Right after graduation, students should feel ready to start their professional careers with all the knowledge they learned in college. Whether that is the case or not is up for debate. Too often, students graduate and have a hard time navigating the real-world job market. Of course, the job market, including internships, is extremely competitive, even if the university claims to prepare graduates for success.
While some students feel confident that Monmouth University has provided them with the skills and connections they need to succeed, others question whether the support systems and career opportunities offered are enough to help graduates stand out in today’s competitive job market. The Outlook editors reflected on these experiences, discussing how well Monmouth sets students up for success, how prepared they feel, and what improvements could be made to strengthen that transition from classroom to career.
When asked how well Monmouth sets students up to get a job in their field, editors generally agreed that the University provides resources and opportunities, but that students must take initiative to benefit from them. One editor shared, “I believe that there are quite a lot of opportunities and connections that Monmouth provides for graduating students. With that being said, Monmouth has set up those opportunities, and it’s our responsibility as students to take them and do what needs to be done.”
However, not every department seems to offer the same level of preparation. “They often host career fairs relative to each major, which is helpful,” said one editor. “Whether it’s effective,or not, though, is a different story. In my opinion, I think Monmouth sets up certain majors better than others.” The idea that some programs offer more hands-on experience is a common concern among students.
When asked how prepared they would feel if they were to graduate right now, editors’ responses ranged from confident to cautious. Some students felt ready to step into their fields, while others were anxious about entering a tough job market. One editor shared, “I truly do feel quite prepared. Between hands-on experience and help from professors who have assisted me in my field of study, I feel that I am prepared to go into the field that I want to pursue.”
Others expressed more hesitation. “I feel decently prepared to graduate, but super nervous to be out in the job world,” said one editor. “Unfortunately, it’s tough out there right now, and everyone has to pave their own way,” they added.
Another editor admitted to feeling less confident, saying, “If I were to look for a job right now, I’d feel pretty iffy about it. The job market is not good right now, and I haven’t done an internship yet, so I think it would be difficult at first.”
Editors agreed that Monmouth does make an effort to help students build career-ready skills, particularly through hands-on learning. “First and foremost, the university provides many hands-on experiences, especially in the communication department,” one editor explained.
“From the radio station to Hawk TV and The Outlook, we are learning from real-world positions and roles. In addition, career development is there to assist when it comes to resumes, LinkedIn, headshots, etc.”
Other editors praised the university’s networking opportunities across departments. “The university has various opportunities for networking, like panels, events, and alumni experts,” one shared. “I’ve been to several of these events, and there’s not a time when I don’t leave feeling inspired or with contacts. And those aren’t even in the Comm Department!”
When asked what Monmouth could do to help students feel more prepared, editors offered a range of thoughtful suggestions. “I would like to see Monmouth incorporate classes that help us gain more knowledge about real-world scenarios,” said one. “There are students who struggle financially and might not know entirely how to steward their money when they graduate. I think classes like that would really help us to be even more prepared.”
Another editor called for more attention to specific academic interests. “I would like to see the communication department do more for print journalism and media,” they said. “While it’s not the most popular communication field, there are still those of us who want to work at newspapers or magazines.”
A third editor mentioned the need for more variety at campus events: “Bring a wider variety of organizations to the career fairs. It’s the same organizations every year. Changing it up can go a long way.”
As editors reflected, it was clear that they believe Monmouth provides a strong foundation, but students must be the ones actively engaging with it.
Ultimately, as one editor summarized, Monmouth can prepare students well “if we meet the university halfway.”