Directing students into careers
Date Posted: September 3, 2014
Posted In: Discussion, Ideas,
From the Belleville News-Democrat:
By William E. Mason Sr., president, Metro East Black Contractors Association
Among relatives and friends of people who have recently received college diplomas, not surprising there is a feeling of jubilation. It is a universal feeling based upon the premise that persons receiving college degrees have developed certain competencies that can act as a bridge between them and their ability to earn a meaningful living plus prevent the likelihood of their ever being socially and economically obsolete.
Unfortunately, that premise is not always sound for many college graduates who were excellent high school and college students find themselves facing possibly the worse job outlook ever as they desperately seek employment in areas where they were well-trained but where there is not a demand. In short, numerous graduates have spent four or more years studying and preparing themselves for various occupations only to be told upon seeking employment that there is no market for their skills.
The more frustrated among them are even having second thoughts in retrospect about the worth of their academic endeavors, especially since increasing numbers of college graduates are obliged to accept jobs not only unconnected with their field of study but completely outside managerial and professional ranks.
Furthermore, many economists predict the job market will almost surely have a surplus of college graduates for at least a decade. Substantial evidence suggests that while there is enough blame to pass around, high schools, two-year colleges and four-year colleges and universities are primarily at fault.
Many students leave high school without any concept of what they want to do or where they want to go or what the world of work or college is all about. Some go on to college, select major areas of study that sound impressive, appear easy or are popular. Many know very little about requirements or the course’s usefulness for employment in the future.
In high schools, there must be massive support services that will help students choose and plan careers. They must have adequate information about themselves such as is derived from aptitude, ability and interest tests. They need labor market prospects for the future and information on colleges and universities to intelligently select the right major field of study and the right college