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I was e-mailing one of my career development colleagues recently, Sam Allen, Director of Career Education Services at Saint Anselm College, and I asked him whether he was seeing college seniors in greater numbers than in prior years given the current economic climate. I figured that students who are nervous about the job market might be pounding down the door to his office, as graduation approaches, seeking his counsel. With his permission, I’ve reprinted a portion of his reply down below...
“The students of today are not equipped to deal with this market. As parents we have done a great job of preventing them from making independent decisions, learning how to deal with rejection/failure and from being risk-takers. Many of our students are either looking to move home after graduation or are seeking admission to a graduate program or volunteer year of service. It is a generation that has never known bad times nor have they ever had to sacrifice. The whole thing freaks them out.”
Sam’s comments resonated with me. I could recall trends that I’d seen about five years ago, while I was still working in a college career center, with parents calling our center on behalf of their student(s) and, in some cases, looking to sit in on student career counseling sessions. Now mind you, these were college students and not small children. While these parents meant well, to their sons and daughters, their actions said, “You can’t do this on your own so I need to be here with you to ask questions on your behalf and guide your career development”. Yep, helicopter parents to be sure.
Before you go thinking that this is parent bashing, be aware that I’m a parent so I know what it feels like to be concerned about your child’s future and to want to protect your child from hurt. Whether you’re the stereotypical helicopter parent or not, the key here is that students (adults too) will work through the job search process more quickly and with greater success, especially in a tight job market, when they have developed solid career exploration and job search skills. While graduate school and a year of volunteer service are worthy goals, students who wish to find work need to pound that pavement and get out there meeting and building relationships with employers in their field of interest. They need to understand and practice effective job search strategies that help them to stand out in a crowd and to tap into ‘the hidden job market’.
Earlier this month I addressed a group of graduating students from Manchester Community College. This event included employer mentors and was aimed at helping students to develop and practice their face to face social networking and presentation skills. My talk revolved around getting them to understand the basics of networking and a starting point for those who are still relatively new to this job search strategy. Networking is huge, especially in a tight job market and I thought it was great that college career counselor, Meg Hamm, put on this event for her students. sI wouldn’t suggest that parents of college students ask to sit in on their college career counseling sessions but I do urge parents to help students realize that they have what it takes to build their career exploration and job search skills. Sam, Meg, and other college career counselors offer programs, services, and training to help students develop and practice career exploration and job search skills. They're available to support students as they search for work but students don't always take advantage of the services that are offered to them. My suggestion? Start or keep pounding on the door of those career professionals who are out there to lend a hand. College career counselors and other career practitioners, like me, are ready and waiting to serve you and yours!
By Susan Posluszny, OPTIONS for Career & Life Planning LLC