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College graduates
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Will Graduating in Tough Economic Times Make Us Stronger?
05 Feb 2009 by ajigarjian / No Comments
The month of May used to have such a warm and lovely connotation in my mind, this year for college seniors, including myself that is not the case. The dark cloud of graduation is scarier, darker, and far more threatening this year than any other (at least that a 22 year old can remember).
The stress of attaining a job in the “real world” is seen on the faces of students everywhere on campus. No one feels like they are doing enough, learning enough or getting enough experience and those that are doing those things are afraid to be just like everyone else. Seniors are opting out of their spring break plans “in case” they have interviews and staying in on weekends to send out their resumes. I have even decided to take my first 8 a.m. to ensure that I am learning the absolute most that I can each day.
Then I started thinking (on my cold walks to class at 7:45), that maybe this isn’t such a bad thing. Maybe this economy has made us stronger candidates, more competitive and more eager than we would have been if we had graduated four years earlier. Sure I’m pretty upset that I don’t get to fall into a “senior slump” and party all day and night, but in the end the class of 2009 will be better for it.
I was fortunate to attend a presentation by Lindsey Pollack in the fall of this year and her book Getting From College to Career has been very helpful to me in the stressful time (www.gettingfromcollegetocareer.com). The book has everything from cover letter writing advice to job search websites and is great for anybody who is at a transitioning point in there careers. Maybe if recruiters recognize the drive from the class of 2009 and we do happen to get jobs, we’ll look back and be grateful that we graduated in tougher times.
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