<p>After I graduated from college, I was unemployed for a period of time, so I decided to go to my alma mater's career center to get some help.</p>
<p>I met with one of the senior counselors at the career center. He was very friendly and praised my academic performance. But after he asked me to tell him more about the extracurricular activities I had done in college, things went downhill. I confessed to him that I hadn't done extracurriculars in college, and the guy, well, didn't seem very thrilled by my answer.</p>
<p>From that point on the dynamics of our meeting changed.</p>
<p>The counselor wasn't the friendly, upbeat guy he had been a few moments earlier. He seemed frustrated, and made some insensitive remarks. He even asked me how I managed to get accepted to the university given that I wasn't the type of person who liked to do extracurriculars. Before I had a chance to answer his question, he murmured that it didn't matter, because the past is the past.</p>
<p>There were some other unpleasant exchanges, but the most memorable one occurred after I asked him if there was a time of the year when it was relatively easier for a recent grad to find a job. Here's what he answered: "the students at this school are not like you, they don't start searching for a job after they graduate."</p>
<p>So that's the story of the time I made the mistake of assuming that the folks over at my school's career center could help me with my job search.</p>
<p>What do you think? Would you like to go to a school that hires this type of people?</p>
<p>If they don't start searching for a job, then what do they do? They can't all go to grad school or do the peace corps or something, and it's a CAREER CENTER- they're not supposed to bash you for trying to get a job.</p>
<p>If I were you, I'd start paying attention to what I could do to make my life one that I enjoyed and was fulfilled in.</p>
<p>I would stop asking strangers on anonymous boards their opinions about things that don't really matter. The past is past. It doesn't matter if parents here would want their kids to associate with you (a question you asked in Parents Cafe). What matters is how you're using your time now, and whether what you're doing makes YOU happy and fulfilled.</p>
<p>On another thread, he says he has a job. I don't understand why he's using CC to rehash things that don't matter when he could be living and enjoying his life.</p>
<p>What does some after school activity do with one's ability to get a job? I could see it being beneficial if they're in the same field as the job you're trying to get</p>
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If they don't start searching for a job, then what do they do? They can't all go to grad school or do the peace corps or something, and it's a CAREER CENTER- they're not supposed to bash you for trying to get a job.
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"the students at this school are not like you, they don't start searching for a job after they graduate."
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<p>Emphasis is mine. I believe the implication is that the students at the school look for jobs before they graduate so that they can start working right away, which seems logical to me.</p>
<p>I'm not sure what you mean by "professional" school. Do you mean one of those schools where people go to learn a trade? </p>
<p>I went to a liberal arts school, but yeah, ECs are worthless. But they look good on a resume. It proves that you didn't spend all of your free time studying, which gives the impression that you are smart.</p>
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parents bought you everything, always expected everyone to figure things out for you, constantly expecting help to come to you.
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<p>Not really. I come from a poor family, so my parents certainly never bought me "everything." I'm not sure what you mean by 'expected everyone to figure things out for you' and 'constantly expecting help to come to you.' But it doesn't matter. High school and college are very structured environments, and very few initiative is required. Finding a job, passing an interview, etc, requires abilities I haven't mastered.</p>
<p>Actually, wbksoft, while they may be structured, I would disagree with you on the idea that "little* initiative is required." Sure, you can cost through college and take minimal initiative, but you won't get much out of it, which I suspect might be why you're experiencing the problems you are now. If you never bothered to take initiatve in college, then you're right, there are some vital skills you have yet to learn, but i don't think you can blame that entirely on your university!</p>