Dean of Humanities Shares His Insights
It is quickly becoming an assumption of the times that recent college graduates and current college students are the most stressed out generation in the U.S. This is correlated with the economic times, which seems to have squashed many college students’ aspirations to begin careers (notice I did not say get jobs) in areas of their interest – especially if they are liberal arts majors.
There are certainly elements of truth in these observations. However, I would offer this reality is at least in part self-fulfilling and moreover that Monmouth students can overcome many career barriers by taking advantage of the career mentoring opportunities the university offers.
Let me being by discussing some things students should be doing during their Monmouth careers in order to prepare for the life-long careers. The first bit of advice is for you all to reflect on why you are studying what you are studying – and the answer cannot be because it is required. All courses, be they general education, major or minor courses, should contribute to your life-long learning goal. If your initial answer to the question “why are you taking this course?” is that it is interesting, I would ask you to dig a bit deeper and ask yourself “why it is interesting?” Is it because you like history and particularly British History? That is absolutely great, but again, why do you like British History? What does the subject matter and the way you learn about it mean to you? What does it allow you to do that you wouldn’t be able to do otherwise? Do you enjoy doing research papers and writing about history? Do you enjoy reading historical fiction? What, in short, do you learn by studying history (and the answer cannot be facts and dates)?
Next, I want you to reflect on the competencies and knowledge you are acquiring as you take your courses. Reflect on activities such as doing research. The goal of your teachers is to help you learn how to ask questions, collect data (sometimes observations, sometimes numbers) organize it into information, and then analyze and interpret this in ways that answer your questions. In a parallel way, your arts professor is there to help you learn how to ask questions and express your answers visually, in performance, or perhaps as poetry or a short story.
The essential point is that you reflect on what you are learning not what you are memorizing and think about how this fits into your plans for life after Monmouth.
The second aspect of your Monmouth education should be applying your learning to the external world via internships. The most important thing you can do to begin a successful career is to complete one or two internships. Monmouth’s experiential learning requirement offers you the fantastic opportunity to do this as part of your college career. Most employers, be they in the corporate, governmental or non-profit world, expect students to have interned. College graduates who do not intern therefore often find themselves having to do one or two after graduation. Internships are no longer a luxury or even an option for beginning a career – they are required.
Finally, let me talk about those statistics about college graduate unemployment and how you can beat the odds. First, think about how one goes about finding a job. First you need to define what area of work you wish to enter. Are you interested in banking (yes liberal arts students get good jobs in banking), the arts, education, health services? Or perhaps you want to start your own business. Next, in what kind of position are you comfortable? Do you want to be a part of a big enterprise, or a small one? Do you like working with people or behind the scenes? Do you like to work by yourself or in teams? Pick up a book like “What Color is your Parachute?” to help you think about this.
Once you have answered these questions, it is time to start looking for a place to start your career. This requires you to describe yourself in the form of a resume that specifies your interests, experiences and especially your skills and competencies. Can you write well, use Microsoft Office, speak French? Have you worked as a team leader on a project, done your own research? Use the resume to tell your story – what you have done, what you can do, what you wish to do.
And finally, make sure to use your social networks to find opportunities. Some people argue that 80% of getting a good job is networking. People you know most likely won’t get you the job, but they may help you locate opportunities and even get you in the door so that you can convince the employer why they should hire you. A first start in networking is to go to Monmouth University’s Career Fairs and networking events. Beyond this you should tell your teachers (even your Dean), people in the career center, people you know socially, who your parents know, who your friends know about your interests and the kind of career you are looking to start. Ask them if they know someone you can contact.
So my final message is that if you play an active role in your learning and take advantage of the career mentoring at Monmouth (all Humanities and Social Sciences departments have a career mentor) you need not become a part of the unemployed college statistics. And if you want more of a pep talk, come talk to me.
