, starting early in their time at college.
Colleges Need New Approaches to Career Preparation
Friday, August 19th, 2011Too many of our new graduates are not getting jobs—or at least the kind of jobs that put them on a career path and provide sufficient compensation to pay back loans.
For three years, high unemployment rates have plagued some of our most talented young people. Colleges cannot change the economy or force companies to hire. But they can do a better job preparing their students to compete for available positions.
College Students Fail to Adapt to New Employment Realities
Friday, August 12th, 2011College Students Fail to Adapt to New Employment Realities
Curran on Careers, July, 2011
Students who graduated in 2009, 2010 and 2011, all entered an economic environment with double-digit rates of unemployment. And, the end is nowhere in sight.…
A Liberal Arts Education: Not Only Relevant, but Critical to Career Success
Friday, March 25th, 2011When the employment situation is bleak, thousands of students gravitate towards subjects like business, communications, or economics, turning their backs on liberal arts subjects. Many do so because they perceive it to be the safest way to avoid unemployment at graduation. Few have made the case to students that the pursuit of a broad academic education may be a more effective strategy to achieve the desired result. So it was with great interest that I read a discussion of this topic on my alma mater’s LinkedIn site (Durham University Alumni). The specific question asked was how graduates used subjects like history, science or languages in their day-to-day work.
I found one answer particularly helpful, because it clearly articulated how the author’s knowledge of multiple subjects influenced his success in writing and designing video games
A Career Makeover for the Young Professional
Saturday, March 12th, 2011When you’re busy and you’ve established a routine, it’s easy to put career thoughts on the backburner. It’s like your health. If a body part doesn’t actively hurt, you’re not forced to pay attention. In the same way, your career may seem on track. If you’re doing well and there’s no evidence of trouble on the horizon, it’s tempting to keep your head down, work hard, and maintain the status quo. But if you do that, you may not see opportunities that better match your values and interests.
Once you start looking around you may also find that your concept of career is no longer accurate. Employees now move jobs and change careers regularly. And there aren’t hard and fast rules for getting ahead anymore. Mid-career professionals can learn something younger grads already know: When it comes to finding a path to your ideal position, you’re the one in the driver’s seat. Don’t count on anyone taking you along for the ride.
So if you want a career makeover, where do you start? Here’s a four-pronged approach. First, examine yourself. Second, identify a good fit. Third, think like an employer. And finally, get your own board.
Career Advice for the 2011 College Grad
Tuesday, March 8th, 2011For college seniors, graduation is no longer something on the distant horizon. It’s only a couple of months away. For the student still seeking post-graduate employment–as most are–that means there are only a few remaining weeks to work on career preparation before exams loom. It’s tempting to throw in the towel, and simply enjoy the remains of the college experience. But savvy students will take advantage of college resources to put a career strategy in place before they graduate. In doing so, they will set themselves apart from the competition, and reduce the time it takes to find a position. The following ten action steps provide the basic foundation for success:
2011 College Grads Still Face Uphill Employment Battle
Wednesday, February 9th, 2011High school seniors who matriculated at four-year colleges in 2007 have seen the best and worst of economic times during their time in school. As they prepare to graduate, many must be thanking fate for the positive developments currently emerging in the employment market.
There is cause for optimism. Employers are returning to career fairs, and according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the overall unemployment rate for college grads over the age of 25 has decreased from a high of 5.3% in July, 2009 to a seasonally non-adjusted rate of 4.5% in January, 2011.
But economic gains have, so far, not benefitted new college grads, whose unemployment rate in January stood at a decades-high 10.8%.