Perception of New Graduates

You know what really grinds my gears?
When you can't find the droids you're looking for.

And also, when an entire generation/group is perceived one way and sucks to your case-by-case basis nonsense.

For instance! My parents have been superheroes in trying to help me navigate this murky job-hunting water/market/hell. Absolute superheroes and I would be a lost little sailor without them. Anyway! My mum recently heard back from a contact of her's looking for an administrative assistant saying that this contact wasn't sure if they were looking for a new grad or someone more stable, implying that all young people/recent grads are unstable and will move on in a year or so.

While the stats may show that the majority of new grads will move on from their first "real people" jobs within a year or two, I think it is a mistake to assume a person is an unstable candidiate for a job simply because of their age/time of life.




First of all, I want to examine what those stats are based on. Fact? Fiction? Urban legend? Personal experience?
What kind of jobs are new grads being hired for that they are leaving/moving on within the first year?
Are they quality jobs with room for growth and advancement or are they jobs like an administrative assistant?
Are they jobs in the new grad's field of interest/study? Or is it something to pay off the debt and live?
Also, how are these people treated within these jobs? What was their reason for leaving?

There are just too many questions that simplistic statements like "new grads will move on from the job within a year and as such are unstable hiring candidates" miss completely. We're not examining the quality of these jobs and just assuming that new grads are all flakey. Some are. Don't get me wrong. Some will just up and leave whenever they want to without a second thought for the people who took a chance and gave them a job. I have another theory about that, though.

Look at the economic times we've grown up in. It's become increasingly drilled in to our heads recession after recession that many corporations/businesses regard people as expendable. We've seen parents, family and friends laid off because the company couldn't afford to keep them, yet CEOs and top management take home multimillion dollar salaries. It seems to me like the natural response to that is to have less loyalty to a company. I'm not saying that that's necessarily the correct response, just that it's understandable that a generation would be influenced (NOT DICTATED) by the surrounding conditions of their youth.

However, some aren't. It's not a good idea to assume that any one group of people will all act in the exact same way. Come on people.

Generational differences man, they're so interesting. I've had many debates with my mum on this very subject. As much as I dislike it, I think my generation needs to play ball with the current generation in power a little better. At least for a little while. I just hope once we take over for the Baby Boomers, we remember these feels and find more effective ways of incorporating the new ideas and perceptions we'll be faced with into our experience.

Volunteering

Aaaaand suddenly there's a sense of drama, courtesy of The Prophecy from The Lord of the Rings Soundtrack coming on my iTunes.

Anyway, volunteering! Altruistic? Self-interested? Or is there a middle ground?

These days, the advice I keep hearing from the Employed-igentisa is to get out there and volunteer because that's how experience is gained these days. You want a job in this field? Volunteer. Want to get connections? Volunteer.

It's solid advice, don't get me wrong.

Volunteering is a great way to get to know the ins and outs of an organization/industry and to meet people who are well connected within that space. You make yourself and your skills known to those in the know, know what I mean? (I'm sorry, I couldn't help myself... I'll stop.) It's great exposure for you as you illustrate your interest, initiative, and commitment to the Organization. What better indicators exist that show a person's employability and compatibility within that environment? It's low risk for the Organization as they don't lose any money if you suck and they could potentially gain assets either in the form of you or any connections you might bring to the table.

But my damn idealism gets in the way sometimes. I always think of Kant's categorical imperative and, along that same line, the idea that any good deed (like volunteering) should be done for its own sake rather than for some self-interested end. I am well aware of how idealistic and naive that is. But I hate the fact that this idea is naive because of the system we live in. I really don't like the fact that I have to jealously guard any connections/skills I have and somehow maneuver myself into a place where I'm irreplaceable  even if that doesn't end up benefitting the Organization as a whole. Even if it hinders it. But that seems to be the sad reality we live in as companies need to become more and more ruthless just  to survive in a global market.

 If a company can utilize my skills that I volunteer, why would they ever be motivated to pay me for them? 



How is that productive, though? How can we find this middle ground where I can openly share my sincere passion and give everything I can possibly give without sacrificing my a) ability to survive in a capitalist society (lack of money doesn't really lend itself to survival these days) and b) get used and abused by an Organization looking to take all they can without giving back? If one of you knows, you need to fill me in. I'm stumped.




Personally, I'm hoping to offset the self-interest by volunteering with (and trying to contribute positively to) an organization whose values I share. Yes, I am trying to make myself known to them. Yes, I will be watching/listening for an opening like a hawk. How I'm going to make myself irreplaceable to them, I haven't the foggiest. I've always had trouble with selling myself. You're never really taught how to do that and a level of self-awareness can get in the way, unless you've learned how to spin it properly.  Let's face it, humans are ridiculous and sometimes I find it really hard to take myself seriously. I know the ridiculous stuff I think and laugh at, how can I?

I know I have to play by the rules of the game, I just would much rather smash these rules.

Next time: Jargon, Buzz Words and Bullshit, Oh My!

For the love of all that is good, if this gets too whiney somebody please tell me. My intention writing this thing isn't to whine. I do that enough as it is and it's certainly not getting me anywhere.

NSFW

I guess I should have started off with this but whatever.

This blog has an R rating.

I swear. A lot. There will be swearing in coming posts. Mature content may be discussed.

I probably won't post any pornographic material but with my friends that line is a little blurry sometimes. So, for now, I'll say there won't be any but I can't promise anything.

Welcome welcome!

I have an honours Bachelor of Arts with a focus in Political Science and Film Studies.
I worked hard for 5 years to earn it. I do not regret it for one second.
I did two co-op terms, a year studying abroad in Germany and worked part time all the way through.
I received my degree 1 year and 12 days ago.

I am currently underemployed working two part time retail jobs just to make ends meet.
And I'm one of the lucky ones.

Yay!

First off, I want to explain the use of the "Me" Generation in the title. I abso-fucking-lutely loathe that moniker. It's incredibly flawed and shortsighted to paint an entire generation as self-absorbed and selfish just because of some profoundly stupid people on Twitter. I'm proud of my generation. We are some of the most globally-minded people and we are working tirelessly, fighting against a status-quo that is the direct inverse of the stories we were raised on.

Why do you think building schools in Africa/South America/Asia has become such a trend? It's not because we enjoy sweating, I can tell you that much.

This "Me" Generation is pissed. We were lead to believe that we could be anything, achieve anything, if we tried hard enough, put in enough work, time, etc. etc. and a lot of us are waking up to the fact that that's simply not true. We realize that we can't do that by ourselves. There are systems/institutions/norms in place that we have to change first.

So I'm being a hipster and using the "Me" Generation thing ironically. Big whoop, wanna fight about it?

Anyway, this blog is going to act as a vent for my frustration and as a window into the so called "Me" Generation. I'm hardly typical, but if the interwebz have taught me anything, it's that everyone needs to add their perspective to produce some kind of clarity that we can agree (or disagree) on.

I know I know.... here's a preemptive...