Jordan Myers
We all know the statistics. According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers, 19.7 percent of those who earned a diploma this year found a job, compared with 51 percent in 2007.
We all know the facts. Many of us have family and friends who have lost their jobs. As the real world approaches, we young graduates are competing against individuals twice our age with years of experience. However, there is hope for new PR graduates.
I’ve got a job. I graduated from DePaul University in June of 2009 with a B.A. in Public Relations and got a full-time job right out of school as the New Media Coordinator for DePaul University Admission. What does this mean for you? There ARE jobs out there.
But what really makes me different from the other 80 percent of gradates this year? Do I have a secret formula that will make all of your recession woes go away?
Almost 15 years ago, my dad was fired…on his birthday. He had his own personal economic crisis. Instead of talking about how bad his state of the union was and how our family was going to enter a recession, he went out and started his own company. Now 15 years and several challenges later, his technology company is going strong even during these tough times.
I learned through my dad’s experiences as an entrepreneur. He never made excuses. He never accepted failure as an option. He just got it done.
There are several areas that are booming: healthcare, higher education, and new media. The skills of a public relations practitioner are being sought after there. Maybe you were dead-set on working for a big PR firm. However, maybe now is the time to explore your other options where your talents are still useful.
“Get it done.”
It’s what my dad has always told me and it’s what I continue to tell myself. You’ve seen the tip lists, the newspaper articles and you know what to do. Quit waiting for the opportunities to come to you and just go out there and find them yourself.
I can’t tell you how many of my friends didn’t even try to get a job after graduating. They heard “recession” and ran home scared. While times are tough, there are opportunities out there. Make networking, researching and stalking employers your job for as long as it takes. Just “get it done.”
A recent graduate of DePaul University/Chicago, Jordan Myers is New Media Coordinator and Adminssion Representative in the university’s Office of Undergraduate Admission. He creates and manages social media initiatives aimed at reaching prospective students and parents.