Jobs after graduation are scarce. Studies show that it is much harder for students with degrees to obtain employment after the completion of college, hich can create a hole in the overall ideals of even attending a university in the first place.
The overall goal of going through this four year tedious and challenging process is to recieve a degree and gain more opportunities to secure a long-term career in your feild of choice, and ultimately make some money! However, the fact is that the economy is at its worst, and companies and businesses are quickly disappearing off the market.
Many students are graduating and the chances of getting a job look slim, and many are looking for somewhere to place the blame. Is the fall of the economy solely to blame for graduates not being able to get the jobs they need, or is it because graduates of this generation and fast-paced society don’t tackle the opportunities awarded to them in a steadfast manner?
The purpose of high school and college is to educate and prepare students for the real world. Professors emphasize the need to be more marketable in corporate America, because companies expect a wider range of criteria in this new and ever-changing world. As technology advances, so must we, which can be overwhelming.
To be presidents of organizations on campus, hold other leadership positions, and getting involved with things that could create change on campus are considered to be a neccesity for employers. Students can virtually be a part of anything we want on campus. Many people say “It’s what you make it” and some can argue that is true to an extent only because they feel that not many opportunities are awarded.
Junior psychology major Jermaine Hubbard said, “I believe it’s partially based on the economy because there are not that many jobs available to graduates. In the past, a college education automatically guaranteed you a job, but now you have to work harder to get a mediocre position especially if you have a degree from an HBCU.”
On the other hand, he mentioned that the students should ultimately be responsible for the development of their success, “A lot of students don’t use their resources, and those are major factors. They expect for jobs and internships to be handed over to them without a work ethic”, said Hubbard.
Senior SGA President Bobby J. Smith II, agreed. “Many opportunities are available to graduates, but many of them are expecting to make $60,000 starting out and you’re not going to get that. You have to start at the bottom of corporate America and work your way up.”
Baby boomers will be retiring within the next five years and there will be realignments within the companies which means many doors will open up. These days the doors of opportunity do not stay open very long therefore as a graduate you need to take whatever opportunity you can to ensure the security of your future. “It’s really what you make it and many people don’t want to make sacrifices”, said Smith.