Sumire Ishii, Shawnee senior, spends time on the bus looking over
possible jobs.
Sumire Ishii is scared of her future. After trying to find a job online, she has finally given up for the day. Ishii has been searching for weeks, but with little opportunity for jobs and no companies hiring, she has been forced to rethink her career opportunities.
"I don't have any plans after graduation, but hopefully, I can get a job as an interpreter for some company," Ishii said.
Like many seniors, Ishii is worried about what is going to happen in the job market. With the downturn in the economy and a lot of companies hiring, she is focusing on her job at Panera Bread.
"I'm planning to work for a year and then, come back and go to graduate school," Ishii said.
Jessica O'Hara, Overland Park senior, uses some of her class time to
study for her upcoming finals.
Since most seniors graduated high school in 2005, here is a look at how the unemployment rate has changed since January 2005.
Ishii is not alone. With the unemployment rate being its highest since the 1980s, students are finding it hard to find jobs. Jessica O'Hara also isn't using her degree right away. Instead, she is planning on going on in her education after graduation.
Jessica O'Hara, Overland Park senior, uses some of her class time to
study for her upcoming finals.
"I have a very secure job now in health care, and I am not in a hurry to leave," O'Hara said.
O'Hara wants to use her developmental psychology degree to get into teaching. In the next few years, she plans to be working on her master's degree in education in order to teach health education in schools and specialize in helping young adults overcome eating disorders.
"If things go as planned, in five years, I will be a stay at home mom, but once the kids are in school, I will start teaching," O'Hara said.
According to Eileen Ambrose's article "Steps can help college graduates navigate troubled financial times," there are several things that students can do to help get a job after graduating college. The first thing that the article suggests is finding a first job. Ishii, for example, is currently working at Panera Bread, a job that she hopes to not stay at for too long.
Since most seniors graduated high school in 2005, here is a look at how the unemployment rate has changed since January 2005.
"I like working there, but I don't make much money. Hopefully, I can find a job that pays a little better," Ishii said.
The second thing that college graduates should do is carry insurance. Too many students get dropped from their medical coverage after graduating because they are no longer allowed on their parent's insurance plan. However, the biggest thing that a student can do is get rid of their debt. Working to pay off all the college loans takes time, but is an important step to getting a job with rewarding benefits.
Caleb Platt is no stranger to the work force and loans. He is coming back to KU after working in journalism. He is now majoring in English literature, language, and writing.
"I did everything on a newspaper except management," Platt said, "but I hit a ceiling when the job opportunities I could get without a degree."
Platt said that despite his graduating in May, he is going to continue to stay in school. He plans to do post-graduate work until the economy gets better.
"As long as I'm a student, I don't have to pay my loans back," Platt said.
One job field that isn't dying is the health field. Jessica Ogan, Kansas City, Kan., junior, said she's optimistic about her chances of finding a job after she graduates.
"I feel secure in my ability to get a job after I graduate. I am going into Occupational Therapy, and I think it hasn't been too terribly affected by the economy. I think healthcare is a field that is pretty stable," Ogan said.
Although her future isn't looking very bright right now, Ishii said that she is hopeful about her future.
Hopefully, I will be able to get a steady job, be financially stable, and afford to move out of my parents' house," Ishii said. "I'm OK with working until then."
Ishii talks about her struggle to find a job after graduation.
Leave a comment