Jobs are out there for Norwich students

According to news reports, unemployment rates for college graduates are at an all-time high. But things are not as bad as they seem.

Most of the students who graduated Norwich last year are employed, for example.

In May 2010, Norwich graduated 385 students. Nine months later, Norwich sent out a survey to find out how these graduates were doing; 92 percent responded. The results: 137 went into the military, 153 were employed, 52 went to graduate school, 32 were unknown, and 11 were unemployed.

What is the key to success in finding a job?

One of the most important things is not waiting until the last minute.

"Any senior that is coming up the career center in March and April of their senior year for the first time, you're in trouble. We have been here the whole time," said Kathryn Provost, director of the career development center at Norwich. "So, I will say come to the career center first and let us help you."

One thing that can help college students are internships.

"Internships are absolutely, positively the number one way to get yourself noticed," Provost said. "Get some hands on experience and get the best use of your time and get an internship every summer."

Cary Brown is the internship coordinator at Norwich. Through her, students can find an internship in nearly every major offered.

"She is dedicated to helping students find internships whether they are at home in the summer looking for one in Texas or they are here during the academic year," Provost said. "That's the number one thing students can do to help them find a job."

Networking is also important.

On the Norwich website there is a resource called the Professional Learning Advisory Network (PLAN). It helps students find alumni who have volunteered to help students find jobs.

Linkedin.com is another way to get your name out there and meet other people, including employers.

"I highly recommend Linkedin.com. It is quickly becoming the number one way to network," Provost said. "There are links on our website (Norwich website) that have a Linkedin.com logo at the bottom and if you click on the link you will be brought directly to the Norwich University connections and there are over 3,000 alumni and students."

Another resource that gives students a huge edge in networking is the Norwich Alumni clubs. Norwich alumni clubs are everywhere, from Boston to Washington, D.C., to El Paso, Texas.

"Once you get settled in a certain area, again go to the website and find out where the nearest alumni club is, find out what their (next) event is and go," Provost said. "Some of the signature clubs like Boston and Washington, D.C., have monthly meetings and if you show up to that monthly breakfast, you are going to meet a smaller group of Norwich alumni and they will bend over backwards to help you."

Provost said many employers want to hire new graduates. She said they can rely on them to stay longer and they bring fresh new ideas.

"The employers who want new college graduates are not filling those positions with someone with experience," said Provost.

"They are looking for someone with new enthusiasm and new ideas and if they fill that position with a new entry-level employee instead of a person with experience, it is more likely that the entry level person will stay there."

For big businesses, it costs a lot of money to bring in new people. On average for an employee, it takes anywhere from six months to a year to have that employee "adding to the company's bottom line." So, that company needs that person to stay for more than just a year.

"If (businesses) fill those entry-level positions with people with experience, as soon they feel more comfortable they think I am going to jump ship now and get back to where I was pre-recession,," Provost said. "The employers are scared that they are going to have six or eight months into this person, the economy is going to improve, and that person is going to leave and now they are back to square one again."

Provost has advice for students who graduate without a job.

"Number one thing when students are already out is live below your means. Don't overdo it," Provost said. "If that means having four roommates or not going out for dinner but staying in, you can still have a great time without spending a lot of money."

Another option is living at home. This can save students money. Many college graduates are doing this; according to CNN, 85 percent of college graduates move home to save money, up from 67 percent in 2006.

Other students go to graduate school.

"It really depends a lot on what they studied in their undergraduate courses, how in depth they went, if they had internship experience, it just depends," Provost said. "If they meet all the standards and want to go to grad school that's fine but on the other hand, if you are a history major and now you want to get your MBA (Masters in Business Administration) without any foundation in business, it could be a big leap."

Some students don't take advantage of all the resources.

"They are scared. They are not sure what they are doing and by in large they have to realize that most of them do know what they are doing," Provost said. "Sometimes I think that students get a little bit intimidated by these big alums. It's intimidating when you are 21 or 22 and you get introduced to the president of Electronic Warfare Associates or a principle of Jacob's Engineering and that's pretty intimidating."

One important thing to remember is that all these Norwich grads started where students are now. They had to go through the same process and work their way up through the ranks.

"Students need to remember all of these people at these networking events are Norwich at the core," Provost said. "That's the main thing and probably the best thing that should push aside their fear."