College Degree and Jobs

**MLawrence** · 02-07-2011, 12:08 PM

I will admit that I am in an easier major, media studies or broadcast journalism, but I am hoping with internships and my involvement in extracurricular activities will help me find a job in the future. If that doesn't work out I'm sure that there are other avenues I could pursue.

**alarson** · 02-07-2011, 12:12 PM

Originally Posted by nickcyv

I think a big problem with my generation who has recently graduated is we were told to follow your dreams and all of that crap in high school and college. Find out what YOU are interested in. Well of course the vast majority of people are interested in easy majors in college or were pretty idealistic in their thinking until it we started looking for jobs. So there are a ton of us out here with Poli Sci, Comm., Phil., and other junk majors.

And at the same time told by everyone "go to college, get your degree, and you will have a job. dont worry about the loans, the job will pay for that". It somewhat made sense in the economy a lot of us grew up in. Now, with less jobs out there and more older americans choosing (many with no choice due to their retirement investments diminishing) to wait longer to retire (slowing down upward movement, and new entrants into the company), its a very hard time for many college graduates. And not just in the typical degrees with no job. Plenty of people with degrees that should be marketable unable to find work that justifies the loans theyre paying back, especially with how much more those loans are now as compared to 20 or even 10 years ago.

**wxman1** · 02-07-2011, 12:14 PM

Being a business management major I know that it is EXTREMELY broad at what I can do with it. I have a goal that is attainable and I have taken the steps to help make that happen outside of school. Many professors and your advisors stress networking and having done that it amazes me how much it helps not only to know people but to know what to do and to help you know what you want certain area you may want to go into.

**farminclone** · 02-07-2011, 12:21 PM

I feel pretty confident that if you major in Ag Business, Agronomy, Animal Science, etc. here at Iowa State you won't have much trouble finding a job in Iowa following graduation.

Maybe the College of Ag brainwashed me into thinking this too.

**cyclone13** · 02-07-2011, 12:22 PM

I wish a lot of high schools provide a lot of information about different fields to Juniors and Seniors so they have ideas on what certain fields do. That'll help a lot of students from risking themselves by having "undecided" major and taking classes that eventually are not recognized for the major they take.

One of my coworkers told me the story about her son that he took Criminal Justice as his major but after graduation, he found out that the openings in the state are almost zero. He wanted to work for the FBI but most likely will have to relocate and he didn't want to do so. Fortunately, he was able to find some sales job and is doing ok now. But the message is: he picked his major without knowing the available jobs after graduation and the jobs' price of admissions.

So schools can work with the alumni or even anyone from the area. Invite them to speak, explain what the job requires (e.g. degree, non-degree, price of admission, etc). Hopefully it'll help the students decide instead of just graduating with degree that they don't know what the degree is for.

**cyclone13** · 02-07-2011, 12:23 PM

Originally Posted by wxman1

Being a business management major I know that it is EXTREMELY broad at what I can do with it. I have a goal that is attainable and I have taken the steps to help make that happen outside of school. Many professors and your advisors stress networking and having done that it amazes me how much it helps not only to know people but to know what to do and to help you know what you want certain area you may want to go into.

This.
Unfortunately, not everyone knows what he/she can do with the major.

**wxman1** · 02-07-2011, 12:28 PM

Originally Posted by cyclone13

This.
Unfortunately, not everyone knows what he/she can do with the major.

Yup. This is my third major and I am loving it and am very excited for what I hope to do after graduating. Oh and this is not my dream that I had growing up and when I entered college. Things sometimes don't work out and god leads you somewhere else (my opinion) but chance, luck, and great guidance and support from my family and girlfriend have helped me out tremendously.

Basically don't be afraid to look into something just because your already doing something else you may be surprised how much you will like it and where it may lead you.

**edr247** · 02-07-2011, 12:31 PM

Originally Posted by cyclone13

I wish a lot of schools provide a lot of information about different fields to Juniors and Seniors so they have ideas on what certain fields do. That'll help a lot of students from risking themselves by having "undecided" major and taking classes that eventually are not recognized for the major they take.

One of my coworkers told me the story about her son that he took Criminal Justice as his major but after graduation, he found out that the openings in the state are almost zero. He wanted to work for the FBI but most likely will have to relocate and he didn't want to do so. Fortunately, he was able to find some sales job and is doing ok now. But the message is: he picked his major without knowing the available jobs after graduation and the jobs' price of admissions.

So schools can work with the alumni or even anyone from the area. Invite them to speak, explain what the job requires (e.g. degree, non-degree, price of admission, etc). Hopefully it'll help the students decide instead of just graduating with degree that they don't know what the degree is for.

This x1000. The FBI makes it pretty clear that you should be willing to relocate. I'd think that would be the same for most federal jobs.

Actually, I have to ask. Were there other circumstances that led him to not want to relocate (ie dependents, health, family...You don't have to be say which)? Because I'd think that for most of us young adults who've recently graduated, moving around the country should be too difficult, unless you've got a wife/significant other + kid, or if you have to stay close to ailing parents, etc.

**Dopey** · 02-07-2011, 12:32 PM

Originally Posted by cyclone13

I wish a lot of schools provide a lot of information about different fields to Juniors and Seniors so they have ideas on what certain fields do. That'll help a lot of students from risking themselves by having "undecided" major and taking classes that eventually are not recognized for the major they take.

One of my coworkers told me the story about her son that he took Criminal Justice as his major but after graduation, he found out that the openings in the state are almost zero. He wanted to work for the FBI but most likely will have to relocate and he didn't want to do so. Fortunately, he was able to find some sales job and is doing ok now. But the message is: he picked his major without knowing the available jobs after graduation and the jobs' price of admissions.

So schools can work with the alumni or even anyone from the area. Invite them to speak, explain what the job requires (e.g. degree, non-degree, price of admission, etc). Hopefully it'll help the students decide instead of just graduating with degree that they don't know what the degree is for.

I don't think that's the schools responsibility. The school wouldn't offer the major if people didn't want to take it, so you can't blame them.

I don't feel sorry for anyone who's major isn't also a job title. Engineering = Engineer. Architecture = Architect. Accounting = Accountant. Political Science = .....?

I feel even less sorry for people who feel the need to go to out of state or private schools just because they're different and the area they live in doesn't understand their emo ***. I'm going to make up a statistic and say probably 75% of undergrad programs are exactly the same. You might as well go to the in state public school and save yourself $20,000 per year.

**CtownCyclone** · 02-07-2011, 12:37 PM

Originally Posted by Dopey

I don't think that's the schools responsibility. The school wouldn't offer the major if people didn't want to take it, so you can't blame them.

I don't feel sorry for anyone who's major isn't also a job title. Engineering = Engineer. Architecture = Architect. Accounting = Accountant. Political Science = .....?

I feel even less sorry for people who feel the need to go to out of state or private schools just because they're different and the area they live in doesn't understand their emo ***. I'm going to make up a statistic and say probably 75% of undergrad programs are exactly the same. You might as well go to the in state public school and save yourself $20,000 per year.

Even better, if you don't know what you want to eventually do, you might be better served going to community college to knock out some gen eds. But that doesn't sound as cool when you have a buddy lording their lofty education over you.

**cyclone13** · 02-07-2011, 12:39 PM

Originally Posted by Dopey

I don't think that's the schools responsibility. The school wouldn't offer the major if people didn't want to take it, so you can't blame them.

I don't feel sorry for anyone who's major isn't also a job title. Engineering = Engineer. Architecture = Architect. Accounting = Accountant. Political Science = .....?

I feel even less sorry for people who feel the need to go to out of state or private schools just because they're different and the area they live in doesn't understand their emo ***. I'm going to make up a statistic and say probably 75% of undergrad programs are exactly the same. You might as well go to the in state public school and save yourself $20,000 per year.

I have to clarify that I mean: High School (not Colleges or Universities). HS can be a better job preparing high school students to select their major

**edr247** · 02-07-2011, 12:42 PM

Originally Posted by Dopey

I don't think that's the schools responsibility. The school wouldn't offer the major if people didn't want to take it, so you can't blame them.

I don't feel sorry for anyone who's major isn't also a job title. Engineering = Engineer. Architecture = Architect. Accounting = Accountant. Political Science = .....?

I feel even less sorry for people who feel the need to go to out of state or private schools just because they're different and the area they live in doesn't understand their emo ***. I'm going to make up a statistic and say probably 75% of undergrad programs are exactly the same. You might as well go to the in state public school and save yourself $20,000 per year.

Political Science = political scientist. Also, what about art majors? Art = Artist. Philosophy = Philosopher. Dance = Dancer.

It's not just about the actual major itself, but about what you put into it. You can pursue an engineering degree, but if you escape school with a C average (or whatever the minimum is), don't pursue internships/relevant jobs and slack off, would you stand a much better chance than all the others who pursued 'easy' or 'worthless' majors?

Also, I'd argue that more people should leave their hometowns and pursue educational opportunities elsewhere. If you know what you want to do, you can find programs that are better than the one in your state or (more often) in your hometown. There are plenty of places that aren't much more expensive, and you can always find ways to help lower the cost (without having to pay it back). Otherwise, you find people who've never left the state, simply because they've just been too afraid of change.

**cyclone13** · 02-07-2011, 12:42 PM

Originally Posted by edr247

This x1000. The FBI makes it pretty clear that you should be willing to relocate. I'd think that would be the same for most federal jobs.

Actually, I have to ask. Were there other circumstances that led him to not want to relocate (ie dependents, health, family...You don't have to be say which)? Because I'd think that for most of us young adults who've recently graduated, moving around the country should be too difficult, unless you've got a wife/significant other + kid, or if you have to stay close to ailing parents, etc.

Not sure why he didn't want to do so (my coworker didn't tell me about it) but from what I concluded: he really likes a structured lifestyle and relocating is not considered "structured". Another reason why he didn't want to go to local law enforcement as it requires working "non-conventional hours" (8-5)

**CykoAGR** · 02-07-2011, 12:46 PM

If you are a recent college grad or going to be one in the near future dont "hold out" for that job that will pay you 75-100k right out of college. If you do this you are more likely to end up like someone else said serving latte's at Starbucks (not that anything is wrong with that but it doesnt pay unless you own the store!)

Take a job with the best company that you can your first job after grad. Once your foot is in the door it makes it much easier to move up and around to a job that pays better and/or you enjoy more.

Dont expect to run the place right after you get hired, shut you mouth put your head down and work you *** off and within a few years you will start to be noticed or you will at least have enough experience that you can get a different job in the company or move to another company.

**Ms3r4ISU** · 02-07-2011, 12:47 PM

Originally Posted by cyclone13

Not sure why he didn't want to do so (my coworker didn't tell me about it) but from what I concluded: he really likes a structured lifestyle and relocating is not considered "structured". Another reason why he didn't want to go to local law enforcement as it requires working "non-conventional hours" (8-5)

Oh, lord, why in the world could someone who's graduated from college even think that working for the FBI in most any category would help a person maintain a structured lifestyle? Especially if said person didn't want law enforcement as a career/job "because" it had non-conventional hours. If that's the only reason he turned away from LE, I think we're all better off.

Perhaps a more interesting question is, "did his college life provide enough structure for his preferred lifestyle?"