Graduating During This Economic Climate: Part 1

You did it!

Your days of slaving away over midterms, finals and procrastinating on projects are finally over. Whatever your work ethic, as long as it got the job done, it brought you to a monumental milestone in your life-graduation day.

For many graduates it will be the final hurdle of their academic careers before diving into the infinite pool of competition and responsibilities called the “real world”. It should feel amazing, right? To be done. To have accomplished something not everyone can say they had the discipline to see through. It’s true, the saying that college isn’t for everyone. But if it was for you, graduating during one of the most unstable economic climates since the Great Depression is a bittersweet success.

As a print journalism major, my communications professors spent years teaching me the craft of writing, but not without prepping me for the realities of pursuing a dwindling trade. With newspapers reporting indefinite layoffs, magazines folding and publications struggling to compete with the rabid popularity of instant online news, I knew the prospects for a seamless transition from full-time student to full-time journalist were meager. If not for my fascination to captivate readers through the vivid imagery of words, I would have left writing as a hobby and opted for a more stable major. Though stability sure is lovely, it just wasn’t enough to make me give up on my passion.

So here I am, a 2009 university graduate with a Bachelors Degree in Communications, but what now?

Coming to terms with the cons of my major was one thing. Surviving the downward spiral of the economic climate has become another. Unfortunately, the latter is leaving a huge dent in the dreams of recent and future grads all across the board. Massive layoffs have infiltrated more than just the writing world; it’s affecting teachers, civil engineers, business owners, marketing professionals, architects you name it and it’s most likely taken a hit from the economic downturn.

Having to wade through the storm of our country’s financial crisis is exhausting. Finding a job let alone one in your chosen profession can be challenging. Fulfilling your goal of becoming that prized professional after years of intense schooling may continue to be a grueling process, but it is not impossible. Like any battle one tries to conquer, victory is a matter of having the proper game plan for the proper execution and understanding your obstacles is key.

Exploring the statistics and studies of the work environment (or lack thereof) that we grads are embarking upon will make maneuvering through the madness a bit easier. So don’t let these disadvantages overshadow your drive. Re-evaluating your route to success is merely a state of mind. The silver lining amidst the turmoil of this economic shift is there. You just have to know where to look and how to see it.

Before sharing the tips and tricks that have kept my grad spirits afloat during the uncertainty, what are some of the motivating forces fueling your perseverance through these trying times?

-Ericka is a guest blogger for TheOnlineGrapevine.