the Informer

As students, we force ourselves to put in the time and energy so that eventually the mounds of debt we have accrued will be paid off with the dream job we hope to get.

According to a new analysis released by The Project on Student Debt, 2010 college graduates owed an average of $25,250 in student loans.

The overall unemployment rate remains at 9 percent and that dream job may be just that, a dream job. According to CNNMoney.com, unemployment for our particular age group, 20-24 is approximately 15 percent makes the outlook even more bleak.

A recent poll conducted by Twentysomething Inc. resulted in the staggering fact that 85 percent of college grads are being forced to move back in with Mom and Dad.

So with a Bachelors degree in one hand and a manicured resume, cover letter and letters of recommendation in the other, what is one to do?

The bottom-line is our generation is being faced with a great deal of adversity when it comes to our future employment.

The ability to creatively market oneself and parlay skills in an alternative direction if your desired field isn’t attainable at the time of graduation is essential. The ability to deal with rejection and the capability to persevere will also be essential.

For those graduating this May, will you be tough enough when the time comes?

Most students facing May 2012 graduation have worked towards filling their resumes with all the right things such as internships and applicable jobs. Applying anywhere and everywhere will certainly be the next step. Like they say, the job search itself is a full time job.

The important idea to keep in mind is your unique skills that make you a valuable commodity and channel that into your search.

It’s funny to think that not so long ago a college degree was the stepping-stone to a dream career. Four years guaranteed your future. Now many of us will continue on aspiring to either higher degrees or diversifying our chosen field of study by adding degrees in hopes of making us more employable.
According to The Wall Street Journal, the sectors expected to hire within the next few months are, business services, retail services, technology, energy and health care.

Looks like many of us chose the wrong major for any sort of financial compensation based on that report, but money isn’t everything right?
Oh wait a minute, what about those student loans. With only 6 months before payments begin, the race to find employment is on. The competition will be fierce, but it will be up to you to stand above the rest.

Although our dream jobs might not be handed to us on a silver platter and we will have to travel varied paths to attain them, eventually we will be able to conquer the employment struggles our generation faces.