Write if you find work, the radio comedians Bob and Ray used to say. These days, that letter could be slow in coming and begs the question: Do internships count?
The job market reviews for the class of 2010 run from mixed to the worst employment scene in 26 years.
“We are finding continued significant interest in internship opportunities for our students,” says Stephen Cole, executive director for Marist College”™s career services. “Some are paid, some are unpaid, but we have not had any issues with students finding internships in any of the disciplines we offer.”
While Wall Street firms are still hiring, they are fewer in number than in past years. As the job market shrinks, Cole says the number of students flowing through the career counseling offices is up, with students looking for help to prepare competitive resumes, eye-catching cover letters and get tips on the rules of the game when engaged in a professional interview.
Jody Queen-Hubert, executive director of career services for Pace University, was to the point: “The class of 2010 is facing the worst job market in 26 years. Unlike the class of 2009, students graduating this upcoming May know the dreary news. The class of 2009 was more optimistic, because we had not felt the full effects of the recession. Next year”™s graduates are coming in with an understanding of how difficult the economic landscape really is.”
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Pace career counselors encourage all students, and particularly seniors, to prepare and utilize the services of its career center. The students that do take advantage clearly have more success than those that do not, said Queen-Hubert. “All studies we”™ve conducted relating to students using career services show their success rate is higher than those who bypass counselors. We have a lot of information to share with them to help them conduct a job search. Students can”™t wait until the last minute and then rely on family, friends or monster.com. The students who are most aggressive in seeking information early on will be the most successful.”
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Bard College encourages students to “come and work with us one-on-one,” said April Kinser, director of the career development office. “We want them to use all our resources. We hold special events regularly, bringing in companies so students can learn about the fields they are interested in. We”™re always encouraging our students to make connections and network. For those who are going to become teachers, there are possibilities to work abroad, teaching English as a second language. There are hundreds of independent schools across the U.S. The jobs are there, but the pool of people looking for them is much bigger. You”™ve got to stand out in the crowd to be noticed.”
Kinser says unpaid internships have been a trend for quite some time. For students graduating in 2010, “they might want to do an unpaid internship if it is directly related to the field they want to be in. It can help them create connections and often can turn into a job offer. If a student can take an unpaid internship without undue financial hardship and put in one or two days a week, it can be a door opener to a permanent position.”
Kinser, like her fellow career counselors, said, “This is the worst job market I have ever experienced. Everything we are reading is confirming that. People are losing their jobs and are competing for entry-level jobs, making it even more challenging for college students. The job market is down 30-40 percent since last year. Because of that, grads have to be more proactive, more tenacious and make their resume as competitive and concise as possible. A strong cover letter is essential and should not be longer than a single page. Those well-written letters really do stand out.”
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The Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park utilizes an “extern” program, says Chet Koulik, director of career services. During a job fair held at the school Nov. 3, Koulik said students had an opportunity to meet with potential employers from all over the country. “We see most, if not all, of our students at one time or another,” he said, “because of our ”˜extern”™ program, where students will spend 18 weeks working in an area restaurant, getting hands on experience, a full-time commitment that is part of the learning process here at the CIA.”
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“There are many opportunities for our students, perhaps not as glitzy as head chef in a Manhattan restaurant ”“ they can become chefs in schools, hospitals or at a major corporation. There is a growing trend around the country for supermarkets to offer a complete dinner for working people to stop in and pick up ”“ that”™s another area where a trained chef can put their skills to work. After government service, the food industry is the second largest industry in the country. The opportunities are growing and are out there”
Koulik says the school has seen a decline in the number of positions being offered ”“ down to 300 from 400 in 2008. “In comparison to others, I feel we are fortunate to have that many companies courting us; even so, students have to work harder to present a polished, professional resume and cover letter, and that”™s where career counseling is a great conduit for students who are seriously looking for a job when they graduate.”
Some students do like to take a break after that diploma is in their hands, say career counselors. “Senior year can be very stressful, and some students just want to take a few months to recoup,” said Queen-Hubert. “Unfortunately, they find out that there is no ”˜instant gratification”™ when they decide to look for a job. Out of our 2009 graduates, 46 percent have full-time employment. We”™re not finished compiling our statistics, but certainly it is indicative of the market. Out of our 2008 students, 80 percent of them are employed full-time. Generally, it takes six to nine months to find gainful employment. Some get discouraged after only a month. They need to learn patience, especially in this economic climate.”
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Another factor graduates need to consider is the loss of their health insurance, as well as seeing their student loan repayment programs kick in six months after graduation. While nursing and teaching students know the career path they are taking, others are not as clear in their career goals. “That is why career counselors are there,” said Kinser.  “Colleges have their own database of jobs for students, and most have a strong alumni (association) willing to help. It”™s up to the student to take advantage of these services to be as on top of the game as possible.”
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For parents of students who are hitting the books, remind them their career counselor may be the one to get them that apartment they”™ve always wanted and the freedom of spreading their wings. “It”™s a lot tougher today to emerge from the school ”˜cocoon,”™” said Cole. “There are a lot of job seekers out there with tremendous skills that can hit the ground running. That”™s what our graduates are up against. That means they have to work smarter, network better and be as prepared as they can to be just as desirable to employers. It”™s not a slam dunk anymore.”
Career specialists say that volunteering and internships may not pay a salary, but are great for learning experience and are fanstastic additions to a resume. “It shows you”™ve been out there,” said Queen-Hubert. “Even if you are just working a part-time job, you are showing a potential employer that you aren”™t just sitting around waiting for the job to come to you. In this market, the more flexible you are, the better the chances you have for landing that job you want ”“ or working your way to into it.”
Pace is holding a job fair Nov. 10, with 55 companies coming to meet students. Said Queen-Hubert, “Ordinarily, we”™d charge corporations to come in, but in these times, we are opening the doors gratis. We want our students to have as many opportunities as possible to connect.”
