Unemployed Youth
Over the past several days, I’ve been in discussion with a number of people on how the recession is preventing recent college grads from finding employment. Some believe the economy is to blame for the inability of youth to land meaningful employment. Others believe there are deeper forces at play. Read this and decide for yourself.
Here’s what was recently shared with me.
- “Can you find me a job that starts at 11:00 AM? I’m up late at night because I play in a rock band.” Son of an executive.
- “When will I get promoted so I don’t have anyone telling me what to do?” Recent graduate of a private college.
- “We are going to move to a smaller home so our son can’t come back and live with us when he graduates.” Frustrated parent of a soon-to-be college graduate.
What I didn’t hear from either parents or their off spring was the following:
- “I’ve contacted over a hundred places and I haven’t been able to get any interviews.”
- “Maybe I need to go back to school and pick a major where there are actually jobs.”
- “I need to adjust my expectations, as paying my dues no longer sounds like such a bad thing.”
College placement offices are doing their best, but your kid has to do their part as well. Before you blame the economy, ask your child the following questions.
- Have you made an appointment with the college placement office or the alumni placement office?
- How many people, excluding Facebook friends, have you personally contacted this week regarding work?
- Are you willing to give up your night gig so that you can get a full-time gig during traditional work hours?
Then ask yourself the following:
- What if anything am I doing to contribute to this situation? For example, is home so comfortable that my kid doesn’t appear to be leaving any time soon?
- Is the weekly “allowance” that I’m giving my kid preventing him or her from growing up?
- Am I ready to kick my kid off the couch and take my home back?
It’s tough to be a parent and it’s even harder to play the role of job coach. Kids tune parents out and are more apt to listen when someone, other than a parent, is telling them what needs to be done. If you are ready to let your child become the adult you know they can be, then consider hiring a neutral third-party who will get the job done. The holidays are right around the corner. Give you child a gift that keeps on giving. The gift of financial independence.
I’d like to hear the reasons why you think today’s college grads aren’t finding work. Please post your comments on the blog. Would also love to hear from college grads who have found work.
