Universities Weblog

You've heard the jokes: an English major ends up scooping frozen yogurt for a living, or the Ph.D. recipient is stuck running a cashier at Wal-Mart. The scenarios are humorous in a ridiculous sort of way, but it's no laughing matter for students really going through experiences like these.

Perhaps the aforementioned jobs are a bit extreme, but many, many college grads are frustrated with the dearth of opportunities in their field of interest.

Lorraine Espiritu said she considers herself lucky for never having to take a waitressing or sales job after graduating from San Joaquin delta college.

But some college grads don't have such career success.

According to 2002 figures for Stockton and Lodi from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the five occupations with the most openings - cashiers, salespeople, food service, laborers and truck drivers - aren't those that require college degrees.

Many recent graduates are faced with the decision of taking a job to pay their bills or searching for a career stepping stone that may not pay as much initially.

I see students of mine grapple with this very issue, and I none-too-fondly remember going through the same thing myself. Despite graduating with high honors and with several publications under my belt, it was a long time until I found a relevant job. I even had to experience the horrors of a temp agency. If there's one thing I want you to remember, it's this: Hang in there. It may seem impossible at first, but it does get better.

Julie Juarez, a recent San Jose State University graduate, is working full-time as a staffing coordinator at the downtown Lodi employment agency Hedy Holmes, while attending a combination master's degree and teaching credential program at National University in Stockton.

"You can work an office job and get paid comparably to starting out as a teacher," Juarez said. But she said she knows all her hard work will pay off in the end.

Have you experienced a similar situation, or are you worried about what you'll do when you graduate? Can those of you who've landed your 'dream job' share some tips with us?

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