Set to graduate this spring, she is gaining work experience with a part-time job, hunting for an internship and creating a database to help organize her job search and possible continuing education.
“I’ve applied for an internship that has the possibility of turning into a job after the summer,” she said of her hopes to be working in a public relations firm. “And I’ve started a database with different grad schools I’m looking at and I’ve also started another database describing details about different jobs where I can apply to.”
Even with her preparation, though, her prospects are not clear.
“For the past four years everybody has been telling me ‘Your class will have a hard time getting a job,’” she said. “Almost everyone I’ve talked to, their first question is ‘What are your plans after graduation?’ Their second comment is, ‘This is a lousy time to get into the job market.’”
Many college students like Dean will likely face stiffer competition for employment, according to local workforce and college officials, because the market is flooded with experienced workers who have been laid off.
Wendy Ann Riggs, Killeen career center supervisor at Workforce Solutions of Central Texas, said jobs that traditionally required a bachelor’s degree might now require a degree plus experience, since an influx of job hunters has created the equivalent of a “buyers market” to companies looking to hire.
“We are seeing an increase … of people who have been in a career field 10, 15, 20 years - and are now unemployed,” she said. “This creates ample competition for new graduates, which is great for the employer, but makes it difficult for the new job seeker.”
She said unofficial numbers from www.workingtexas.com, Workforce Solutions’ Web site, showed this week there were at least 511 job postings in its seven-county region made up of Bell, Coryell, Lampasas, Milam, Mills, Hamilton and San Saba counties.
Of those 511 postings, 46 required a bachelor’s degree and 15 required an associate’s degree. She estimated about 10 percent of the jobs requiring associate’s degrees and about 20 percent of the jobs requiring bachelor’s degrees did not specify a need for experience.
She said the 511 figure could be low, since some of the listings could have more than one opening.
Ms. Riggs said new graduates who have not worked internships, nor done volunteer work in their field while at school, might find themselves trying to get into the workforce the best they can, even if it means aiming a little low.
“In the past, a degree could get you where you need to be, but this may not be that time,” she said. “This is a time when people need to consider the fact that you need to get your foot in the door. Once in the door, a degree will help you move up the ladder.”
Don Owens, director of career services at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, agreed, saying that preparing to get a job fresh from graduation is best started early.
“Career planning is a four-year process,” he said. “We encourage students to come to the career center beginning in their freshman year.”
He said he “hates to see” seniors coming in for the first time just the week before graduation.
“We have guidelines of things to do as freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors,” he said.
Owens said it can be a year before a student lands the ideal job they are hoping for after graduation.
“We traditionally say to college students … it is going to take anywhere from four to 12 months if they are looking for that perfect job that matches their perfect career choice and perfect location,” he said.
Dean said students have been getting the help they need.
“Professors and career center advisers have been helping us with our resumes and encouraging us to take internships,” she said. “I think we are trying to adapt to the job market and where it stands at the moment.”
She said she has a safety net in place in case things do not work out as she hopes.
“One of my mottos has been hope for the best but prepare for the worst,” she said. “It’s good to make your goals, but you need to be prepared in case something else happens.”
Her safety net is her part-time job at a clothing store in Waco, where she is from, and her plans to continue on in school to get a master’s degree.
