Survey results seem unlikely for JMU grads
Results do not reflect JMU students' post-graduation options
Posted on April 24, 2006

A recent survey’s results, which say 93 percent of the nation’s graduating college seniors have not yet secured employment, seem dubious, according to a coordinator of JMU’s Academic Advising and Career Development.

The results that TrueCareers, an online job board, released April 12 “do not seem very credible,” said David Chase, JMU’s on-campus interviewing coordinator of the AACD. “I’ve worked with many job boards and I’ve seen lots of statistics. I’ve never seen a percentage this high.”

While the percentage seems unrealistic, Chase said, there does seem to be a number of JMU seniors who have not solidified their career plans for after graduation.

Senior Chandler Jarvis said, “I would like to go out west and work outdoors at a national park for a while, but I have no solid plans yet.”

 Chase added that this may be for a number of reasons.

 “Many students come back from summer internships before their senior year with jobs lined up. For many, moving on to the next phase of life is not an easy process, and is therefore continually delayed.”

 To senior B.J. Southern, jobs right after college are temporary until something better comes along — a stepping stone into the professional arena.

“Graduating means going into the real world. This is when life actually begins and you make your mark or you stand in the background.”

In addition, while students are worried about finding a career that fits their major, many students go on to pursue jobs that are unrelated to their field of study. 

“The thing that people often forget is that there isn’t a designated formula for success. Some of the stress in finding a job is the blinders students give themselves,” Chase said.

“Many students are frightened by the fallacy that their first job is going to be the one they have for the rest of their lives. The average college graduate will change jobs twelve to fifteen times in a lifetime,” he said.

JMU students who have yet to find a job have mixed emotions abot how easy it is to find one. Students say that often, employers are looking for experience, rather than a piece of paper from the vacuum that is academia.

People expect you to have experience, but what you need is experience. Sometimes you find yourself running in circles,” said senior Scott Bourdeau. “Right now, I’m just waiting for something to pan out.”

Senior Brooks Royster added, “Some people already have jobs lined up, which makes me a bit nervous, but I seriously doubt I’m the only one without a real plan. I’m 23, what’s the rush?”

—from staff reports