The Young and the Jobless
College grads feel pinch of tough economy
Growing up, Daniel Huynh had a knack for numbers. At Boston University, he majored in aerospace engineering, and when he graduated, he thought he’d have no trouble finding work. But there was one problem he hadn’t factored into the equation: a recession that would cost more than 2.6 million people their jobs and result in massive hiring freezes nationwide.
“One year ago,” says Huynh (ENG’08), “I expected to graduate and get a job at a Boston engineering firm.” Instead, he returned to California and moved in with his parents. Eight months later, he’s still unemployed — and he isn’t alone. Hiring is down, competition is up, and, according to a November report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the unemployment rate among college graduates is the highest it has ever been, with more than 1.4 million seeking jobs.
“It’s definitely tough out there right now,” says Priscilla H. Claman, president of Career Strategies, Inc., a management consulting firm in Boston. “But young people should remember that it’s not always going to be this bad, and there are still jobs out there. They’re just a lot harder to find.”
Few know that better than Huynh. Since he graduated, he’s applied for more than 100 jobs. In order to make ends meet, he works as a mechanic at his father’s automotive shop and tutors part-time. His health insurance ran out in September, and his student loan payments kicked in right before Christmas. “I’m pretty discouraged,” he says.
It’s easy to become disheartened, Claman says. “Searching for a job can be a very strange and humbling experience, particularly during lean economic times,” she says. “It generally involves a great deal of rejection, and that can be very overwhelming, especially for young people fresh out of college.”
Like Huynh, Jennifer Clark (CAS’08) has hit some roadblocks in her job search, but she’s persevering. Unable to find a job in her hometown of Raleigh, N.C., Clark took her meager savings and headed to Washington, D.C., last summer. She found a mouse-infested apartment in the heart of the city and took an internship at the political action committee EMILY’s List. “I figured that by the time my internship was up, I’d have a foot in the door,” she says.
But Clark’s internship ended January 30, and she’s no closer to finding a job than she was six months ago. “I’ve sent out dozens of applications and heard back from no one,” she says. “Organizations in D.C. are hiring, but the applicant pool is enormous, and I’m competing against people who have a lot more experience.”
For now, Clark plans to stay in Washington and continue to apply for jobs. “I run out of money in a month,” she says. “In the meantime, I’m going to be very aggressive in my search and try to get some temp work to keep myself afloat.”
Huynh and Clark are doing all the right things, says Claman. “Postgraduate internships look great on a résumé,” she says, “especially if they are related to the career you want to pursue. And if you can’t find an internship, work in retail or food service for a few months and volunteer at an organization that’s related to your field.”
Claman also recommends joining a professional organization associated with your career of choice. “Organizations provide great networking support,” she says, “and they often send out job postings. It also demonstrates to potential employers that you’re serious about your career path.”
Other experts say it’s important to remain upbeat. During tough economic times, it’s easy for weary job-seekers to become cynical or depressed, says Arlene B. Isaacs, president of Respectful Communications, a New York–based executive consulting firm. But self-doubt can derail an interview, she says. “Have pride in yourself,” she says. “If you believe in yourself, so will the person who’s interviewing you.”
The most important thing to remember when searching for a job is to distinguish yourself from the other applicants, Isaacs says. “During interviews, remember to always speak distinctly and with a smile in your voice,” she says. “And above all, be respectful and enthusiastic.”
Come May, the competition will increase even more as another crop of graduates enters the job market, making seniors anxious. “Last year, I was really grateful that I still had another year left of school,” says economics major Ryan Timpe (CAS’09, GRS’09). “I figured things would be fine by this spring. Now experts are saying to give it another year, but by then, three years worth of graduates will be vying for the same jobs.”
Timpe considered waiting out the recession by attending graduate school, but decided to take his chances on the unstable market. “My graduate school loans would cost far more than any income I’d earn during the first few years after graduation,” he says, “so I’ll just start searching now. I think I’ll find something. I’m applying for a lot of government jobs and at economic consulting firms.”
Claman stresses the importance of establishing goals and setting strict deadlines. “Say that you’re going to apply for five jobs a week, and follow through with it,” she says. “And if nothing comes along, have a fallback plan.”
A fallback plan can be anything from moving in with your parents and working at Starbucks for a few months to signing up for the Peace Corps or Teach for America. “Employers have a lot of respect for people who take part in service programs,” Claman says. “Just remember to stay in touch with former professors or internship directors, because they will help ease your transition back into the job market.”
Huynh is beginning to create his own fallback plan. Two weeks ago, he interviewed at an engineering firm in Boston. “If this doesn’t work out,” he says, “I’m seriously going to look into teaching in the Japan Exchange and Teaching Programme or joining Engineers Without Borders.”
Vicky Waltz can be reached at vwaltz@bu.edu.
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