Job market affects future graduates
Peaked at a 10-year high of 10 percent, the national unemployment rate sat at 7.6 percent in March 2013. Still, even with eight out of every 100 people unemployed, and rates in some states topping 9.8 percent, some students are struggling with whether to stay optimistic or prepare themselves for the worst.
“Since I’ve been in graduate school, I’ve applied to at least 100 places and have had only one phone interview…and they never called back,” Bryan Cane, senior graduate in business administration, said. “At this point, it doesn’t look pretty.”
Cane said it is a realistic possibility he won’t be able to find a job after graduate school and won’t be able to pay back his student loans.
“I’ve prepared myself for the worst by honing my survival skills. I know how to make a fire, and I’ve studied blades and what each kind is used for,” he said. “I’ve even bought a high-grade tent, heaters, wire, and other basic survival items in case I end up living in the woods.”
Other students, like Audrey Beach, sophomore in exercise physiology, and Holly Fachman, a freshman in elementary education, said finding a job after graduation won’t be difficult.
“I don’t think it will be hard. I mean, it will take some planning and searching, but if it’s done right and early, it should be okay,” Beach said. “The career I would want to obtain is occupational therapy. This career is growing. There will always be a need for them, like nurses.”
Fachman said, “I don’t think [finding a job] will be difficult. The education field is growing. Finding a good job will be hard, but there will be plenty of opportunities available.”
Jobs in education and health services, such as educational services, health care, social assistance and hospitals, was 1,197,000 in February 2012, compared to 1,176,000 in February 2013, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Bradley Kurtz, a sophomore in mechanical engineering, said he understands it is difficult for some people to find jobs, but doesn’t think it should be a problem for him.
“Many people seem to have trouble [finding jobs],” Kurtz said. “But I’m not so worried about it because engineers are high in demand.”
Mechanical and industrial engineers are in the top 10 careers of 2013, according to CareerBuilder.com. Private industries created 13,847 mechanical engineering jobs since 2010 (6 percent growth), and 12,269 industrial engineering jobs since 2010 (6 percent growth).
Technical majors, particularly engineering, dominated the list of top-paying majors in 2012, according to the National Association of Colleges and Employer’s January 2013 Salary Survey.
Skye Hera, a senior in mass communication, said her boyfriend’s brother just graduated in May, and hasn’t found a job yet because engineers are not in demand in Wichita Falls.
“If he moved, he would probably easily get a job,” Hera said. “One of the factors that can make it difficult for students to find work is where they are living.”
Cane said there are several reasons why students can’t find work after graduation.
“Anyone who doesn’t have a specific career path is going to have a hard time finding a job,” he said. “Specialized education is where it’s at.”
Another reason students have a hard time finding jobs is because of the quality of education they are receiving, Cane said.
“Some students have no business being here, but professors still pass them,” he said.
It also depends on the school a student chooses to attend and which major the student decides to pursue.
“If you go to Vernon college and study English, you probably have a slim chance of finding a job,” Cane said. “History, philosophy… 50 years ago it was important, but today, what could a student do with that?”
The biggest reason it is difficult for students to find a job is because they don’t take advantage of graduate school, Cane said.
“College is a complete waste if you aren’t going to graduate school,” he said. “Most degrees, like biology for instance, aren’t beneficial unless you get a master’s degree.”
Rachel Bingham, a graduate in mass communication, now goes to graduate school to further her knowledge of public relations and advertising.
“I’ve heard a few times that a Master’s degree isn’t needed in the mass communication field unless you want to teach, but you never know what could be valuable in the future,” Bingham said. “I know the job market is tough out there, and luckily I’m able to put that off for a little while longer while I go to grad school.”
Michael Winters, a junior in psychology and sociology, said he plans to go to graduate school, and said he feels confident he will be able to find a job.
“I’ve always known I wanted to do what I am doing now,” he said. “I’m also a very personable guy, and I know a lot of people who can help me with my career.”
Winters currently works at Pelican’s restaurant and said he is lucky to have the job he has now.
“I’m lucky with the job I have now. I mean it’s easy to find a job, but not easy to find one that will bring in good income,” Winters said.
Hilary Starks, junior in sociology, said the difficulty of finding a job really depends on the job the person is looking for.
“Some are harder to apply for because there is no demand,” she said.
Last month, employers made 1,422 mass layoffs involving 135,468 workers. Mass layoffs increased by 94 percent since January, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
To help students be successful in landing a job after graduation, the Career Management Center assists students in finding internship opportunities, helps students develop a resume, conducts mock-interviews, helps with major and career decision making and helps answer questions about different careers.
“In a nutshell, [the Career Management Center] assists students in making a smooth and successful transition to life after MSU. Whether that is in gaining admission to graduate school or securing employment,” Dirk Welch, director of the career management center, said. “Our services and programs are designed with these two main overarching goals in mind.”
Welch said in order to increase one’s chances of getting hired, students need to market themselves, and the CMC has the services and resources to help students and alumni do just that.
“We assist students to acquire the skills, knowledge, and confidence to be successful in every aspect of the job search process,” he said.
One of the ways students can increase their chances of getting hired by a prospective employer is to get involved in internships, according to the CMC website. Internships help students stand out among candidates for employment. Employers use internship programs to help identify potential employees.
In a recent survey conducted by the National Association of Colleges and Employers for 2013, 71 percent of employers prefer to hire a candidate with relevant work experience.
Welch said employers generally accept internships as relevant work experience.
“Additionally, employers often use their internship programs as a way to test out potential candidates for upcoming employment vacancies,” he said. “This trial period can give interns a leg up in the hiring process with that employer.”
Hera said she feels as though it will be easy to get a job because of her internship with Nordstrom.
“They say that if I do well, I’m guaranteed either a sales associate position or a manager’s there after I graduate,” she said. “I went the Nordstrom route because I’ve always wanted to work in fashion and it also pertains to mass communication because I have to use my advertising skills to sell and communicate products to people.”
Another way students can secure a job in the future is to have confidence in interviews. This can be achieved by practicing and preparing, Welch said.
“Interviews are often stressful. The more prepared a person is for the interview, the more equipped they are to successfully respond to any challenges that arise during the interview process,” Welch said. “Increased confidence definitely helps.”
Chidozie Eze, sophomore in computer science, said he feels confident about his future and is planning to be the boss of his own company.
“The first step to failure is fear. The fear of not getting a job after spending weeks, months, years of training shouldn’t even be there in the first place,” he said. “If you’re passionate about what you’re doing, your passion should drive you beyond your fears. I believe it is the passion prospective employers would see that would make them want to work with you.”
Kurtz, who currently works at a grocery store, said, “I understand that work can be hard to find, but if you stop looking, the less jobs will look for you.”