Skip to Content, Navigation, or Footer.

U of M graduates take first steps to the rest of their lives

Graduation day is approaching and taking Memphis seniors by storm, forcing them to walk down the blurry path that will lead them to their hopes and dreams.

For some Memphis Tigers, the journey after graduation is a venture into the unknown. With so many choices and changes to make after leaving college, many students are unsure about what their first steps toward their future lives and careers should be.

Clay Woemmel, associate director of University of Memphis Career Services, said the first step for graduates should be having “an excellent resume” free of typos and errors that would otherwise stand out negatively with employers.

“Whether they’re applying to graduate school or whether they are applying for a job, they have to have that resume because that’s going to be sort of their promotional material for themselves to get people to pay attention,” Woemmel said.

Among the many other aspects that come with life after college, finding a job can be a daunting task for students, especially when seeking an occupation that deals directly with their major. Even with internships, networking opportunities and job-finding services, such as TigerLink provided for students by the U of M for up to a year after graduation, students struggle to find worthwhile occupations that match their career goals.

A study by the National Association of Colleges and Employers found 81 percent of 2016’s bachelor’s degree graduates were either employed or furthering their education within six months of graduating. Additionally, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that by March 2018, the unemployment rate for graduates with bachelor’s degrees ages 20-24 was 4.5 percent.

A strong resume can be critical in an employer’s decision of who to hire, especially when it may be their first or only impression of an applicant. Woemmel said students should make appointments with Career Services on Wilder Tower’s fourth floor for aid with their resume and job search.

“You want to make sure that it’s in great shape because if it’s not in great shape and people make a negative first impression, then it’s hard to overcome that,” Woemmel said.

Career Services staff members are available throughout the summer on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., along with different workshops and webinars catered towards helping graduates and alumni find jobs and ace interviews.

“One of the things I would suggest students do is schedule an appointment with their career specialist because those are going to be the people that are really familiar with the majors in the student’s area,” Woemmel said. 

Beyond U of M resources, students can increase their chances of getting a job by building a solid LinkedIn account and connecting with employers or companies who interest them and pertain to their majors.

Another option for students is to seek aid from community job fairs and job seeker organizations. The Workforce Investment Network, for example, is an organization located on Beale Street with programs specialized in helping qualified people find jobs through prep services and connection with local businesses. Aids like these can help students find careers in their field or at the very least get their resume through to professionals in their industry.

Woemmel said students should quickly “capitalize” on their first year out of college when they are still considered new graduates.

“Sometimes people can be a little bit tired from school or kind of burnt out, so they don’t really focus on their job search,” Woemmel said. “But really before and after graduation is kind of primetime because that’s when you have a new degree that you can show off to employers.”

Beyond their career, another intimidating obstacle facing fresh graduates is how to handle their finances and how to take care of thousands of dollars of student loans.

Student Financial Aid Office Coordinator Jessica Howell said graduates need to be aware of their loans and budget accordingly.

“If you are taking out loans, be mindful that you are paying them back,” Howell said. “Don’t just do nothing, let your loan gain interest and become a delinquent (account).”

Howell said the first thing students should do about paying their loans is to visit the National Student Loan Data System website, nslds.ed.gov, and determine who their loan servicer is. From there, students should contact their loan servicer and have them explain each repayment option.

Howell said she recommended income-based payment options because they are the most “flexible” with individual student incomes. She said income-based payment options are the most commonly used payment plans by students for this very reason.

“If a student is frantic about not having a job, always inquire about income-based payment options,” Howell said. “If you’re not working or you don’t have any income, they’ll set the payments up at zero. Loan servicers work with you.”

Whether or not students have loans, Howell said they need to budget themselves based on their income and standard of living.

“Don’t live above your means,” Howell said. “When you’re in the real world, you’re going to need a budget and a plan.”




Similar Posts