Rally for Jobs – Is That Enough?

I understand the premise of a rally for jobs. In the blog post, Where are all the jobs???, a student talked about a pep rally held by college seniors and students ready to enter the job market in Japan. While an idea is here, I have yet to be convinced about what this will achieve for students in our class, at NYIT, and in New York City, which is the scope of our rally idea.

What is our goal?

College seniors, graduate students, and alumni need jobs. Of course, the job market is lacking in the number of positions these students would be qualified for. Without substantial experience, companies are typically going to choose those who are probably over-qualified for the entry-level positions.

 

Now, students need to be over-prepared. They need to put a lot of effort when entering the job market – and this includes getting their feet wet, sometimes in the not-so-glamorous industry of the dreaded unpaid internships. These are the foot in the door, and the few lines on the resume that will end up making a difference in the job interview. But students need to be guided sometimes, and need to know about what they can do to stand out.

 

I don’t think a rally is the best option for this. A rally is political in nature and is not going to result in new jobs. I don’t think it should be promoted in this way. We could, however, organize a pep rally similar to the event in Japan. This would make more sense to boost confidence in students. Confidence is something that is commonly lacking among students who are competing with veterans for entry-level jobs.

 

I support the idea, but I think the effort should be made to build confidence in students and help them take the reins of their future by being proactive about their careers. I also suggest that the event should be held on campus to meet student culture at its heart.

 

- Briana Samuels