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Graduates struggle to land jobs despite employment uptick
Employment
rates / the difficulty of finding jobs directly out of college
VICKY DİAZ-CAMACHO
@vickyd_c
Sources: Forbes and the Economic Policy Institute
Even though the unemployment rate is at its lowest since May 2008, according to the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics report, some recent University graduates say it's still difficult to land a job.
Although employers are eager to hire recent graduates, they have trouble finding qualified candidates, according to a national online Career Builder survey of approximately 2,175 hiring managers and human resource professionals.
Rachel Buoye, a December 2014 graduate from the School of Journalism, said she thinks online career platforms, such as LinkedIn, make it difficult for employers to sift through the large volume of online resumes.
"I personally hate how everything is online now," Buoye said. "You never get to make a first impression in person anymore. And the requirements for some jobs labeled as 'entry-level' are ridiculous."
Bouye said many of the job descriptions she's read ask for applicants with five years of experience. To garner experience, she would need to find an internship — many of which are unpaid.
In 2014, the unemployment rate among college graduates rose to 8.5 percent compared with 5.5 percent in 2007, according to the Economic Policy Institute. The same report said the underemployment rate rate of those who don't have enough paid work — rose from 9.6 percent in 2007 to 16.8 percent last year.
At the University, graduate unemployment rates rose for the School of Journalism from 2.4 percent in 2013 to 6.3 percent in 2014, according to self-reports after six months
of graduation. However, unemployment rates for the School of Law decreased from approximately 14 percent in 2013 to 8 percent in 2014, according to its website.
The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences employment data shows that 50 of 700 recent graduates, or about 7 percent, were unemployed, according to the CLAS Destination Survey.
"It's been frustrating to say the least," Buoye said. "It's been almost six months and I still don't have a job."
Kelsee Evans, a May graduate who majored in graphic design, said employers are unclear about what they want.
"I currently have a list of 18 places I've applied," Evans said. "So then I send out [the first] 10 applications and I only get one call. Then I go to the interview and it's great, I think I've got it in the bag — I even send a handwritten thank-you note. Then nothing."
"The frustrating part is that as far as graphic design goes, I know there are jobs," Evans said.
She said only one out of the 18 jobs sent her an email that apologized and told her they "went in a different direction." Only two called her for an interview. She stressed over whether she'd need to move to a new city or renew her lease in Lawrence.
More graduates succeed in the job market if they decide to get advanced degrees, according to a study from the National Bureau of Education Statistics. But for those who don't, jobs are more difficult to locate.
Ramon Alvarado, a graduate student in the philosophy department, said he is only paid during the fall and spring semesters but must find an alternative option for the summer. Alvarado moved from El Paso, Texas, to Lawrence last year and this summer, he is jobless.
"There is no orientation about the financial reality of graduate student life. Sure, there are warnings, but no info about alternative avenues," Alvarado said. "Some people say that the info is out there if you care to look but I don't see why something so crucial couldn't be incorporated into the orientations."
"It is well known that roughing it is part of the grad student experience but a little more information can go a long way," he said.
Roughly 65 percent of employers said they'd hire college graduates, according to a survey of almost 6,000 employers by Career Builder. However, 10 percent of employers said recent graduates didn't have the appropriate degrees to fit the job description.
A survey by the Association of American Colleges and Universities showed that although 59 percent of students felt they applied skills they learned in college, only 23 percent of employers thought so. On average, students thought they were more prepared for the workforce but employers thought colleges fell short.
Buoye agrees. She said she was given conflicting advice when she started the job hunt.
"Parents tell you to call and follow up, but others say don't because it'll be annoying to the hiring manager," she said. "There have been jobs I've been really interested in that I wanted to follow-up on but didn't because of advice given."
The University spends an average of 3 percent of its budget on student services for a student's "emotional and physical well-being," according to the University expense report. Although the University offers career help with the application process, students are forced to compete with fellow graduates, Evans said.
"I have to explain why I'd be a good choice even though I'm straight out of college," Evans said. "I'm excited and motivated to have job in my field, but all people see is 'recent graduate' and I feel like they're turning the other direction."
But recent graduate Lily Sanders said not to be discouraged.
"Finding a job was harder than I thought it would be," Sanders said. "Having reputable internships and a college education doesn't guarantee you the perfect job. I definitely heard a few noes before I finally heard a yes."
Sanders said it took her about two and a half months before she found a job.
"Not having a job right after college is nothing to get disheartened or discouraged about," she said. "Finding the right job for you takes time and sometimes will even take longer than the whole summer."
The University Career Center hosts several resume building workshops during the academic year as well as career fairs that connect students with employers.
"Be persistent and don't be afraid to start small to gain experience," said Alex Johnson, coordinator of peer advisers at the Undergraduate Advising Center. "Don't be afraid to try new things and be open to trial and error."