Any graduates need a job?

Parents Forum
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So - for anyone out there struggling, with no job prospects or you waited too long to even look - I’d tell you what I told my kids. Experience (of any kind) begets experience.

It’s why first internships are so hard to get but the second seemingly is acquired with easier effort.

So yesterday, I am checking out at Sprouts Farmers Market - which is a smaller but national and public traded grocery chain (SFM is the stock symbol).

The person bagging pulls out her card and gives to me - store manager. She asks if either I or anyone I know is seeking employment.

There you go - just like that - they’re that desperate.

I live in the land of Publix, a privately held Southeastern grocery chain.

I know parents who started moving carts, now manage stores, and are millionaires many times over.

I’m not suggesting anyone go to a grocery store for their career. But if you can’t find a job, have a major that might be harder to find employment…I mean, working beats not working. And it probably pays $15+ an hour (+ a store discount at most). Kroger even advertises - we’ll pay you daily.

Many CS people are worried about cutbacks. Industries like mine, automotive, always lay off.

You know what’s recession proof? Grocery stores. We all have to eat!!

So I bring this up because I’ve been asked to help my son’s friend’s sister - who just graduated with a degree in environmental science, has no experience, and is seeking a job.

So yesterday, I forwarded the business card - and the response I got back was a snicker.

Why?

Anyway, for those out there who are struggling, aren’t sure what they want to do or just have had no luck, there’s nothing wrong with gaining some great customer service experience in an industry that is constantly evolving and constantly needing employees.

Best of luck to all new grads.

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Many young people have never held a job, graduate college, and then are shocked to find it hard to get employed. I am glad those working at the grocery stores and fast food chains will run circles around them in a few years.

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This is a great point.

A person starting out can learn customer service, supply chain logistics, risk management, and eventually, personnel management by working in a grocery store.

Jobs that don’t require college degrees are not beneath college graduates particularly if they have degrees that don’t lead to a clear career path immediately after graduation.

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Since you mentioned Environmental Science - any job seeker with that or a related major such as Environmental Studies should check out Davey Tree. They are always hiring all over the country for a wide array of environment-related jobs. From what I’ve heard the salary and benefits aren’t bad.

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Will pass it along

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These jobs provide transferable skills, and will be viewed favorably regardless of whether you are looking for a “real” job or looking to continue your education. It’s better than doing nothing.

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Sorry I would not suggest a grocery store job to an Environmental Sciences major either. I get why she snickered. She could find a retail job herself. Starbucks is always hiring.

She should use the placement services at her college. The state she’s in may be hiring for internships, too. I know my state has a lot of interns in Environmental Science fields.

Really really would not advise her to take a grocery store job. That just looks bad on her resume. She needs something related to her major and a grocery store is not it. I can’t advise further w/o knowing what she is interested in, but def not the grocery store. Go work at REI or something before you work in a grocery store.

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This is great advice. Grocery stores are a fantastic recession proof business, and an opportunity to learn from the ground up with a lot of growth opportunity in a variety of fields, such as food science.

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So I don’t know the student and when I was asked to help, I went down this road - what are their interests, etc but I’ve not spoken to this person and only know they’ve got nothing going experience wise.

I posted because it’s clear, even in an era of layoffs and pulled job offers, there are jobs out there.

Yea they should use their college. I assume many don’t or didn’t hit hard enough.

I think many kids don’t engage in a job search and it’s too bad. I asked my daughter’s graduating roommate ( I think a studies, not science major) - I asked what’s next ?

She said I don’t know. Go home and rest.

It doesn’t seem a great way to start a life.

I was mainly saying something is better than nothing. And too many have nothing.

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Yeah, I agree that something is better than nothing, but I would look for something at least tangentially related to the degree.

I know young folks my kids went to high school with who worked at a kayaking and canoeing company, know young folks who have done environmental education with kids in camps or homeschooling groups. I know people who work in sustainable agriculture. Americorps would be a good option, too.

I just think there are better options for a basic job for someone interested in Environmental Science than the grocery store. Grocery store work is hard, btw. Don’t know if you’ve ever done it, but the pay is not usually good and you are on your feet all day dealing with people who are often crabby.

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Grocery store may not be ideal, but it is way better than unemployed. Many places do not hire those with substantial unemployment periods, or those with no job references.

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My son did for 14 months - 5 years ago. What was $7.50 is now $15 minimum. He enjoyed it. A lot of cart collection.

Those are good ideas too - will pass those along.

Unfortunately I don’t know this person’s interests.

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So baby sitting /nannying and assistant teacher are all in demand. While my daughter is going to finish her Post bac then graduate school she has had no issues making $25/hour baby sitting /nannying. She is also a reading specialist (she’s not a teacher or reading specialist) and makes $45/hour 3 hours /week. She actually this summer has an elementary school referring some families to her.

This might not be what the degree is in but when you have to pay your own bills you find a way. Plenty of help signs /ads just about anywhere.

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My D graduated from a T20 school in 2011 with no job lined up (she had a job offer from a company where she interned, but she decided that she didn’t want to work in that field, after all). She had no interest in moving home. She put on her big girl britches, got a job at Starbucks, and worked as hard as she has her whole life. She worked overtime to afford rent and food with extra for savings. She kept sending out resumes. After 9 or 10 months, she finally got a job in line with her interests. She thought that it was embarrassing that she had worked at Starbucks after graduation … turns out everyone who interviewed her was genuinely interested in her job there. Not only did she get that job, but they hired her in for $10,000 more than a guy who interviewed the same day (and talked about his salary). The job was worth waiting for, and she has excelled in the field.

Another young person I know who graduated that year couldn’t get a job for a long time. He lived with his parents, but he volunteered for various nonprofit groups to build skills for his resume. He, too, eventually got hired in a job he enjoyed that ended up being a field he has stayed in.

IMO, working (or even volunteering) anywhere beats not working at all. To be honest, I would be disappointed if my kids thought not working after college graduation was even an option.

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Just curious why they asked for your help? Are you in the Environmental Sciences fields? Just a good friend? Was it just a “hey if you hear of anything let me know” type thing?

Yeah, I’d say check out Americorps. Did this student do internships at all? There are Environmental Scientist who work in the lab and then there are folks who work out in the field. Just not a lot to go on. I’d start with Indeed or networking with local scientists. I know several. Your county Extension can be a good place, too. Lot of soil science there.

And I agree that Starbucks or the Grocery Store beats not working for sure. One of my kids spent a year at Starbucks after high school, but my kids have never had trouble finding a retail job. They are plentiful around here. I would at least look for one of those that is somehow tangentially related to Environmental Science (like working at REI, etc) rather than a grocery store. Although, if she is interested in food systems then I guess a grocery store job could give some background on that.

It would help if we knew if she was interested in working in a lab environment or is interested in working in the field in more of an ecology role.

https://www.indeed.com/jobs?q=ecology&l=North+Carolina&vjk=c3faddb46257e011

https://www.indeed.com/jobs?q=environmental+science&l=North+Carolina&sc=0kf%3Aexplvl(ENTRY_LEVEL)%3B&vjk=1c236291885bc0a8

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Because my daughter, her boyfriend, and this girl’s brother all sought guidance from me and all have internships - not necessarily because of me.

One in Intl studies/Poli sci working for the state, one in finance working for a healthcare REIT and the CS kid I’m not sure - but while he’s local, the company is providing an apt for the summer steps from the job.

Honestly I tell them to use indeed - run a wide search within your major - and you can narrow from there depending on if a job is of interest.

But the main thing is to get something - and not worry about where and what (if it gets late in the game). You need experience - and this is just 10-12 weeks of your life.

We’d talk about things.

Then they came to me the other day and said so and so’s sister just graduated and needs your help. They gave me background info on her but I declined.

But I sent an indeed link, the sprouts manager card, and now the Davey tree job search link.

She went to a public and my guess is most don’t require any sort of placement center requirement. So these kids who don’t seek it grow up not living in reality. My daughter’s bf had nothing good to say about his respected private school’s office. My son’s was solid I think but he waited years too long to seek guidance. But he ended up ok.

Truth is I don’t know her interests - and I’m sure I’m Env Science they may be wide.

I’ll mention americorps and the county too.

But I just posted to tell people - if you’re not working, it’s your own fault !!!

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A22-year old college graduate with no work experience? Is that actually a thing? What did she do in the summers?

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I agree with @Sweetgum.

Of course, situations vary, but based on the facts presented in this thread, I agree with poster Sweetgum.

Resume building is important. One’s resume should support that individual’s career aspirations. Many engage in unpaid internships in order to progress in their desired field. Happens a lot with attorneys who want to work for the federal government as an AUSA (assistant US attorney) or as a trial attorney or local prosecutor or government work. In fact, the federal government offers highly competitive attorney jobs that require a one year commitment and pay nothing. Zero pay. (Should be illegal, but it isn’t.)

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oh sure it’s a thing. Not every kid has worked - or has worked in an organized job. It’s hard to formalize lawn mowing, baby sitting or dog walking. Nothing wrong with them but I don’t see employers would view that as experience, etc. unless you had a formal gig (like working for a dog walking business).

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