@CountingDown, you stop it! 
I’m in the same boat. My S is graduating in May and while we’re not panicking we are “chatting” about it a lot with him. My other two children did not have jobs upon graduation and are both very well employed now. It didn’t take long at all for them to get jobs. This S is looking for a career in comedy writing in LA. He’s going out there to meet with some folks over break and hopefully get the ball rolling. It seems like a tough place to break into. I would sort of like him to “fall back” on his CS minor, but I’m going to let him follow his heart. We’ll see what happens.
Yes, ams, I feel ya. Ds2 also is interested in an entertainment field. I’m happy to let him pursue his dream as now is the time to do it … 22 and totally unencumbered. But I know that I could never do it; I’d have trouble dealing with what could be tons of rejection.
There’s a world of difference between pushing your kid to do what he or she doesn’t want to, and to be worried about them getting a job. It isn’t always that easy. Maybe you haven’t been paying attention during the years of college students (sometimes with crushing debt) only get minimum wage service jobs. Both me and my husband lost our jobs years ago, with a baby and a toddler, and little savings. It’s terrifying.
I will be in this position in a few years. Dodged the bullet this time around since my kid went for a PhD program. harder to get a job for a PhD.
My son is also graduating in May and he’s not landed anything or even tried. I haven’t given it much thought…should I be concerned? I have a hard time believing that all of the plum jobs are snatched up before Christmas. From what I’ve gathered, a lot of the big companies fill their corporate entry level jobs or internships in the fall, but these jobs are not for everyone – my son has zero interest in what he says are programs that funnel folks through jobs that separate the wheat from the chaff into more pigeonholes. He has no interest in any of it. Don’t most companies recruit throughout the winter?
You shouldn’t be concerned, @Gourmetmom. Most definitely not. I remember seeing a graph of when seniors committed to jobs from my kid’s LAC and many were in the few months preceding graduation. Not everyone wants or is cut out for a corporate type job, especially a big company with an entry level hiring schedule and on campus recruiting. There are many paths to employment.
I totally agree. I think all the commitments end up happening right around graduation. The only reason I’m a bit concerned at this time is that my S is venturing into unchartered territory. I have no idea how his chosen field works, or if it will work.
Good luck and best wishes to all. Our D finished her degree in 2013 but due to her field and health issues is still going from gig to gig, but in her field, cinema. So far we are paying her bills but it would be gr at if she were to get healthier and longer term employment prospects.
Fortunately, S has been totally self-supporting since he got his degree in 2010 with a great job he enjoys!
My ds1 got his job in March or April, I believe. It was an AmeriCorps job that involved him moving home and paying us some rent, but it ended up being perfect for him. He developed excellent skills that lead straight to his first full-time job, which he loves, and the education grant paid off his student loans.
My son graduated last spring. He didn’t find a job through summer, and I worried. Then in August or September he found a part time job as a “doorman” (bouncer) working late every Friday and Saturday night, and I worried, will he get home safe? Then he got a full time job in November, but did not give up the weekend job. So I’m worried - why does he need to work so much? Will he be too tired at his day job? Will he have time for himself?
So, for me, it s unending worry! I think it’s my problem. Son moving out of the house and my own taking on of a second job (teaching) has put some distance between me and my worries.
It’s been interesting to watch my son grow through the job hunting process. Like many, he has/had a lot of room to grow in the interpersonal skills department… knowing what to say and how to say it. After an interview this week he came to the realization that the people you work with matter, probably more than just about anything else. That may mean he stays with the company he’s been interning with, as he’s comfortable with them, but in the end he will have learned a lot in the process I think.
Many large companies with traditional training programs fill their positions by fall. Some companies follow suit so they could also attract better candidates. Not all companies could afford to commit because they may not have funding for additional headcount 6-9 months later.
I would encourage all seniors to start planning for their exit strategy in fall rather than wait until spring or even after graduation.
Oldest kid is sick, middle one wants to do volunteer work in the Middle East, and youngest is a photography major. I just try to not think about any of it!
No, but as @oldfort points out, some companies and industries recruit in the fall.
If your kid was planning to get a job in one of these lines of work (such as consulting or investment banking), it’s not time to panic but it’s time to look at other options.
Well, yeah—but in all actuality, what percentage of grads go into those kinds of jobs? There’s so much other work that exists out there. Obviously, if you want those kind of go-getter jobs, you probably needed to go-get-'em already. But that’s a small subset, in the large scheme of things.
I don’t think my kids even knew anyone who interviewed for consulting or I-banking or anything like that.
It is not just consulting or IB. I know other industries, like insurance and high tech, also lock in their candidates in fall. I am in insurance now. I got my 2017 trainees by end of last fall. We get most of new graduates through summer interns (junior). Whatever we don’t fill we recruit in the fall.
Not all companies could afford to plan ahead, especially entertainment/museum/auction houses/non-profit, because they hire as they go. I know many graduates who went into those fields didn’t get interviews until they were out of school.
Many Accounting majors are hired before end of school year as they finish internships after jr and sr year tax seasons. It all varies by industry. Don’t panic but encourage a strategy and schedule for networking and application.
I do think it varies by field. My oldest son had a job offer from his summer internship. Younger son’s junior year job wasn’t the sort to lead to a permanent job, though it had plenty of responsibility. He graduated in 2014. He had two internships. The second internship led to a job, but he only worked till he finished the project he was working on, but he quit so he could study for the Officer Training School exam for the Navy. He did very well on the exam. About a year ago… Three recruiters later, lost paperwork, an endless top secret vetting process, it looks like he might be starting school next month. But it’s still not official!