Now Im working at a University that has a great Broadcasting/Communications School. Another part-time job!!!!! But, there are perks. I can take a class next semester. Should I? If I do, will I have the time to invest in my dream job search. Will I even have the time to accept a full-time job, with school and this job?? Taking a class may lead to a job in the Broadcasting department. Ill gain some more experience and its a step towards my Masters. But what about my dream job search right now? Should I put it on hold?
Hello, my name is Paige and I recently graduated from Adelphi with a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology. As most of you know, a B.A. in Psychology is virtually useless unless accompanied by a master's degree. I have aspirations to attain beyond that. In fact, I plan to pursue a doctoral degree in Clinical Psych and practice counseling. I want to attend grad school in california, my native land, but for now I wish to reside in New York and gain work experience. Yes, there is a very narrow window for Psych B.A.'s with little more than volunteer experience in a related field. Don't get me wrong, I am ambitious, bright, have been working since I was fifteen and have many volunteer notches on my belt. But practical experience in an educational setting for developmentally disabled children (my desired niche), I have none. I have found that I am either overqualified or underqualified at almost all of the organizations I have explored, but rarely am I qualified, just so. So, I am flexing my horizons to human resource positions, teacher's aides, even (gulp!) a nanny - which sounds simultaneously delightful and daunting.
You should hear my plan. After a few years of indecision I eventually grew very certain about what path I want to trek for the next ten years and it goes like this: graduate with the BA; rely on the security of my current job to find an inspiring pre-grad school career; work in a rewarding humanitarian career for 2-3 in NY; return to CA to achieve PsyD/PhD and become a practicing counselor! Simple, and secure. Instead of feeling threatened by slipping from the protective college womb, I felt excited and confident because I knew what I wanted to do. Well, I still know I am just having difficulties making step 2 happen. Each day that passes I have less security. Loan repayment is encroaching and I no longer have health insurance. I must be industrious and soon.
Some of my friends have landed great jobs, which they truly deserve. My other friends also deserve those jobs, but don't have them. Our competition is stiffer because we are battling for the same positions as older people who have been laid off and have ten or twenty years of experience, also amidst hiring freezes. I heard today on National Public Radio David Fromm reported that half of 16-24 year olds cannot find work. Oh my goodness, that's my bracket! my peers! It will take several quarters of recovery form the recession before all of these people will become employed. That means for a few years I might find nothing. Ironically, we are emerging from college as some of the most qualified candidates (aside from lack of experience). Business Wire from the AllBusiness Website reports that nearly 60% of us are moving straight back home. That's a lot of either very happy or very annoyed mothers.
Those stats are pretty scary but I can't let them get me down. I might have to lower my expectations but I am defiantly avoiding unemployment or the boomerang home. I have a lot going for me, and I can survive on ramen just fine. I am staying positive, ambitious and resourceful about job searching. I also have an unconventional schedule that allows me time to volunteer (which doubles as a resume builder and satisfying humanitarian pastime) and pursue my fulfilling dance hobby.
I'll let you know if I find anything, or if I learn anything about finding anything. Heck, I'll let you know even if I don't.
Unreal. I am 2 years removed from Adelphi University. I remember how excited I was. The grandiose ideas of what life after college would be like; I'd have an awesome job in a couple of months, would be making at least 45k, and then move into my 1st apartment. And then reality hit. Hard.
It took seven long months for me to get my first job but it was what happened during that long lay off that was earth shattering. I did the exact opposite of the "freshman 15" when I was in college. I lost weight and worked out hard during my first two years at AU. My junior year was when I became occupied with everything other than my health. I was hell-bent on getting my 1st car so I worked 3 jobs. I switched from Biochem to Bio so I had classes to make up if I wanted to graduate on time. I was juggling work, school, and my social life...something had to give. By the time I graduated I put on about 25-30 pounds. I was a fatty! (LOL!) Not uncommon, but not good either. Well I came down to the middle of no where NC to live with my parents and I continued on the path to being a fatty as I looked for a job. One day that November, I started seeing spots. By that evening, everything was blurry. My mom was standing about 20 feet from me and I couldn't make out her face. What was happening to me?
Eventually I was sent to a neuro-opthomologist and was diagnosed with a rare condition called "pseudotumor cerebri." (look it up if you don't believe me!) In short, "pseudotumor cerebri" is a problem in which the cerebral fluid doesn't drain from the brain properly. As the brain makes more fluid, that fluid gets backed up and eventually winds up in the optic nerves. This causes the nerves to swell and become damaged. In many cases, this damage is permenant. No one knows what actually causes the condition but it is typically found in morbidly obese women with a family history. I had no family history and was only sorta fat (lol) so the doctors were just as suprised as my family and I.
So there I was...jobless, broke, and going blind. To make matters worse, we all know no job = no health insurance. It was looking dark. My doctor basically said the only thing I could do to maybe help the situation is lose weight. He said there was no guarantee that the swelling would never come back, but losing weight would be a major step. He told me that if I lost 20 pounds I would be well on my way. Hearing that made something click. I prayed over my situation frequently, but it was on me. I was reminded of James 2:26 which states, "...faith without deeds is dead." So I took action with my faith and followed my doctor's orders to the letter. I began taking an extremely expensive medication and needed a spinal tap to remove the excess fluid. (Yes. A Spinal Tap is just as fun as it sounds.) Then the change began. As far as I was concerned, burgers were evil and processed foods were spawns of Satan. Jogging was my new best friend. Before I knew it 20 pounds had came and left and my sight was recovering quickly. The intense migranes were also becoming less frequent.
By January my vision had improved from a blind as a bat 20/70 to an almost perfect 20/25. January was also when someone finally gave me a shot at a job. Finally things were looking up. And I never looked back...
I finally have my BA degree so WHAT NOW?? Well I have the Master plan... Graduate, work for some time then go back for my MA. I did what "they" said was to be done. I pursued a degree in the field I want to work in. I completed two internships with organizations I would love to work for. I empowered myself with extra curricular activities to show my involvement on campus and emphasize my multi-tasking abilities and organization skills. When you put in all this work the job comes easily when you graduate, right? Not exactly!
Searching for a job right now is like searching for a winning lottery ticket in a casino full of gamblers. The chances of ever finding it are slim, everyone is searching for it and your competing against people who have more experience than you. Lets just say I HAD the master plan. However, months of searching forces me to reconfigure that plan. So what now? Here is what...
I know the internet is a primary resource for our generation but Careerbuilder, Monster, Jobs.com and all the other job sites are just not enough. For the past couple of weeks I have been exhausting all of my resources. I speak to whoever I know, that knows someone, who knows someone that has a connection that could bring me one step closer to my goal. (The goal of not having to settle for any job and stay there for years just because its whats available at the time.)
Im not saying this will produce a job but its a start. Interviews do not always guarantee positions but they do guarantee the opportunity to practice my interview skills. Thats my plan B and there are 24 more letters and plans to come up with...
Finishing my Masters Degree in one year
was a source of pride and accomplishment for me throughout the whole year I was
completing it, and still carries on to this day. In casual conversation, when I
mention that I doubled up on classes and managed an MA in psychology in one
year, people are ostensibly impressed. “So what are you doing now?” they ask,
as if living up to what I just said, I will have an extraordinary career to
speak of to match the façade of intelligence that I project with my
proclamation. I love the look of shock when I tell people that I am waiting
tables. Correction: I loved the look
of shock. It’s October now, and being that my degree date is August 31, this
statement becomes less and less funny as more time passes. I spend my days off perusing
Craigslist, Monster.com, and Careerbuilder; all in hopes that my dream job will
appear. The idea of the dream job is starting to wear off, and now I simply
long for the job part. I apply to jobs that I am overqualified for and still do
not even get a response. Applying for jobs by the dozens on each of my days
off, I have only been on a handful of interviews. And they all essentially go
the same way, alluding to the age old problem; you cannot get a job without
experience, and you cannot get experience without a job. My resume is full of
academic achievements, things I’ve undertaken throughout my academic career,
along with excellent grades. But when would-be employers ask me about my
practical experience in the field, the interview begins to lull. Experience is
what people want, but how do you go about getting experience when the number of
companies hiring is negligible?
Do I blame the economy? Sure. We are
graduating now at a time where New York City’s unemployment rate is 6.9%
(according to the New York Times). This is the worst job market in 70 years,
including the longest duration of steep job losses (according to political website
Salon.com). At this time when people are losing jobs, going back to school, changing
careers, what can be said for us new graduates who haven’t even had a
sufficient amount of time to rack up the experience that would make us
competitive? Nearly two months after my graduation date, I am still trying to
make sense of it.
Adelphi’s recent alumni are coping with and crafting our brave new world. See how they are faring and share your own comments and tips.
About the Author
Brave New World is written by
Clairice Dale.
Clairice graduated from Adelphi University in the Spring of 2007 as a Bachelor of Biology. The native New Jersian now works as a Biological Quality Lab Analyst for a pharmecutical manufacturer in North Carolina. She hopes to return to the University life in the fall of 2010 and enter a BSN program. During her down time, she participates in Muay Thai boxing and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu classes to help get and stay fit. The rest of her time is spent plotting what major U.S. city she will visit next.
Lindsay Feinman.
Lindsay is a 2009 graduate of the Derner Institute of Advanced Psychological Studies at Adelphi University. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in English from CUNY Queens College. She is currently seeking employment in the field of psychology and is actively job searching. In her free time, she enjoys swimming, reading and traveling. Lindsay currently lives in Queens.
Paige Irvine.
Paige Irvine is a recent Psychology graduate with a bachelor's
from Adelphi University, who also has a minor in English. She plans to
attend graduate school and pursue a PhD in Clinical Psych, but before
she sets off to accomplish her second round of higher education she
has decided to gain experience in the work force and explore a career
for the next few years in the New York City area. Ideally, she would
love to work with special needs children and their families, but is
open to any experience that entails a humanitarian background. She
hails from California but refuses to move back to the great state
until she has conquered NY.
Tamesha Mills.
Tamesha was born in Hollis, Queens in late September. Raised in New York City and will always be a city girl, she received her B.A. in Communications from Adelphi with a concentration in Journalism and has been a writer since elementary school, avidly expressing herself in journals and diaries. Through her studies and extracurricular activities in high school, Ms. Mills found another passion--sports. Now with her degree, Tamesha feels this is the time to focus on her goal of becoming a sports reporter/commentator, as well as writing freelance to fulfill her first love of the pen.
