Seniors have many options
open after graduation
Choices besides corporate
arena exist for grads
By Jeff Cantwell Staff
Writer
There are two weeks and two days until graduation.
Then it will be time for graduating seniors to leave the wonderful land
of Purdue and go to the real world and GET A JOB.
Last year, according to the Center for Career Opportunities
Web site, 2,003 graduating seniors went straight into the work force
and 440 continued their education. But 441 graduating seniors did not
enter into the work force.
There are choices besides jumping straight into
a corporate job or even graduate school.
Robin Clair, a professor of communication says
that the most important thing to do after graduating is gain experience.
"Experience is everything, whether you go out and
become a ski instructor in Colorado for a few years, or just bartend;
it's all an experience," said Clair. "You don't have to work for a major
corporation."
Chris Clouse, a senior in the School of Liberal
Arts, however, has actually been told to stay away from corporate America
for his first few years out of school.
"I've talked with some guys I know that graduated
a few years ago, and they all tell me not to settle into a job yet,"
said Clouse. "They told me to have fun and live some before my life
becomes 9 to 5."
That's not to say there is anything wrong with
getting a job right out of school. The financial stability is one thing
that draws students that way.
"It's not that I don’t want a real job," said
Clouse. "Living paycheck-to-paycheck isn't fun, but I don't know what
real job I want. I'm going to move to Chicago for a while, find a job
with some flexibility and go from there. Maybe I will go to grad school
in a year or so, but I will see when the time comes."
Clair also thinks that non-profit organizations
offer great opportunities for students still looking for their calling.
"The Peace Corps is a wonderful place to go if
you want to gain experience," said Clair. "You can travel, help other
people, and they always love to have a Purdue graduate on board."
Collin Welch, a senior in the Schools of Engineering,
is doing just that.
"I don't have anything I want to do with my engineering
degree when I graduate, so I'm going to the Peace Corps," said Welch.
"I want something in my life that, when I look back on it, I can say
that I did some good and I can be proud of what I've done. The Peace
Corps is the perfect opportunity to do that."
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