In a recent presentation at the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta (FRBA), one FRBA economist noted that the job market has rebounded significantly since the recession of 2008. However, the job market for college graduates remains particularly tough.
It’s a “buyer’s market,” meaning that employers have the advantage in “buying” labor. Recent college graduates, of course, have better job opportunities than do high school graduates, but often college graduates are compelled to wait longer to secure employment, are accepting lower starting salaries, are working mutliple internships, and some are accepting less than full-time employment (under-employment). With a glutted labor market, employers seek out college graduates with more experience, higher qualifications, and appropriate full-time hiring more tentatively.
Hannah Seligson, in her article, “The Age of the Permanent Intern,” address one dilemma particularly relevant for Public Policy graduates. Seligson identifies the challenges of moving from internship to full-time employment in Washington, DC, and how a revolving door of endless internships is becoming the norm.
But it doesn’t need to be that way for graduates of the School of Public Policy at Georgia Tech. The School of Public Policy:
(1) requires BS and MS students to complete at least one internship prior to graduation,
(2) facilitates students securing multiple internships before graduation,
(3) actively seeks out the most relevant internship opportunities for Public Policy students,
(4) negotiates proactively with the private sector to create new internship opportunities,
(5) directs students toward effective networking tools (such as LinkedIn.com), strategies, and opportunities (such as alumni-student receptions, career fairs, and professional association memberships),
(6) provides Career Advisement (individualized sessions, career development planning, resume review and more),
(7) offers free Career Planning workshops, and
(8) hosts an annual Public Policy Career Week (March 11-15, 2013), including a Career Fair (March 15, 2013).
Having a clear career goal, deliberately acquiring marketable job skills, and completing relevant internship experiences, resuting, in part, in a broad and effective professional network, are some of the key strategies by which Public Policy graduates avoid the dilemmas of unemployment or under-employment.
The School of Public Policy is dedicated to training and graduating highly analytical, proactive, self-directed, and well-skilled leaders. We invite all employers to check out our “PP Student Profiles” folder on this blog as well as student profiles on LinkedIn.com, which you can conveniently locate within our Policy Innovation group on LinkedIn.com. To join this group, contact Clark Bonilla, Director of Alumni and Career Services (clark.bonilla@pubpolicy.gatech.edu).
tudent Reception, come to the Clary Theatre on March 14, at 6 pm, to meet alumni. Learn about their career experiences. Our alumni can be an invaluable source of information about making effective career decisions, referrals to employment opportunities, mentoring, coaching, changing conditions in the job market, latest best practices, and professional development opportunities. Make lifelong friendships too.
