Yay for me, I've done it. I am now a college graduate. Okay well, I actually graduated in October of last year - which brings me to the actual topic of my blog entry.
What a horrible time to graduate.
Let me explain.
When I first decided to go back to school, I had high hopes of becoming a history teacher. I was torn between teaching for high school - where minds were still young and impressionable - or teaching in college - where students sign up for courses that truly interest them and (generally) think more critically. After extensive checking, I learned that to be eligible for a teaching certificate in my state at the high school level, I needed a minimum of a bachelor's degree with at least 9 social sciences credits.
So, now I hold a Bachelor's degree, and according to my transcripts I have 21 credits in social sciences. I should be golden, right?
Oh, how wrong we are...
I'm not sure when the criteria changed, but now they require a Master's in History. Which means more money to pay for more schooling. So... okay, no problem. I minored in business management - I'll use that to find a job, I thought, and go back for my Master's when I'm a little more settled financially (the divorce has been rather rough on me monetarily).
But, alas, no one seems to want to hire me. I applied for several management positions across the city, only to be told by each that I don't have enough recent working experience. They don't consider my experience here on the faculty to be truly "working experience" because I don't actually oversee employees. ADP - for whom I'd applied for a human resources management position, suggested that I apply for an entry level position to gain the working experience they would require.
So - I did. I buckled, swallowed my pride, and after working as a manager for 10 years in radio stations across the country, I applied for an entry level position - a customer service agent in their in-bound call center. Do you think I got the job?
Nope - I'm over-qualified! They couldn't possibly give me that job - because with my level of experience and knowledge, another job would scoop me up and they would lose too much money.
What a farse.
Of course, I wouldn't have this problem if I had decided to continue working while going to school. I feel as though I'm being punished, somehow, for making the choice to stay home while at school - as though making that choice made me somehow less of a person - unworthy of the jobs that they would offer. Someone once warned me that if every job continues to require a Bachelor's degree, then the value of attaining that degree would plummit - and pretty soon those people who hold such a degree will be the bottom of the barrel. I guess they were right.
This is the kind of harsh reality we college students need to be aware of. So...obviously, great choice of topic, even if it is depressing to those who weren't aware of how the Real World (*lightni...
I completely agree.
And sadly, it's making me more dumb :(
When I was in high school, I took the SATs and I scored a 1520 - which at the time, considering it was a score out of 1600 possible, was a great score. It was something I was very proud of considering that I had been kicked out of school the year before and had to return and try to graduate with my class. Yet, now the scales are different, with something like 1800 points possible. So now when I give my SAT scores people look at me like "why do you think that's such a big deal"?
And the GPA system has changed as well. In my high school it was a 4 point scale. Now it seems many school are changing over to a 5 point scale - rendering my 4.0 GPA the equivalent of a "B" in today's world. It's crazy!
I also remember being preached to all the time; if I wanted to make it in this world, I had better go to college. And since we had no money growing up, the only way I was going to get in there was some sort of merit scholarship because, as you said, only the rich could really go with ease. Now I meet people whom I wouldn't trust to be able to walk my dog - and they have a college degree. I wonder if this is a symptom that colleges just want their money? Now they'll let anyone in? It used to be prestigious to go - now it seems more like an everyday thing - like taking your driver's test or getting through grade school. It's turned from this great, special achievement to something expected.
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"when you have nothing else to say, "Fwonk" is always the perfect thing."
"yeah well, fwonk"
--Devon
Fanaile Essence
I think that, in part, also has to do with how high school is tuned now. The expectations are lower in high school, so colleges are forced to lower theirs if they want pretty much anyone enrolling, because those they only used to take are getting fewer and fewer.
As for your test scores and GPA, I recommend including the scale when possible, and converting it to what your score would be on the other scale for when it's not (I say it that way, because the former will be more accurate and less likely to be misconstrued than the latter). So your 1520/1600 would be more like a 1710/1800 (score from when you took it, divided by scale when you took it, multiplied by scale now), and your 4.0 would actually be a 5.0 (same formula). If you have to use the converted numbers, if you can, make note of the actual score and scale, in case they look it up and can't do math.
Also, make sure to note any achievements (and make sure to note that yes, ProU is a real institution, not just some random dotcom, if you mention it; one of the people I interviewed for was actually quite impressed when I talked about what I did here) that you've attained. Things like Who's Who and class rank also go a long way in showing your commitment for what you do, as well as clubs that you were in.
Oh, and thanks for inspiring me for my next blog post. :)
I am treated as evil by people who claim that they are being oppressed because they are not allowed to force me to practice what they do. ~D. Dale Gulledge
You know, I talked a lot about the work I did here on my medical school interviews, and the interviewers looked at me either as if they didn't care, or they didn't see what the big deal was. Then, when I interviewed for the job I have now, I was able to apply the experience a lot more because working as I do on the site is a lot of customer service... I have to make sure as many people as possible are happy with the site. But because I don't work with live people, don't get paid, and work largely with high school and college students, a lot of people don't see it as anything particularly special.
~C
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Interesting.
But maybe these interviewers just don't see how a person can still be a person, even if they respond through email or a private message instead of with his/her voice over phone. It's still customer service IMO. I mean, I've had to email and IM people with questions for customer service and that's real.
I guess even though we're all used to it, the Internet is still this new, mysterious media that isn't looked too seriously upon.
Most people don't consider it as real life experience, they just think it is play but they do need to see that Michelle and Fallon, Fanaille, and Sarah, Dragonwolf, Blackout, do a lot.
well there are many others, I just don't want to list all the names, there are many more.
forgot tanya, and you too :]
“You cannot wean away an addict from the drug. It is not possible for me to walk away from Ranjha. If it is our destiny to be together then who, other than God, can change it?”
she's a spaceman, no walker, dreamer...maybe
Hah, indeed, there are a bunch of us, and there's a lot more work put into this (and other sites) than what most people think. Fanaille is always working on improvements to the site itself (I can't wait for some of the new toys she has planned), and we're always trying to figure out ways to keep the scholarship going, through fundraising and budgeting and whatnot.
I am treated as evil by people who claim that they are being oppressed because they are not allowed to force me to practice what they do. ~D. Dale Gulledge
That must be really frustrating. You'll definitely be in my prayers as you're searching for a job!
Is there any way you could teach elementary with the education you have? Even if it's just ...
Aww, thanks for that :)
As far as teaching, so far the only thing I've found that I'm qualified for is substitute teaching, which I had already been doing. I quit soon after finding out that the hours I was putting in as a substitute wouldn't count at all toward the hours required as a student teacher to get a teacher's license.
I am looking into various programs. We have an organization here called the Texas Teachers Fellowship that helps some of us acquire our teacher's certification while teaching at an inner-city school. There are only four cities in the state of Texas that offer this program, and my city is one of them. But, it looks to be highly competitive as well - only accepting so many applicants every year. And they don't offer History (or any of the social sciences) - only Mathematics and life sciences. As much as I enjoy science and I'm okay at Math - I much prefer History.
But, we shall see. If they accept me into the program I might just change my mind about it and go for the science, lol.
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"when you have nothing else to say, "Fwonk" is always the perfect thing."
"yeah well, fwonk"
--Devon
Fanaile Essence
Have you looked into Teach for America? I was briefly considering going that route last year when I didn't get accepted to any medical schools (and a bachelor's in biology means next to nothing now), but opted not to because teaching isn't really my thing. I know math and science teachers are favored, but I think they were open to just about anyone, and it was the same basic concept. Ours was in Denver, but I'm sure you could find something where you are. Can't hurt trying, at any rate.
~C
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Well, there goes my suggestion of substitute teaching. :-/ Would being a teacher's aide or tutoring count at all? Or TAing at a college/university?
"What a crazy random happenstance!"
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If they are anything like the programs in MN, NOTHING counts toward student teaching except student teaching. Even licensed teachers who are currently teaching, but are seeking additional licensure, have to pay tuition and do an unpaid student teaching stint. Their commitment is shorter than that of unlicensed teachers, but the fact that they have to do it at all seems little redundant, and borderline insulting.
"Never go with a hippy to a second location."
~Jack Donaghy
http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/ediblewoman
Teach for America is also good as mvenus mentioned, though extremely competitive - I'm a physics major graduating this year with some mentoring experience, and I didn't get in. My plan is, unless I find my calling, go to grad school in 2010 (oh ten?) after a year off. The job market looks cruddy all around so that's prolly how it'll go down. With any luck I'll score a fellowship and pay little to nothing for grad school (it happens pretty often in physics). Maybe there are history fellowships?
out there, in the real world...I don't know what to say other than my own sob story, two years ago when I wanted a job, I was told by my parents just focus on school and now two years later, I want a job too, and my parents want me to work but the market is like that...that's just how it goes and how things are.
“You cannot wean away an addict from the drug. It is not possible for me to walk away from Ranjha. If it is our destiny to be together then who, other than God, can change it?”
she's a spaceman, no walker, dreamer...maybe
...is the one on how to get a job and it is the next thing you need to study and practice (work at).
I've hired over a thousand people in the past 20+ years, and interviewed thousands more. Most people of every education level are poorly prepared to find a job. Here are a few pointers, many books exist on this topic and go into greater depth.
Finding a job is a 'sales' job. You are selling yourself.
1) Persistence - You have to sell the prospect, If you take no for an answer you let the prospect sell it to you. Always follow up with at least a call, though a thank you note is also a nice touch. Employers are surrounded with less than brilliant enthusiasm. Prove you really want the job more than anyone else they interview, and then remind the employer you still want it.
2) Prospecting - Throw a big net. Ask everyone you know if they know of any openings. Call people that you haven't spoken to in a while, bring up your job search in conversation even with strangers. Many of the best jobs never hit the classifieds. Employers like to hire referrals because someone they know is willing to vouch for you.
3) Be ready to interview the interviewer. Have several questions about the company/position ready. This makes you look less desperate, and more experienced/intelligent. Asking about the career path of the interviewer is one tactic that can work well since most people like to talk about themselves more than they like to hear you talk about yourself. Especially if you actively listen to everything they say. Questioning and listening will often give you crucial information that you can use to focus on portions of your qualifications that are most pertinent to the position. Don't talk too much, but don't hesitate to 'close' by asking questions such as: When do I start? What will my starting pay be? By asking specific questions about the position you actually have the interviewer beginning to train you or start the orientation process. This is your lead in for an assumptive close.
4) Work your job search like it was a full-time job you already have.
"A government which robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend on the support of Paul."
- George Bernard Shaw
I still think I got really lucky with my job... I interviewed on Tuesday for one position, and couldn't do the hours they were hiring for. Another position for hours I could work popped up that night, I applied, and got an offer on Friday.
But, there's not much you can do before the interview. Sure, you can sell yourself like crazy when at the interview, but you're at the mercy of the hiring organization beforehand. I applied to probably dozens of positions, and didn't get an interview with any of the hiring organizations (I had a preliminary interview with a temp agency sending applicants to the hiring organization) until the interview I had for the job I have now.
~C
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Thanks for the advice.
Part of my problem is that I've been very lucky up until this point - I've never gone job hunting, never gone on job interviews - none of that. As a manager at several radio stations and also at several restaurants in the past I've held several interviews, but have never had to go on any myself. My past jobs always found a way of falling - quite literally - into my lap.
I know it was unrealistic for me to think that such luck would last forever - especially when ungergoing a career change. But I was rather hoping that my past experience would also speak for itself - as it had before.
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"when you have nothing else to say, "Fwonk" is always the perfect thing."
"yeah well, fwonk"
--Devon
Fanaile Essence
Ouch. Yea, doesn't surprise me that you need a Master's to teach. I'm a college undergrad, so I'm not going to pretend to be able to speak authoritatively on this subject. But, isn't a liberal arts degree (such as history) good for a wide variety of jobs? The bad economy doesn't help with finding a job, either, but now is actually a great time to find internships, since many firms are temporarily replacing their paid employee positions with unpaid internships. And, most importantly, internships = work experience. Of course, you need money to live, so obviously internships are not helpful in that regard.
Of course, none of this necessarily helps you a great deal. I guess I'm just being very general- for all those current college students out there who are going to have to enter the job market in the next four years. And I wish the best to you, fanaile.