A 2016 article in the Harvard Business Review conveyed that 2/3 of recent college graduates were struggling to launch careers upon graduation.
Do you know a recent college graduate, or have you heard about one who earned a college degree and was unable to land a good job after graduation?
Maybe you have seen articles and studies detailing this predicament for new college graduates.
The road from college to career is much more challenging than it was 10 or 20 years ago.
Prior to COVID-19 the overall unemployment rate was relatively low. But there were a lot of recent college graduates who were UNDEREMPLOYED (43%), that is, doing jobs that they could have done without a college degree.
And very reputable studies have shown that many UNDEREMPLOYED recent college graduates remain UNDEREMPLOYED (33%).
Keep reading to learn how your children in college can avoid the underemployment sinkhole on the road to launching a career.
THE COLLEGE GRAD JOB MARKET
When the stock market is booming, and the overall economy is strong, the job market for many candidates with previous experience and relevant skills is strong and favorable.
But the job market for most recent college graduates these days is very different.
Due to inflated employer demands for related experience and skills, along with the proliferation of college degrees, many recent grads struggle to land good professional jobs upon graduation, even in a strong economy, as the Harvard Business Review article conveyed.
There are more college graduates these days than there are entry-level professional job openings each year.
Think of the childhood game musical chairs – there are more people than professional seats to “land” in.
WHY SO MANY COLLEGE GRADS TODAY STRUGGLE TO LAUNCH CAREERS (even in a good job market)
Very few colleges incorporate career development or preparation into the course curriculum.
If you attended college, did you take any classes that taught you how to prepare for and launch a career?
I doubt it.
The predominate way colleges (STILL) support students with their career development is through a career office (used to be called the placement office) that does not have a structured curriculum for students and provides optional, unstructured “career advice” to students who seek it out.
The office names have changed but little else has.
Often these career services offices are very poorly resourced (1 advisor for every 1,000 or 2,000 students; and at some schools for every 3,000 or 4,000 students) and the existing career service model is seen by most students as not very helpful.
Which is one reason why a large, major study by the Gallup Organization recently revealed that many college students today report feeling weakly prepared for a career upon graduation.
Years ago, college was a carefree time of growing up, experiencing new things, having fun and earning a degree.
Today college is much more of a high-stakes investment and the experience for many students is different.
BECAUSE COLLEGES PROVIDE WEAK AND LIMITED STUDENT CAREER DEVELOPMENT SERVICES…
Most students have little insight into themselves, their ‘career personality’, natural talents and abilities, career/life priorities, skills, personal strengths and weaknesses.
- The knowledge they possess about career options is limited
- They are less than certain about a best fit major and future career path
- Their knowledge of the career building or career development process and related resources is weak
- They are pursuing a college degree, but do not have a plan on how to become strongly prepared for a successful and meaningful career
- Their school provides unstructured, “career advice” that most find inadequate for the current college graduate job market
Chances are several of these things are true of your child in college. And they are not alone!
IN ADDITION TO A DEGREE, COLLEGE GRADUATES NEED THESE 4 THINGS …
(now more than ever)
Our two decades of experience working with both students and employers of college graduates has shown us that in addition to a college degree, strong college graduate career preparation requires:
1 - Career awareness, focus and knowledge
2 - Experience outside of classes
3 - A professional network
4 - SKILLS that employers seek in college graduates, skills related to specific fields of work and skills needed to manage a career.
C2C Ready support students in earning a college degree AND developing what is needed to be strongly career prepared and a competitive candidate for professional jobs upon graduation.
If your child in college is willing to do more than the minimum required by their college (to earn a degree) we can help them build a solid foundation upon which they can launch a successful and meaningful career!
C2C READY PROGRAMS TRANSFORM STUDENTS
- From anxious and nervous to being much more at ease and confident about their career future
- From lost and unclear to having career direction
- From having limited insight into themselves to knowing their ‘career personality’, natural talents and abilities, career/life priorities, skill - strengths and weaknesses
- From knowing little about their career options to becoming knowledgeable about possible career paths that interest them
- From making important decisions with little information to making informed and considered decisions about careers and majors
- From a hope with no plan nor structure for career development and a career launch to a having a structured approach and plan for pursuing their career aspiration!
HOW PARENTS CAN HELP!
What should you do if you want your college student to graduate college strongly prepared to launch a (successful and meaningful) career?
First and foremost – don’t wait! Act now.
Experts now suggest that students begin preparing for careers from year one in college!
I am happy to answer questions and share info with you on how YOU can support your son or daughter’s career development on a complimentary 30-minute career development coaching call for parents of (soon to be or current) college students.
On a call I will:
- Gather information to provide an assessment of your child's primary career development needs.
- Answers to any college to career launch questions you have.
Again, this call is free!
So, what is in it for me?
If you decide that your child could benefit from career preparation support, you may consider C2C Ready Training and Coaching for them.
On a call I will NOT try to sell you on it or pressure you to sign-up in any way - I promise! I will offer provide a free assessment of your daughter’s/son’s career development needs and answer any questions you have. I can also tell you about our services if you are interested learning more.
Even if you do not become a client family, I will feel good sharing valuable info with you.
Let's talk.
I look forward to speaking with you.
Best,
Mark Schappert, M.S.
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Why would my child in college need a career preparation program?
Won’t they get that at their college/university?
To see the answer -
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CLICK HERE to receive a copy of - "3 Big Mistakes Students Make That Lead to Poor Career Launches at Graduation" |