<p>Okay, so I'm looking through my Bucknell viewbook, and I see their graduation rate, and it makes me think, do things really work out for most people. You see, I have this fear of majoring in something that's supposed to be good for right out of college with a BA/BS, and I can't get a job. So I wanted to hear either your stories or the stories of your children about them/you finding jobs after graduation. Also, do you think the number of connections the school has (like how many employers grant interviews) has a big effect on how successful you are?</p>
<p>Starbucks will continue to hire....</p>
<p>My graduate school had significant impact on employers when I needed them. I can honestly say that, having worked on both coasts of the U.S. and in the middle (Chicago), I have never had an employer who had even heard of my undergrad alma mater (Williams), where, however, I received a great education.</p>
<p>For the first good job see who does on campus recruiting at the school. It's the easy ticket compared with using resumes and "contacts".</p>
<p>Celebrian - i just graduated in may. i had lots of interviews at tons of places and finally i found a job. i actually start this coming monday. i 'm excited yet nervous at the same time!</p>
<p>Best of luck Fendergirl!</p>
<p>Some people graduate, start looking for jobs, then get lazy after noone calls them back, and still work security.</p>
<p>Have you ever heard the old adadge "you'll never get a job in your major without a bottom wager"...?</p>
<p>Basically it means you won't get a job in what you've studied so long and hard for without beginning at the bottom of the food chain somewhere else.</p>
<p>Sorry for the reallity....I graduated with a BFA and a minor in digital graphics, now I manage a small medical office.</p>
<p>I don't really mind if it's not in my major. I know that hoping for that is pretty pointless. But are you happy with how things even though it wasn't in the plan</p>
<p>As a business major I had several decent offers. Spent 8 years with job 1 and 14 years+ with job 2.</p>
<p>Back in the dark ages (mid 1970s), I graduated w/a BS in a "hot" field (journalism...everyone wanted to be an investigative reporter after Woodward & Bernstein & Watergate)...there were about 10 new journ degree holders for every journ job...but I got a job at a magazine, entry level grunt work at the beginning, within a week of returning to my home town (Chgo) from my college town (Champaign-Urbana). FOur years later I went back to school (Law School), again when there were more JDs awarded than there were job openings for new lawyers...again, I got a job--this time before I actually finished law school. Again, not the "textbook" lawyer-in-a-law-firm job, but rather an attorney in a legal department in a trade assn...</p>
<p>In short: it's doable. You just have to either be prepared for it to take a long time if you're going to hold out for "perfect" (i.e., investigative reporter instead of low-kid-on-the-totem-pole in the editorial office of a trade magazine), or for a certain level of compensation--or you have to be lucky...or be a recognizable superstar (maybe an Olympic gold medalist?)</p>
<p>In short...keep looking, keep reevaluating the balance between "perfect job" and "gettable job that will lead to bigger things"...but you WILL get a job!</p>
<p>S is slated to graduate in May with an MIS degree - He's anxious to graduate, get a job, but I'm thinking it might be better for him to intern spring semester so he has some "real work" experience to put on his resume, postponing graduation by a semester. What do you think? Especially interested in opinions of those that are familiar with MIS job opp's.</p>
<p>Tell him DEFINITELY to get an internship! I was a MIS major and didn't do an internship and noone will hire me because of no experience. Someone told me that 60% or so of people who do an internship get a job with that firm upon graduation.</p>
<p>Joev, That's my gut feeling too. It really helps to hear from somebody that knows for sure! Thanks very much for responding - You know what my advice to him will be!</p>
<p>I can speak for my son who just graduated this past May. He started his job a couple weeks ago...with the firm where he interned last summer. Ditto for his roommate. Internships I think are key...try for the paid summer variety, at a place you might want to work after you graduate. (he's basically MIS-type too)</p>
<p>I'd certainly imagine the school's connections help. Which companies recruit on campus? How good is the career center? Most importantly, how good are YOU at compiling a good resume, going to job fairs etc, following through when you are contacted, and how good are you at interviews.</p>
<p>2331 - Good points. I don't know how aggressive s will be in regard to "putting himself out there", following up, networking, etc. Yes, I believe internships are the way to go! There are companies that recruit on campus, but... there's a lot of competition out there, and it sounds like experience in his field before graduation might give him a leg up.</p>
<p>I have to look at it this way, I use my spare time when I have the energy and put it into my art, kinda like a second job, but one that is fun.
Managing is definately more stressfull than painting and contemplaiting philosophy, but it pays the bills and the people are nice.</p>
<p>Hope this helps</p>
<p>Brian keene</p>
<p><a href="http://www.keenefx.com%5B/url%5D">www.keenefx.com</a></p>
<p>What's MIS?</p>
<p>I think it's management information systems</p>
<p>I second the advice to get as much work experience as you can to put on your resume--and make sure you have good references to show for it. When I interview new college grads for entry-level positions, I like to see that they have some knowledge of the working world. Relevant internships are good (though I always ask what responsibilites they were given, since some companies don't seem to have very high expectations of interns who are being paid little or nothing, which isn't particularly good training), but any sort of job can help demonstrate that you've learned to ask not what your employer can do for you, but what you can do for your employer.</p>
<p>To the people on this thread who have graduated, did you stay in the same area as your college? Did anyone move across the country or return home? In the fall I start at Columbia, and in 4 years (hopefully, because I can't even really afford those four) I'll graduate with a BA in English. I want to work at Random House in NYC, but I don't know if I'll be able to afford living in NYC and paying my CRIPPLING student loans on an entry-level job's salary. I can't go home, because there's nothing in my field in my small town. How does the interview process work when you're 1800 miles from the job, etc. Any advice?</p>