College Grads Struggle in Job Searches

Lying in bed, you look at the clock.  It’s 2:10 on Wednesday morning.  Your new “semi-permanent” resident college grad isn’t home from a night out.  As a parent, you have trust.  Yet, it’s not about trust.  You’re worried.  It’s in your DNA.  Since home, either looking for their first job, or too long underemployed, living and being on their own has been a high priority. 

You’re now ruminating about their search.  It’s been a months since the excitement of graduation.  You’ve seen the moods.  You know lots of time has been spent on their laptop.  You haven’t seen or heard of any dressing up for search activities.  The innocent question of “how’s the hunt going?" is answered by, “You know the economy stinks.  There are no good jobs out there!”  Is it true or not?  How do you respond?  Suffice to say - it’s not going well.  Confidence and self esteem are shaken, as some friends have found good jobs.  They’re struggling and so is your household.  What’s going wrong? 

Think back.  Visiting many and then choosing a college was an exciting journey. No one suggested you ask about, or visit a school’s Career Center?  After graduation, do you know if, or how often, your son or daughter used the Career Center?  Statistics reveal close to half of graduates never entered the Career Center.  Also, close to 60% of those don’t know where the Career Center’s located.  Yet, even if the Career Center was used, most didn’t prepare students well.  How can all of this be true with the amounts invested?  The reasons are simple, yet will likely surprise and disappoint you.  Unfortunately, your son or daughter was affected.  Career Centers are considered “separate” entities from the “academic” side of colleges.  They are woefully understaffed and underfunded.  Money which comes in through grants, donations, etc. is battled over by many for countless research projects.  It doesn’t flow to the Career Center.  Also, far too many on Career Center staffs have never worked outside of a college environment.  That severely limits their ability to prepare students for the realities of life after college.   

Don’t feel like you’ve dropped the ball.  I’d argue neither you, nor your son or daughter, has done anything of the sort.  You must understand the notion of parents having no ability to help is simply not true.  You sent your eager dancer to classes to get expert instruction.  You found individual coaching for your athlete to build special skills.  When an ACT score was low, you discovered an ideal prep course for improvement.  

Exactly like then, today, job search professionals can assist in situations like your son or daughter are facing through this passage into adulthood. The key to transforming the search from being a disheartening and frustrating experience is to identify which and why certain techniques are working and others aren’t. Once discussions and review uncover needed modification in materials and activities, encouraging and tangible results will come. Confidence and optimism will return to positively impact the process and person. This once thought “endless” search will conclude successfully – for everyone! 

Rick Pipal is the Founder of InnerSource Services.  For more information please contact Rick at 708-246-6911 or email him at rickpipal@yahoo.com