Thread: Not many college grads have careers

I went to a year of college, realized it wasnt for me, and back then had no idea what i wanted to do. took me some years later to figure out exactly what i wanted to do.

Now I'm less then a year left in my school and going right into my career job.

It's really hard to plan out a career at any time, let alone when you're in college and don't really know what's out there yet.

My job now has very little to do with my undergraduate or graduate degree. The important thing is prepare yourself to take advantage of the opportunities around you, and if the right opportunity isn't there, go out and make it happen.

Originally Posted by aspaceheater

It's really had to plan out a career at any time, let alone when you're in college and don't really know what's out there yet.

My job now has very little to do with my undergraduate or graduate degree. The important thing is prepare yourself to take advantage of the opportunities around you, and if the right opportunity isn't there, go out and make it happen.

Exactly. I contribute value to projects/teams/investment opportunities with technical knowledge, which is why I'm finishing my engineering degrees. I couldn't handle a desk job doing heavy engineering work.

How can people recommend that new college grads with little to no real world experience and no money start their own company? I'm not saying it hasn't been done in the past, but I wouldn't give that as my advice to grads.

What I did when I was in school was get to know older students in my major and network through them. That's how I got an internship and after graduation several interviews that led to job offers and one of which ultimately led me down the career path I'm on now.

Originally Posted by Chaseme

So, what is it then? Are there too many of us college grads for jobs? Are the jobs all going to more qualified people?

I would categorize a job as the place that you go to everyday in order to bring home mone. A career is the type of industry that you work in. I myself have had five jobs in my career. My career is in business banking anc commercial finance and with the things I do on the side, I'd say my career is anything that deals with people who need money getting access to the people who have money.

Originally Posted by Chaseme

I mean career as a job that can progress; I look at salaried jobs or "40 hr" work week jobs careers.

I have a ton of friends and know many people who are still working at Target and small retail stores. These are not careers; sure they could end up being promoted to manager, but usually not.

Technically it could be their career(retail) if that is all they want to do and are happy with the progression they can make from that. Some people would say retail is only a stepping stone job and nothing more but at the same time, if nobody did it, who would there be? An old manager once said to me "if everybody was a smart as we are, we wouldn't have jobs". Somebody has to do something. To each their own. We all have our own wants of what we want to be. Let them be happy.

Originally Posted by Chaseme

I keep telling my friends and others, don't expect to get hired, there aren't enough jobs to go around. A lot of people I know keep saying the same thing any way; "I don't want to work the traditional 9-5". Well then, start your own company. In this case, the internet will be a great resource.

There are some great stories out there of people who have made some big bucks. I think a lot of people look to them only as what they want to be and throw hard work and loyalty out the window. The funny part is that those people who made it big did work hard and now are enjoying the rewards of their work. Unfortunately a lot of kids these days are missing out on the "work" concept.

This thread has done a good job of staying away from the "you should have done your last 5 years differently so you would be more successful now" attitude, and that attitude certainly wasn't what I was implying in my first post. Sometimes you have to get a little creative with your surroundings and "create" an opportunity (be it through an idea, business plan, networking, continuation of a job that has an end date, etc...) and then jump head first into it.

I agree with a lot of comments made here.

Above all, I think a very important thing for business people is networking; the only people I know that are my age have their job because of their network.

Originally Posted by koolmikeski

I think too many students are lazy! I am working towards my BS in Digital Media Design. I have a year and half left. I already have a job in my career field I make 30 - 40k + great health and 401k etc. not bad for still being in school. How did I do it? I busted my ass. I attend school FT while in school I have done internships (yes I worked for free). I worked my ass off and ended up getting hired PT. I worked there for a year, put together a great portfolio and started going to all the companies I wanted to work at selling myself. I landed my current job. So many people I go to school with ask me how I got a job and I tell them to internship... They tell me non of them pay and look at me crazy when I tell them I worked for free for 8 months. So with sometime still left till I graduate I already have 3 years experience and several projects under my belt in my career field. I did this with a Wife and 3 kids at home so I don't see why some of these people I go to school with that live with their parents can't. You get out of like what you put in. Success takes hard work...especially in this economic environment.

Awesome post.

It took me a while to realize this myself as I'm now a late Junior in school. I'm studying Business & Marketing and actually have an internship interview this Friday with one of the biggest companies here in Tampa.

I'm on the same idea path as you - gain experience while STILL in school so ideally, by the time I'm finished with school I'll have experience under my belt that will differentiate me from the rest of the graduates.

Definitely one of the smarter game plans out there. Especially, with our economy and competitiveness for jobs.

What an AWESOME thread.

Lots of useful knowledge and links in here that are VERY helpful. I'm kind of glad to see I'm not the only one in this position currently.

Although, I'm not finished with my degree I have a feeling this thread will still be highly relevant in a year, unfortunately.

Originally Posted by Chaseme

Above all, I think a very important thing for business people is networking; the only people I know that are my age have their job because of their network.

Absolutely, I would definitely also look at using linkedin for those who aren't. A lot of employers use that as a tool for hiring, though of course that won't be of much use if someone didn't have applicable experience in their field.

I'd also add that taking communications courses helped me, I nearly had a minor in communications and what I learned has been invaluable for me. Often times who you know is much more important than what you know.