Life in college is like being passive-aggressive. You have built-up energy and knowledge that you want to get out of your system. The jobs people are able to take in college are frustrating because the pay is lousy and you want more. The question is, where do you go from here?
As graduation approaches, students must be focused on what jobs are available and whether or not they want to
jump right in or take a well-deserved break after many years of schooling.
This week’s Ted on the Street will look at life after graduation and the choice between getting a job right away or taking a vacation from thought.
The Skinny
The Career Development Center (CDC) at Cal State Long Beach offers programs to help graduating seniors. Services include résumé writing sessions, job fairs and on-campus interviews with employers that can get a student a job before he or she graduates.
Robin Lee, associate director of the CDC, said that once students graduate, they may not stand as much of a chance in getting the job they want if they take time off.
“What often happens is that students take too much time off and it hurts them,” Lee said. “We encourage students to get involved in internships and campus organizations to show employers what they can do.”
Lee also discussed the importance of being ready and conscious of the job market so that if you do decide to take time off, you won’t miss any chances.
“It’s not that we don’t recommend taking time off after graduation,” Lee said. “But everybody needs a plan. Taking time off without a plan is about the worst thing you can do with your job search as a graduating senior.”
The Street
All of the students questioned agreed that there is only one way to go after college. Senior journalism and international studies major Daniela Gutierrez said that her priority after graduating is going straight to work.
“I want to work right away after college so I can try different jobs and know which ones I like,” Gutierrez said. “I want to go to grad school too, so my goal is to study, not to work.”
Alice Dufort, a freshman psychology major, thought that it would look better to employers if you went right to work so they know you haven’t lost any information gained in college.
“The best situation would be if you went right to work out of college,” Dufort said, “because if you wait, you might not get the job you want. It looks better, too.”
Junior biochemistry major Allyson Clark said that she would like to take a break, but would rather make a living right away.
“I would love to graduate and travel and maybe backpack, but I’d rather work,” Clark said.””It would feel great to make some money.”
Ted Concludes
Four years in college is a long time without a break. In fact, it’s more like a minimum of seventeen years if a person goes straight from elementary school on through. But part of the standard unspoken requirement of college is to get out of the house, apartment or dorm room and meet people. The main job, in essence, is to have fun.
The verdict? Work versus play after college: it often depends on the situation, but although it seems like a great chance to get into trouble, one may find that when the confetti stops falling, he or she is the one left with the check and without a job to pay it with.
