<p>it's been a few months since college graduation ceremonies and we're no closer to finding any kind of work here, let alone the kind that might even vaguely utilize a BA English from a highly regarded LAC. seems like $160k should have borne at least sign of some kind of fruit, but i guess it's early yet. any better news out there? (teach for america, peace corps, paid-for internships, etc aside) Parents of HS seniors, take note here.</p>
<p>We’ve heard of some great kids who have volunteered for positions and are hoping they may be hired if an opening develops while they’re waiting. That might be an option to consider, particularly if it’s a non-profit they are passionate about.</p>
<p>Computer Science grads seem to be finding good jobs okay.</p>
<p>Toodleooo, I don’t think that you spent $160K to just help connect your student with an entry-level job. I trust you’re seeing plenty of evidence of greater maturity, broader insight and depth of experience that has enhanced the type of person s/he is. The economic downturn will pass. The critical thinking, communication skills, and ability to combine insights from multiple perspectives are permanent, and they’ll be what makes your graduate’s life rewarding - personally and financially - for the next 75 years or so.</p>
<p>Well, ultimately I would want my kids to be able get jobs that could support kind of life style they want.</p>
<p>To OP: What was your child’s ultimate goal/dream job and how was a BA in English going to help in attaining that goal? While interests may change over the course of undergrad., it’s always important for students to have some sort of plan for their future (no matter how vague it may be).</p>
<p>I’m not sure what one does with a BA in English. Perhaps he/she could look for work as an editor or go back to school and get a teaching certificate and teach English.</p>
<p>i spent 160k as the final stage of what i believed to be my role as parent to my kids. and my main objective had nothing to do with passion. rather they must be prepared to support themselves in life. so far, LAC education hasn’t proved to be cost effective.</p>
<p>I think the problem is that "we’re no closer to finding any kind of work " and not “she’s no closer to finding any kind of work.”</p>
<p>Just curious: what kind of jobs & internships did your daughter hold during college? Did she work during the school year (part time) in addition to summers? Is she willing to relocate for work?</p>
<p>As an anecdote, I had an intern who graduated with a degree in English from a top LAC and for some reason he didn’t start looking for a job until after graduation and remained very relaxed about his search over the summer. When fall hit, however, he finally started to worry. He was able to get applications in with the following year’s class (i.e. the kids who were seniors in college) and did land a strong investment banking job in NYC on the strength of his internships. (The job started the following June.)</p>
<p>Many firms are in active application and interview mode in September and October for the college class of 2010. (My son, who is a senior in college, tells me some of the deadlines have already passed but most of the applications are due by the end of this month.) It probably isn’t that unique to pick up a couple of the prior year’s class who haven’t landed yet. In my experience, almost any business is happy to hire an English major, assuming the appropriate internships have happened.</p>
<p>Did your daughter utilize the on campus career center to help with her job search? Perhaps putting her name on the list for substitute teachers would be good work experience until something else comes along. Also, check out your community college to see if there is any classes/program which can give practical job skills.</p>
<p>My son just went to a career fair at his college and said the pile of resumes on some of the tables was 4 inches thick.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>What field? I’m just curious as my son is a senior but school doesn’t start for him until the end of September. While he had an internship this summer, he’s now spending his last few weeks “on vacation” - will he be behind in the job search? Should I call him and tell him he needs to get going on the job search? He’s getting his degree in math/CS.</p>
<p>My niece just found a job last week–Political science major/theater minor from small LAC. She worked very hard at finding a job the last 6 months or so. It isn’t a “career” job, but it is a paying job in her favorite city that may help her connect to what she’s looking for. She’s happy; her parents are relieved.</p>
<p>My 2005 grad had a summer job that ended in mid-August. Her major was BioChem but she signed a year lease on a house with her boyfriend so she is limiting herself geographically.
She says she is looking, no idea what she will do when her saving run out. :eek:</p>
<p>I run a nonprofit organization and many of the people I interview/hire have “liberal arts” degrees. Because my organization doesn’t need someone with a specific degree, I look for someone who can tell me why they want to work for THIS organization. When I hire a recent college grad for an entry-level position, I know they are not going to stay here forever. But I don’t mind being a first step up the ladder for them as long as they are willing to work hard while they are here and learn all they can before moving on :)</p>
<p>Don’t know what the OP’s D wants to do, but I would suggest taking a look at the nonprofit world!</p>
<br>
<br>
<p>I assume that his school is planning career fairs this fall and that they will be sending out emails for students to come into the career center to update their resumes and interviewing skills and prepare for the career fair.</p>
<p>Yesterday our son received an email from his department on behalf of a company in Cambridge looking for several CS types and one tech writer. Tech writer is a job that an english major could look into. We have several writers where I work and I know at least one that has an English degree (I don’t know the others well enough to know what their majors were).</p>
<p>What kinds of jobs has D applied for? She needs to register with a temp agency asap; if her computer skills are weak she needs to get proficient asap. A college grad with strong excel/powerpoint skills can support him or herself while they look for something closer to what they hope to do long term.</p>
<p>Paralegal? Event planner? PR agency? Media buying? Editor at a medical products company? Marketing job at a local museum? Where has she looked and why hasn’t she found?</p>
<p>Agree she needs to be open geographically. Kids who aren’t fixated on a job in SF or Seattle or DC (hot locations for new grads) are going to find something faster than their friends who want to be with the critical mass of other new grads.</p>
<p>This is a very tough job market and kids who have not had to work really hard in the face of frustration and disappointment before need to figure it out now. A certain amount of “suck it up” is required I think and that is an important developmental step some are reluctant to take. I agree that getting into temp work is a good foot in the door strategy. The English/Communications majors I know got their work by going in as a temp and then proving invaluable. One is now managing a department where she was a temp a year ago. The LAC skills will pay off, but it sounds like what she needs now is some coaching on job search skills and a lot of willingness to work hard even if it is not the “perfect” job. Those perfect jobs come later.</p>