As graduation rapidly approaches for the class of 2012, so does the job force. For the past few years, unemployment has risen, and many college graduates at all levels found themselves without jobs. Economists hypothesize that student loans will be the next economic bubble to burst. With the unemployment level continually rising in Atlanta, it seems like a lost cause for the next set of fresh graduates. However, that is not the case.
2012 graduates have a skill in their favor – knowing that a job or career in their respective fields is hard to find. They are the first set of graduates who went into college during the economic recession, so they were more aware of what they were up against. College graduates just prior to 2012 either enrolled during a much better looking economy or under the impression that the economy would be much better looking upon graduation.
With that mentality, the job search has often been endless and fruitless. But, this group is already on their way to finding jobs of all kinds to jump start their careers. Kendall Henderson, a recent graduate from SCAD-Atlanta, moved to Portland, Oregon, to work as an apparel designer for Nike. Though this job is far from a beginner’s job, he interned with them before his employment, and that did everything for the business relationship between the two. He suggests, “to take on any internship you can as long as it relates to your desired career choice. An internship is set up to be a learning experience, and it will teach students how to deal with themselves on a professional level without handing over too much responsibility. However, when it comes to jobs I would say to make a conscious decision about which jobs to pursue. Because each job has specific connections that can come from it and possibilities after it. Interning with a company that is looking to hire is the best possible means of finding a job that will be beneficial as well as fulfilling. As an intern you learn how the company works, and the people you work with.”
Many are in agreement with this statement, and students are beginning to embrace the unpaid internship in order to establish connections with potential employers. In short, this generation is all about the hustle. And although the hustle may not lead to the dream job immediately, it can certainly pave the way to it. As Kendall states, “My dream job is to work on my own, making my own clothing, or for a company that shares my same ideals about clothing. So this is a step in the right direction. I don’t consider myself a sports enthusiast at all, so its funny that I work at Nike. But I will learn a lot from this job, it is a dream job to have though. I couldn’t ask for better.”