Gina Peterson, a dedicated adult learner, shares her journey of returning to education and the stark realities of today’s job market. Guy Berger, an economic research director at the Burning Glass Institute, highlights how the value of a college degree is shifting, with many graduates feeling ghosted by employers despite countless applications. They discuss the mounting pressures of competition, the emotional strain of job hunting, and the crucial role of networking and interpersonal skills in securing opportunities in this challenging landscape.
The current job market has devalued college degrees, leaving graduates frustrated by the lack of job opportunities despite their education.
Gina's experience highlights the importance of skills learned in college, emphasizing interpersonal abilities over the direct impact of the degree itself.
Deep dives
The Complex Value of College Degrees
The current job market reveals that college degrees may not hold the promised advantages for graduates like they once did. Gina Peterson, a returning adult college student, shared her journey and experiences post-graduation, which revealed disappointing results in terms of job opportunities. Despite obtaining her associate's degree, Gina discovered that her degree has not significantly opened doors for her, especially after being laid off from a long-term position. The competitive nature of job postings currently makes it challenging for graduates to secure positions, prompting a reevaluation of the perceived value of higher education.
Frustrations of Job Seekers
Gina's job search experience has been marked by frustration, highlighting common challenges faced by many job seekers today. She reported applying to over 150 jobs, with numerous instances of receiving no responses or being 'ghosted' after initial interest from hiring managers. This lack of feedback and follow-through has created a sense of uncertainty and demoralization for job applicants. Gina's experiences resonate with many individuals who are applying for roles and struggling to receive any meaningful engagement from employers.
Education's Ongoing Impact and Future Considerations
While Gina acknowledges that her degree did not have a direct influence on securing her latest job, she believes that the skills learned during her educational journey significantly shaped her professional capabilities. Importantly, her degree instilled valuable people skills and a greater sense of accountability, which benefit her in job situations. Nonetheless, she expresses doubts about the effectiveness of online education, particularly in areas like professor interaction and networking opportunities. This reflection underlines the need for educational institutions to adapt their approaches to better support adult learners, especially in terms of fostering relationships and enhancing personalized learning experiences.
College grads are facing a tough job market these days, with experts saying the college degree holds less of a premium in getting hired than in the past. And as it gets easier to apply to jobs online, applicants say they are getting ghosted by employers or applying to hundreds of jobs with little return. How can colleges respond?
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