Seniors plan for post graduate options, work

by Vicky Martinez
Staff Writer

Graduating seniors not only have to be concerned about their classes, grades and the required credits for graduation, but also have to worry about their future careers.

Due to the economic recession, employment opportunities for recent college graduates might not seem too bright. However, with a little bit of research and a careful exploration of the job market and demands, finding a job will not be that difficult.

Sometimes when choosing a degree that is non job-specific, like accounting, education or engineering, it can be tough to figure out exactly what to do. This is particularly true for liberal arts majors because they have developed a number of transferable skills that any employer could benefit from. Some students buy into the idea that they have to stay within the confines of careers that somehow relate to their major, not realizing that they can "color outside the lines" if they want to.

There are a number of factors involved in making a good choice, but it all begins with some serious self-evaluation.

When looking for a job, it is important to have a clear idea of what you want. Many seniors find themselves unsure of what they are going to do with their degrees.

First of all, career advisors recommend seeking for what appeals to students within their field. Also, students should look into other fields where their skills and aptitudes can be helpful. This will enlarge employment opportunities.

Graduate student's workshops, such as the career fair that ULV hosts every year, can help students find a different path on their chosen career. Another great source for finding career and job information is the Internet. There are many organizations, private and governmental, which help recent college graduates find alternative jobs within their fields. Some sources that can help students are "America's Career", the "Big Book of Jobs" and the "Encyclopedia of Careers and Vocational Guidance". However, if graduating students already have a career plan but are unsure of the potential salary in their field, they can also visit Executive Pay Watch at www.aflcio.org/paywatch; or Job Smart at www.jobsmart.org/tools/salary and Salary.com at www.salary.com. These web sites can be useful to gather more information on different fields and their supplemental requirements. A detailed resume and a professional cover letter are important assets that can help graduates obtain suitable jobs for their qualifications.

The key in finding the best available jobs is information. With the right information more options are explored and better career decision can be made.

A great number of graduating students also look at the end of their college life as an opportunity to travel and see the world.

Organizations such as the Peace Corps give recent college graduates the opportunity of going abroad throughout their volunteers program.

To become a Peace Corps volunteer, an applicant must meet certain education and work experience requirements.

When evaluating an applicant, the Peace Corps consider the "whole persona" including life experiences, community involvement, volunteer work, motivations and even hobbies.

In most cases, applicants with a bachelor's degree in any discipline, strong motivation and a commitment to Peace Corps service will be competitive to become Peace Corps volunteers. The jobs provided by the Peace Corps are generally in rural areas of Africa, Central and East Asia, Europe and the Mediterranean, Central and South America and the Caribbean.

Before volunteers begin a formal service with the Peace Corps, they will receive three months of training to prepare them for their assignment and help them integrate into their new overseas community. Throughout their two years of service, the Peace Corps provide regular training sessions and workshops that help volunteers accomplish their jobs. Moreover, the training volunteers receive and skills they learn will help them become more marketable when they come home and start their new career

In today's global marketplace, fluency in foreign languages, international experience, and cross-cultural understanding are highly sought-after assets in many sectors of our increasingly global economy.

The Peace Corps also provide training in more than a 100 languages and dialects. Volunteers receive intensive language instruction and many of them become fluent in more than one language while they are working overseas.

The benefits of Peace Corps include scholarships for those who want to pursue a master's or doctorate after their volunteering. For some schools there is a deferment of Stanfford Loans, Perkins Loans and Consolidation Loans. After three months of training and two years of volunteer service , $6,075 is paid to the volunteers beside a monthly living allowance.

Careers for graduating seniors are out there. Students must take time to research and look in the right places for opportunities.

ULV graduating seniors, and all seniors, can scratch out one of their worries.