In Norwalk, Twentity.com has become a valuable resource for those most in need of world and workplace experience: recent graduates.
Chachanna Simpson, owner and editor of Twentity.com, founded the company as an advice resource addressing a limbolike period of life that she found confusing, frustrating and situated on shifting sands.
Simpson released her book, “Life After College, What Your Parents and Professors Never Taught You,” (Booklocker.com) last year.
“Trial by fire is never easy,” said Simpson. “There are things that you need to know that many parents don”™t tell about and you”™re never taught.”
Simpson said although her advice ranges from diet to personal finance, the goal is all the same: building a valid life after college.
“With each generation, standards change,” said Simpson. “For many people there is nowhere to get advice because nobody”™s had these experiences before.”
According to Simpson, in addition to new issues, many soon-to-be graduates feel anxious about their practical knowledge.
Simpson said because current graduates are so plugged in to the world of technology and social media, learning how to leverage that knowledge can prove to be extremely valuable.
“The job search is so different now than our parent”™s generation,” said Simpson. “Most of our information is available online and with 76 percent of human resource representatives searching online profiles, social and professional, it”™s a new beast. Now, there are fewer jobs to fill; everyone wants the best person.”
Simpson said that recruiters are now even looking at references that aren”™t made available by calling any past workplace on a resume.
“A lot of what I talk about is how you can have as much control as you can in your job search,” said Simpson. “It can be very hard to think about how other people will see you. There”™s a whole big thing about managing Generation Y and I don”™t think that”™s necessary. There”™s a great desire to collaborate in this new generation. There is this want to balance the life and the work together.”
Simpson said many colleges fail to teach practical skills that are needed immediately upon graduation.
“More guidance is needed today than simply how to write a resume and cover letter,” said Simpson.
Simpson said because of tight budgets for parents, new graduates are feeling even more pressure to become self sufficient, but they have fewer chances to do so. On Twentity, there is a section for those still in school; a section for recent graduates; for a person looking for his or her second job; and a section for parents.
Simpson said there is not as much a feel of desperation in the job market as a change in goals. Now getting a foot in the door is the main objective, not getting a job.
According to a recent survey by McGraw Hill Education in New York, nearly half of recent graduates feel they did not choose the right career path and 61 percent felt practical work experience would have helped them make a better choice. Over 95 percent said that an internship would have made them feel better prepared for the work force.
“This survey confirms what we’ve long believed and are striving to change in the educational system; the distinction between college eligible and college ready,” said Jeff Livingston, senior vice president of McGraw-Hill Education’s College and Career Readiness Center. “Being eligible for college is simply not good enough in the global economy of the 21st century; our students must be richly and rigorously prepared for a lifetime of learning and professional development.”
Simpson said, “With new college graduates facing one of the most competitive job markets in years, internships are becoming one of the keys to getting hired in today’s economy.”
According to the National Association for Colleges and Employers, new graduates who had internships fared far better in the job market than those who did not. In a recent survey the organization found that 23 percent of those with internships who graduated in 2009 had a job lined up by April. Of those who didn”™t, just 14 percent had landed jobs by then.
“In a climate like that it can be really comforting to know that you”™re not alone,” said Simpson.
