Occupation Outlook

Temple’s most recent graduates have been hurled into one of the worst job markets recent history has seen.

Older generations are seeing their 401Ks dwindle, and recent retirees are being forced back to work. While it may seem new grads are poised for a troubling workforce, they are actually in a better position than most.

Recent graduates are in for a long career of working and can handle this bump at the beginning.

Temple’s newest batch of workers aren’t about to retire on an empty nest egg. Most don’t have families to support and can live on a less-than-stellar salary. Those establishing their careers after college shouldn’t be driving the nicest cars or spending extravagantly, anyway. This is the time to work hard, scrimp and save.

Ramen for dinner for another four years, kids.

If a full-time job doesn’t seem like it’s going to work out, numerous part-time jobs can equal a regular job salary. And if holding down five different jobs to pay rent to your parents doesn’t seem appealing, it’ll keep you moving and meeting new people you can network with to get that dream job.

Young people have endless venues to network in, and recent graduates are the most likely to use them. Networking sites like LinkedIn and even Facebook have the ability to put young job seekers in touch with prospective employers. Creating a profile on a professional networking site is easy, and you’ll have plenty of time to search out contacts while living unemployed in your parents’ basement.

Flexibility is another asset workers new to the job scene have. Their flexibility of not having a full-blown career will help when looking for an unconventional job to pay the bills. An accounting degree might not lead to a job doing taxes, but the Web skills a graduate developed in an elective class could land him or her a sweet job with a design firm.

Use this time to expand your job search and explore interests that aren’t thought of as mainstream jobs. Whatever makes you happy and pays the bills is good enough, at least for now.

Workers 20 years out of college may have more difficulty changing careers at the drop of a dime. Youth is in the favor of graduates. The economy will get back on track, and jobs will become somewhat more plentiful.