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Ask Louanne
Collegian's Advice Column
by Dr, Louanne Barton
Personal Counselor
The
DIO eOMEBODV'
CALL ME?
The Collegian
Hope for seniors
Dear Louanne,
I’m a senior, graduating this May.
This is supposed to be a time of
celebration, my reward for four agonizing
years of hard work, but I'm really
dreading it. I have absolutely no prospect
of a job, student loans to pay back, and
have to face returning home to parents
who still feel they have a right to keep
track of what I do as long as they're
paying the bills.
Let's see you solve this problem!
Dear Hopeless,
Boy, this is a tough one. I decided to
consult, Kevin Moore, our coordinator of
placement and internships here at
Behrend. He came up with some helpful
suggestions.
The first thing he said was, "Don't
panic!" Don't take the first job that comes
along if it’s not what you want just
because you think it's the only offer
you'll get. The job search process is
taking 6 to 12 months in today's
economy. Kevin says he can guarantee
you a job but he just can't guarantee
when. It is highly unlikely you'll be
unemployed five years from now. (If
that’s any consolation).
Keep your expectations realistic.
Annual
onors and Awards
Convocation
Sunday, April
2:00 p.m.
Erie Hall
Please Join the College
in this Campus-Wide
Celebration
Signed,
Hopeless Senior
31st
26, 1992
Thursday, April 23,1992
People with degrees in social science are
starting at $17,000, biology - $25,000,
and engineering - $32,000. On the first
job hunt don't limit yourself
geographically. Be willing to relocate.
Living at home can be very stressful
for adult children (and their parents), but
it's becoming much more common. If
living at home is an option, consider an
unpaid internship with a company or
agency you would really like working
for. You'll learn a lot, it will look good
on a resume; and, who knows, they
might even like you so much they'll offer
you a job.
If you decide to go to an employment
agency, choose one that charges the
company a fee, not one that takes 15% of
your salary the first year.
Did you know that Penn State provides
life-long career counseling and placement
services to alumni? If you haven't already
done so, be sure to register with the
Career Development Office on the first
floor of the Reed Building before you
leave.
Good Luck and remember, if all else
fails, there's always the Peace Corps.
Send letters to:
Louanne Barton
Personal Counseling
Reed Building
Louanne