Unemployment is down but for millions, finding a job is still nearly impossible.
The famous phrase in the United States Declaration of Independence refers to the pursuit of happiness but how can you pursue happiness when you’re in debt from your student loans and can’t find a job after four struggling years of college?
“Realistically I am worried. I am worried to graduate and find myself still working as a waitress,” expressed Estefania Rojas, a junior at SUNY College at Old Westbury.
The vice president of the SUNY Old Westbury Politics, Economic and Law (PEL) Club, Rojas shares her concerns that “I don’t want just a job, I want a good job .A Bachelor’s degree in [Politics, Economics, Law] is too vague and it is least likely for me to get a job.” Rojas has decided to pursue her dream as a lawyer by going to grad school like many other students and believes “if I excel through law school I will get job.”
A study from the Bureau of Labor Statitistucs shows from the years 2008 to 2018 it is estimated 18% of more jobs will require a master’s degree. The SUNY Old Westbury Student Affairs department includes career development services for students interested in graduate schools, internships or seeking a job. The coordinator of the Career Services, Marleene Bhan encourages students to visit the center from day one upon beginning college at Old Westbury.
The career center located in the Student Union Building, room 303 also posts jobs and has a campus email, a weekly digest described by Bhan, informing students of upcoming jobs, and career fairs as well as events. “We are not a job agency,” she says, “we prepare our students to be marketable.”The career services prepare by critiquing cover letters, resumes and specific websites for each major.
“We want freshmen, transfers and all students to start building their marketability for senior year through campus involvement, community service, student clubs and internships because that is what builds a resume,” Bhan advises.
Chad Kirschbaum, the Sports Director of Old Westbury Web Radio (OWWR) says, “It is not difficult getting a resume in, it’s getting a positive response that is.” Kirschbaum, a senior, says he’s never interned off campus but that has given him the opportunity to experience in production and on the microphone at the school radio station whereas that wouldn’t be possible to do so in the real world. For a foot in the door he has applied for an internship at WBAB, a radio station based in Long Island.
According to the recent Graduating Student Survey administered to 2011-12 graduates, Director of Institutional Research and Assessment at SUNY Old Westbury Sandy Kaufmann says, “21% have a job related to their major; 17% have a job not related to their major and 8% have the same job they had while attending Old Westbury and related to their major.”
While some students plan to intern after graduation, many are already ahead of the game in securing a job for the future. David White, an editor, director and reporter for the Old Westbury Television (OWTV) is continuing a second internship in his junior year. At PBS he assists in general production and says it’s “a hands-on experience that I can add to my resume and it opens a lot of doors for big companies who look for practical knowledge.” White is pursing media production and wishes to work in television one day. “I’ve learned a whole lot of skills that you don’t learn in college,” he says optimistically. “I’m not worried about finding a job once I’m out of here.”