Fair job prospects await 2003 grads

Black Collegian, Feb 2003 by Gardner, Philip

Work is a meritocracy: the degree does not entitle one to good pay and a prestigious job, your performance does. The bottom line is that you have to earn it.

Gratification is often delayed. Unlike the immediate feedback received in school, gratification does not always materialize immediately. The connections are work, then achievement and finally reward. You will have to build a body of achievements and then you will be rewarded. The delay can range from a year to several years.

Work has a different orientation than school. Employers have different expectations than new employees. Students are used to getting something from school lessons, answers to questions, etc. Employers, however, look at the employees' skills talents and what they will add to the organization. This shift from getting to giving is significant because it may not be easy to grasp or appreciate.

In conclusion, the economy is very sluggish and not generating many jobs. Graduates can expect a challenge in finding employment. If the war tensions ease and the business scandals are resolved, economic conditions will improve; but there is no timetable as to when those will occur. The best advice to seniors and other graduates is to work with their university's career services offices to design an effective job search strategy.

By Dr. Philip Gardner

Dr. Philip Gardner is the director of Research for the Collegiate Employment Research Institute at Michigan State University. His research focuses on the transition from college to work, workplace readiness of college students and career development. He is the author of the annual Recruiting Trends report published by Michigan State University.