When people make the decision to go to college, whether it be for two, four or even six years, there is a common fear most students tend to feel as their senior year comes to an end. It is the overwhelming amount of nerves and anxiety when it comes to thinking about graduating and finding a job.
For the most part, nobody wants to live at home in their parents’ basement until they are 40 years old. Unfortunately, getting a job right out of college is not as easy as it sounds. In 2016, only about 21 percent of graduates accepted a job before or upon graduation. This can be frustrating to people who want to move on to the next part of their lives and become independent from their parents.
“I would say I am very excited about graduating and starting a new chapter in my life. However, I am very nervous to take the next step. I am hoping I can find a job within my field,” Krista Mosco said. Mosco is a current senior at Cabrini University studying marketing. She is unsure what it is exactly she wants to do for a job, but most seniors like Krista are feeling the same pressure from either their parents, friends or even themselves to succeed right away.
According to Forbes.com, students with a major in the following fields have a higher success rate of landing a job six months after graduation; computer science with 72 percent, business with 65.7 percent, engineer technology with 62.5 percent and so on.
Hearing the perspective from a current senior was helpful for gaining insight on this topic, but what about those who are have already graduated? Cabrini University is proud to say that they have taught many bright and successful students that have gone on to do bigger and better things in the working world.
“I was very anxious towards the end of my senior year because of the uncertainty of the real world. After graduation, you jump off the cliff and hope you have some wings,” Joey Rettino, Cabrini University alumnus, said.
For example, in 2015, “the employment rate for 20- to 24-year-olds (also referred to as “young adults” in this indicator) with a bachelor’s degree or higher was higher than the rate for young adults with some college but no bachelor’s degree (89 vs. 76 percent).” Although this was two years ago, this is still good news for those who are pursuing a bachelor’s degree at a university.
“Truthfully, getting a job fairly fast after graduation is difficult. However, to improve one’s chances, I recommend doing as many internships as possible throughout your time in school. In addition, having an internship in your final semester can sometimes lead to a full time position upon graduation,” Kareem Calliste, assistant director in the Center for Career and Professional Development, said.
As Calliste mentioned, internships are important because they can help develop skills and experience you can carry on into your future career. A New York Times article discussed the top 20 fields for internships and their skills that can be gained during them. For example, business operations include project management, scheduling and economics skills.
Landing a job the day after senior graduation is tough to do, but is very achievable if given enough positivity and hard work. Who knows what the year of 2017 will bring? It could very well be the year that helps pick up that number of employment for those in need.
“I am extremely lucky to be where I am at right now. It would not have happened without Cabrini and my connections,” Rettino said. “That is my message to anybody who is a senior year right now, you just have to talk to everyone you can and send as many resumes as you need to. If you get turned away, it is not the end of the world. They just want someone else.”
