You Have your College Degree:Now What?
"Some people pick a major, get a degree, find a job in their chosen, field and settle down. This book is for the other 97% of us." So begins "How to Make Use of a Useless Degree, Finding your Place in the Postmodern Economy," a book published in 1996 that I found utterly relevant today This is especially in these times of recession and jobs going offshore. Using their own words, Frothingham told us the stories of 101 people who actually found something profitable to do with their time after they graduated college. He also provided many valuable tips about the work world that we don't learn in school, such as how to write a good resume, where to locate jobs that are hidden in society, and truths about work that are better if we just accept them: like sometimes work is boring. Actually, no degree is "useless," but times like this cause us to be creative with how we use all our resources!
(photo: By Glorfindel Goldscheitel (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0) or GFDL (www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html)], via Wikimedia Commons)
Contents at a Glance
You Have to Learn To Think Outside of the Box.
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One Place You can Learn a Skill
So what did they do?
Case Histories from the Book
Bill takes care of an elderly gentleman at night.
Nate works in a residence taking care of the developmentally disabled.
Bud took a quick (about five week) course and became an emergency medical technician; now he works for an ambulance company.
Brad got an acting job on a cruise ship
Bernadette works as a paralegal. She got hired because she looked professional and had a decent degree, although it was not related.
Woody is a freelance writer;
Stanley is a telemarketer.
P.Z is a special events coordinator. None of these people are doing what they prepared for in college. They may not be in these jobs in one year. But they are keeping food on the table - and they are keeping moving.
How do You Get A Job if you Have a Useless Degree?
The problems are that there are not as many jobs readily available as there used to be, and it is hard to get them to translate directly from a college degree. And it is hard to get a job without experience.
English literature and botany are beautiful, but there are few jobs in the newspaper for English literature or botany graduates. In fact, it is estimated that only 1% of jobs are listed in the newspaper - and this figure was from when I went to college, before the days of the Internet.
Still it is important to look in the newspaper for jobs, as well as the Internet, as well as network with everybody that you know. And you need to meet a lot more people.
But it is also vitally important that you look outside of what you might have considered as your work - or even your identity
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Sometimes Any Job is Better than Staying at Home
Job Is Secure
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Reader Feedback - what do you think of this lens?
And - What were the weirdest jobs you have ever done?
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hotbrain
Apr 24, 2012 @ 1:20 pm | delete
- That sounds like an interesting book. A college degree, even in a useless field, can show employers that you are able to stick to something and complete it. It will help you separate yourself from the job candidates who don't have a degree. It is worth something, even if it is not always apparent. And it is sure better than "I went to college for a couple of years, got myself in debt, and didn't get anything from it." I almost didn't finish college... I'm not using my degree now... but I'm glad I stuck it out anyway. Would I choose that path all over again? Probably not. But that's OK... Not worth beating yourself up over.
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scarlettohairy Feb 23, 2012 @ 6:49 pm | delete
- This is so true! I have a degree in Speech Communication with a minor in English so I'm qualified to speak English. Doh. I've done all sorts of sort of related jobs: typesetting, proofreading, editing, writing and some totally off the wall jobs: owned a bead store, cleaned houses, waitressed.
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Coe
Feb 28, 2012 @ 6:19 pm | delete
- I have an English degree as well and my work history sounds a lot like yours, LOL.
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bloomingrose
Feb 28, 2012 @ 7:52 pm | delete
- Sounds like you are perfect to be a writer!
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makeupbrush
Nov 3, 2011 @ 9:13 am | delete
- I have a relatively good job working with special need in a high school. Somewhat related to my degree - in Psychology. Also started my website and writing on Squidoo to try to make some extra cash. But still I won't say it is easy, especially making a living on the web, so competitive. I read something recently that said 1 in 12 people these days is trying to start their own small business. What an alarming rate! Seeing a lot of people getting laid off last year, I just don't feel there is a lot of job security these days any more. You are right - It is important to think outside of the box, be flexible and willing to change.
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Practice Being Enthusiastic - Even if you Don't Feel It
Interviewing Hints and Frame of Mind
Practice interviewing with friends, and have an elevator speech ready of what you have to offer - in case you meet someone who might be hiring. Carry a resume in your car for such occasions. Go to hiring events in your field, even if you think you are right for those jobs.
Keep out there, keep ready, and your career will turn around.
"Butch's Bike...
Albert Staehle
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A Really Helpful Book For Getting a Job out of College
College Grad Job Hunter: Insider Techniques and Tactics for Finding a Top-Paying Entry Level Job
Amazon Price: $4.53 (as of 05/27/2012)
This book is full of tips that will help you beat the odds and get that first job - even in 2011 and beyond!
