Extern’s Post

Today's challenging reality in colleges - While many institutions boast about providing campus placements to students, the truth behind these placements often reveals a different story. Students may initially rejoice at securing a job through their college's efforts, only to discover that the role doesn't align with their educational background. Recently, I encountered a candidate who shared his disillusionment after landing a job in an MNC through his college, only to find himself relegated to administrative tasks despite his qualifications. When he reached out to the college for support, he was met with the disheartening response that he must navigate his own path to career advancement. Frustrated, he returned home and began his job search anew. After interviewing him, I realized his potential and placed him within my technical team at the same salary, where he now thrives in a role that utilizes his academic strengths. This anecdote reflects the harsh truth of today's education system, where colleges prioritize quantity over quality, leaving students ill-prepared for the workforce. Despite this, it's essential to acknowledge that opportunities exist beyond MNCs, with smaller companies like ours offering meaningful employment based on merit and a willingness to learn. What I'm trying to convey is that starting something new can be tough at first, but once we get the hang of it, it gets easier. However, in this situation, the initial step is misleading, as it's designed to benefit someone else rather than the person taking it. 😑 #fresher #students

Not remotely surprised by this. As I've mentioned here before, I just finished teaching a group of 14 college interns this semester, as I have done for decades. By and large, few of them had any real professional job experience. #Graduates will be caught flat footed as they get ready to launch after graduation because they are products of a #liberalarts education, which by design does not prepare anyone for an actual "career." I love doing #careercoaching for this very reason. My simple advice to graduates is and always has been to seek out job experience *before* you graduate! https://lnkd.in/gngFqEqx. #newgrads #classof2024 #jobmarket

Think your college placement directly translates to your dream salary? This might not be the straight and narrow truth we're led to believe. Ever believed obtaining your dream salary is linearly related to your college placement? It may, unfortunately, not be as simplistic. 💡Cracking the Code: The Truth Behind College Placement💡 ✔️Misconception: A golden placement from college equals a golden paycheck. ❌Reality: The straight-and-narrow path of college placement may not lead directly to a dream job. Here's the hard truth: 🔹All industries do not value academic qualifications over practical skills. Especially in sectors like entrepreneurship and tech, what can set you apart is your abilities and hands-on experience. 🔹Job market fluctuations can be unpredictable and region-specific. Not all qualifications hold equal significance everywhere. It's vital to stay updated about ongoing market trends, rather than relying solely on your degree. 🔹Success is often the result of individual hustle. Simply having a degree is not enough when you're up against relentless competition; networking, internships, and mastering relevant skills could be decisive. 🔹Your journey doesn't end with graduation - it merely begins. With multiple candidates vying for finite opportunities, standing out becomes essential, and a comprehensive profile might just be the key. 🗝️Wisdom Nugget: College placement might be an advantage, but it's far from being the only determining factor for your career graph. Emphasize honing skills, creating lasting relationships in your field, and staying flexible in the face of industry changes. 💼💡 👉Time to talk! Have you felt the influence and also the constraints of college placement? Pen your comments below! 👇💭 📘🎓🌟 #TruthAboutCollegePlacement #CareerGuidance #JobMarketPerceptions Have you felt your career track to be heavily influenced by your college placement? Do share your stories and reflections below! 📝👇 Do you think expertise or qualifications hold more weightage in today's evolving job market? Let's hear your thoughts! 💬 What was your biggest learning from job hunting after graduation? Share your experiences! ✨👇 Do you agree that practical skills often outweigh academic qualifications in today's job market? Let's discuss! 💬 #ReachifyMe

Really good article from Peter Coy. While the stats about un/underemployment are very scary, that is not proof that "There aren’t enough college-level jobs out there for all of you." While "52% of college grads are underemployed," there are in fact plenty of jobs evidenced by the number of companies with open roles that would be perfect. The real issue is not a supply of jobs or demand by candidates (or even a "skills gap"), but rather a matching problem. Specifically, many college students and recent grads aren't able to do the level of career exploration to help them understand what is the right role or demonstrate their skills. In addition, most employers limit their candidate pool based upon academic pedigree (ie school, major, GPA) and don't effectively build their employer brand on campus. In fact, looking at the 55% first year attrition rather provides more evidence of this issue. This is why I am such a big believer in #MicroInternships. These short-term, professional projects provide the opportunity for students and employers to "date" so they can be better prepared and make more informed decisions.

Even as students and parents increasingly worry about rising college costs and the value of degrees, the news about the career prospects for college grads continues to be good. As National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) President and CEO Shawn VanDerziel recently noted, “[M]ore than three-quarters of responding employers rate the job market for the Class of 2024 from good to excellent.” Encouraging students to use the resources of their college or university’s career services is key. NACE has found that students who engage with career centers get more jobs and paid internships than those who do not. So in the face of these headwinds about college and the returns students receive, institutions of higher ed will be well-served by supercharging their career services to help students navigate the labor market and help launch or reboot their careers. Read more in my latest Forbes piece here: https://lnkd.in/g7XH4HYJ #highereducation #workforce #jobs #career #careercounseling #careerservices

Interesting new research about how luck determines pay in the first job after college and cancels out advantaged class backgrounds, connections, higher GPAs and more internships. In the midtier labor market studied: "...employers are so opaque in their hiring practices and starting salaries that students from advantaged backgrounds are unable to use their resources and connections to gain a leg up. Furthermore, hiring managers for entry-level positions vary greatly in the skills and experiences they value, making it impossible for an applicant to leverage privilege in an interview. Based on hundreds of interviews with business school graduates and the employers that subsequently hired them, Streib’s book ultimately argues that college is not, in itself, the great equalizer; the impossible-to-navigate job market is." Since information about where and how applicants will be selected is hidden (bad) and class-neutral (good) students have to guess where and how to get ahead. This seems less true later on in careers, but it demonstrates that hiring (and promoting) is not as transparent as it should be. Once you are inside an organization, it is critical to take the effort to ask and ask again about what really matters in your organization and to understand how promotions are really awarded. https://lnkd.in/g6ijciwi

What do you all think about this? Graduates can't find work because employers say they aren't prepared. My takeaway? I'm doing exactly what I'm supposed to be doing with my academic and professional students. Here's how you can help: I need employers willing to help me invest in our young people. How? - Paid Internships (flexible to fit a student's schedule during the school year) and Part-Time roles - Guest Speakers (in person and virtual) - Job Shadowing and Informational interviewing opportunities I need professional associations to open student chapters for my students to engage with at discounted or $0 membership rates. I need organizations, small and large, non-profit and for-profit to invest in expert professional development for their participants and/or employees through Level Up Management, LLC. ***My colleagues*** There's a solution here. We can't let our young people suffer like this. Let’s be creative. Let's take risk. Let's get it done. https://lnkd.in/gQ3kmmVv

🎓 The latest outlook for job-hunting grads this spring looks promising, as explained in the attached article, but preparation remains key for a solid career launch. With employers expecting a slight dip in hiring compared to recent years, graduates are still entering a market hungry for their skills. Parents, are your college students ready for their summer internships? Now is the time to ensure they're equipped for success. As college costs rise and questions about the value of degrees grow, career preparation becomes increasingly crucial. BlueOwl is here to help your students navigate the job market with confidence. Our comprehensive career coaching and modernized services empower students to seize opportunities and launch successful careers. From internships to job placement, we're dedicated to supporting students every step of the way. Don't wait until graduation to prepare for the future. Visit helloblueowl.com to discover how we can help your college student pave the way to career success today! 🚀💼 #JobSearch #SummerInternships #BlueOwl #CareerPreparation https://lnkd.in/gpreh2NA