Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 19 July 2002 — Page 7
FRIDAY, JULY 19.2002
THE INDIANAPOLIS RECORDER
PAGE A7
There’s hope for class of 2002, but it takes planning and patience
What to do after college? These Web sites seem to have the answer on careers.
1. www.egrad.com
2. www.collegerad.com 3. www.jobsearchlink,com
4. www.yahoo.careers
5. www.monstersearchjob.com
6. www.hotjobs.com 7. www.jobhunt.org
8. www.careeibuilder.com 9. www.msncareers.com 10. www.caieermag.com For resume writing tips try:
www.provemesumes.coin
All of the Web sites were found through the courtesy of www.google.com.
By ASHLEY M. HUGGINS Staff Writer The million dollar question ... What is the job market looking like for the 2002 college graduates? “Tougher than it was two years ago,” said Sloan Boyd of Indiana University’s Career Center. Recent college graduates are realizing the job market is not welcoming them with open arms like they had hoped. With more and more young adults attending and completing college, a bachelor degree is becoming the norm, making it harder for college graduates to stand out. “A lot of companies want experience, not just a degree,” said Candice Speaks, a 2002 graduate from Hampton University in Virginia. “Having an internship and experience on your resume is very important.” According to a national study, three quarters of college students have participated in one internship and SO percent have done two. Speaks, of Dayton, Ohio, believes internship experience is crucial because it can be a possible job. “The internship you have one summer could very well be the job you have when you graduate,” said Speaks, who participated in one internship. Boyd agrees with Speaks on the importance of experience, but says there is much more a graduate can do when it comes to job searching and it starts before one becomes a graduate. “There are steps to take to learning how to search for a job and present yourself and your skills,” said Boyd, internship coordinator, “You have to plan from the beginning. Visit the career centers, go to job fairs, and talk to people in your field. Networking and putting forth the effort to learn information about the field and how to break into it is very important.” According to Boyd, only 10 to 20 percent of jobs are
found from job postings. “You have to approach the company and present yourself as someone with something to offer and someone willing to learn,” said Boyd. Setting a daily goal while one is job searching is another aspect. “Strategies work. It's a way to make sure one does not get discouraged and just sit around at home. Instead, try to find one job lead a day,” said Boyd. Unfortunately, Speaks, 23, is at home during the day. “Job searching is really hard. It’s just not a good time. With Sept. 11 and cut backs, no one is really willing to take the chance with a recent graduate,” said Speaks, who minored in chemical engineering. Luckily, there are alternatives for college graduates who are not quite ready for the pressure of job searching. “Graduate schools are becoming a popular trend and a good alternative for some students," said Boyd. Erica Cochran is following the popular trend. “Going to grad school was just the next step for me,” said Cochran, 2002 graduate from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio,
“It wasn’t a question. I had a plan laid out for me personally.”
Although
Cochran is not hunting to begin her career now, she does understand how hard and frustrating the process can be. “It took me forever to just find a part-time job, so I can imagine how hard it is to break into a com-
pany,” said
Cochran. “I have so many friends who are just sitting around at their parents house doing nothing. It’s really
too bad.”
Graduate school can be a very successful alternative
for students who are
serious about their
education and want to bring
more to their future
employer’s table. “It’s a good amount of money to pay if you are not serious about it. It's an investment,”
said Boyd.
Speaks, like Cochran, does plan to go to graduate school, but not now. “I’m tired. IVe been in school for five years,” said Speaks, “I’m just not in a grad school state of mind. I’m going in a year." Boyd suggests for graduates who are not going straight to graduate school to find a fall or winter internship for three or six months. “There is no commitment and you can try different avenues of careers,” said Boyd. There is hope for the class of 2002, but it will take planning and patience. “Finding a job after graduation would take three to six months once you really start looking,” said Boyd, “Now it can take six to nine months.” Her advice is to stay positive, get support and to become clear on exactly what you want to do. “The clearer you are, the better cover letter and interviews you will have,” said Boyd. “Take positive steps everyday and get out there.”
New leadership The Grand Worthy Matron of Prlnca Hall Grand Chapter, Order of Eastern Star, Jurisdiction of Indiana, Slater Valda A. Lewis has recently been elected as Grand Worthy Matron of the Conference Order of the Eastern Star USA, Canada and Bahamaa. This honor was received during the 03rd Conference of Grand Masters and 54th Conference of Grand Matrons held In Lae Vegas this spring.
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