Congrats, Grad! Now What?

        This semester, as another group of WPU students receives the degrees which they spent an average of five years, if not more, working on, the big question is, what happens next? The economy is down and job markets are tight, but statistically speaking a college graduate is much more likely to land a good job than someone with a certificate from a trade school or someone with nothing more than a high school diploma.

     Sometimes it's not what you know, it's who you know; Having connections with a friend who now works for a company in your target field comes in handy, as does telling the business that you're interning with that you're about to graduate. Things that also look good on your resume would be involvement in campus clubs or organizations related to your major; You get hands-on experience doing what you would like to be doing when you leave the soft, warm confines of college and step out into the cold, harsh real world.

     The real world needn't be so scary; With any luck, your connections and the work experience you picked up while you were here will help you get to where you want to be. It wouldn't hurt, either, if while you were in school you held a wage slave job which at least put some money in your pocket. If worse comes to worst, you can remain at this job and maybe negotiate a raise or a new position relative to your newfound college degree.

      If that doesn't work, at least you'll have the respect of your co-workers and employer that you did complete your college education. Talk to everyone: Networking can happen in the damnedest of places. Sometimes the people you know may know someone who is looking for help. It might not be your target job, but chances are its a step up from where you are now. More often than not, change is good.

        The economy here in New Jersey is showing signs of life while the national economy sputters. There may be other opportunities in other places but the truth is the only

job that matters is the one you're looking for. As more and more college graduates with more and more technical knowledge enter the job market, it is important to remember that the job you're looking for may not be there right now, but that shouldn't stop you from taking a job that pays the bills and always...always keeping an eye out for the chance to make that next big move.