Lessons to be gleamed from a college job fair...

More and more graduating seniors look at their graduation prospects without any sense of hope. The state of the economy is poor, and it appears as though no one is hiring. With such dim prospects, there seems little incentive in networking, interviewing, applying, or even considering work life after graduation. Still, graduation is approaching, and at the end of the school year seniors who have not found jobs will either have to go to graduate school or else return home to sit on the couch.

A recent article on an Ithaca job fair detailed a similar attitude among its graduating class (http://theithacan.org/am/publish/news/201003_College_hosts_job_and_internship_fair.shtml). Yet jobs are available, and those in the know are imploring graduating seniors to put in the extra effort and find work:

John Fracchia, associate director of Career Services, said the employer turnout was
“average” compared to other years but still large considering the state of the economy.

“One of the things we’re trying to get students to understand, particularly seniors and
graduating students, is that there are still jobs,” he said. “You [have to] use your networking
resources, but the economy hasn’t ground to a halt.”

It is extremely rare for a job to fall into your lap. Finding employment requires time, committment, research, networking, and an unrelenting seach. Applying to one or two positions will not do, and students must apply to numerous firms, for numerous jobs if they are serious about finding work. The job market is not doing well now, and it is a difficult task to find work, but idleness only makes the task more difficult. Further, resignation to failure or hopelessness conveys a negative attitude that will repulse employers. Maintain a positive, forward thinking attitude, and do what needs to be done to secure your future.