Believe the [Negative] Hype... And Overcome It

By Eddie Earnest, Director of University Sales & Marketing, GF Education Group, Inc.

Let’s face it, you college students are stressed. In addition to dealing with the traditional stressors of college (keeping up that GPA, being actively involved on campus, looking for internships, balancing a social life, etc.), you also face something that many of us never had to encounter: the constant reminder that our faltering economy will leave most of you disappointed, to put it mildly, with your entry-level job prospects.

It is certainly true that an undergraduate degree does not guarantee anyone what it may once have (i.e. a job). As Christine Dugas of USA Today points out in the opening line of her recent editorial: “A college degree is no longer the ticket to the American Dream.” She outlines the key statistics that are being thrown in the faces of college juniors and seniors around the country on a regular basis, and I’m not suggesting that we ignore these:

Unemployment rate for 20-24 year olds has risen to a staggering 15%

Average student graduates with $24,000 in student loan debt

I am, however, suggesting (as Christine Dugas goes on to do) that there are a number of steps you can take to mitigate the risk of becoming a negative statistic upon graduating. Christopher Matgouranis and Jonathan Robe of the CCAP might argue that you should never have gone to college, but since you’re already there, focus on these tips:

1) Use NETWORKING tools, such as LinkedIn, heavily in your internship/job searches. It is estimated that 70% of jobs are found through networking.

2) Boost your RESUME. As the number of college graduates increases disproportionately (inversely is probably more accurate) with the number of jobs available, it is an absolute necessity to stand out on paper. This is often the first, and only, impression.

3) DIFFERENTIATE yourself. There are a number of ways to do this; focus on setting yourself apart from your peers (competitors) in the job market.

The Certified Business Laureate™ Exam and Credential was developed to provide ambitious students with an interest in business an opportunity in these three areas. Top scoring candidates will have exclusive access to the CBL Professional Network, which is comprised of representatives from companies in the Fortune 500, among others. For those of you who are not interested in going that extra mile, you can take comfort in knowing that there are always two sides to every story, and that things may not be so bad for this year’s graduating class (maybe).

In either case, recognize that it’s not the end of the world for you, the college student. You still have options, but it’s up to you to seek them out and take advantage of them.