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May 31, 2006
Getting Job Placement Help While Still in School
Most technical schools, colleges and universities have job placement services for their graduating students. Many of these services are highly effective.
In an unusually brisk job market, many students graduating this spring are receiving multiple job offers at good salaries from major companies which recruit on college campuses.
Yet, graduating students with disabilities without an effective network or at least some key contacts within their particular school at a large university are falling through the cracks in this mainstream job placement process.
On-campus recruiting as a disability employment issue again occurred to me as I received a note this week from Mudhaffer, who wrote:
- "I have been receiving the eSight e-mails for a
long time, but this is the first time I'm
writing back. - "I was working as a manager in retail places
like supermarkets and so on until I started
losing my vision six to seven years ago. I then
started learning how to live with my new life. - "In 2000, I decided to go back to school. I
started by going to a community college, and,
after two years, I graduated with a 3.9 GPA. - "Then I went to a four-year college, and, after
two years, I graduated with a BBA in finance and
investment with a GPA of 3.9. - "I continued with my studies, and, after one
and a half years, I graduated with a MBA in finance
and investment/operations management with a GPA of
3.7. - "With these academic achievements and high
grades, I thought I would be able to find a job
(nothing big -- just an entry level one to start
with). However, I started looking for a job
before finishing my MBA, and, after about two
years of seeking a job, I am still looking. - "I am optimistic by nature, but, after all this
time and being 36 years old, unemployed and not
getting any financial help (and, to be honest, I
really want to work instead of getting any
help), I'm losing patience. - "Employers see me with a cane and automatically
think I can't do the job. - "I really want and need to work. I am, by
nature, enthusiastic, highly trainable and very
hard working. I just need help finding a job.
Please help me."
There are probably a variety of disability employment issues at play in Mudhaffer's situation.
But, Mudhaffer's e-mail reminded me of two important opportunities today's college campuses offer students: access to internships to gain work experience and access to job prospects through on-campus job placement services.
Both interning and job interviewing through campus services need to be done while you're a student. When you're out of school, it's difficult to recapture those opportunities.
Think about Mudhaffer's situation, and, in the process, consider this discussion question I offer to you this week:
mainstream job placement network as a
soon-to-graduate student with a disability?
Add your comments to this posting
Posted by Jim at May 31, 2006 12:04 PM
Comments
ivisla@optonline.netI must tell you that I made the same mistake. That is, I approached my campus recruiting office a few months after graduating. I did receive some help in doing my resume on theajb web site but not much in the way of actual job searches. I actually decied to contact the university from which I got my undergraduate degree. Surprisingly, since I graduated in 1973 I was found on their alumni records and received guidance from the human resource director. I've been searching for 1 year after graduation. This is my second career. Like you I go through periods of discouragement. Like you I am an optimistic person. Keep looking everywhere on the internet. Talk with friends with jobs in similar fields. I was told by the recruiter that the search is a full-time endeavor. Good luck!
Posted by: Ivis at July 25, 2006 10:14 AM
How are you im 16 turning 17 june 30 im still in school and i need a job thats all i asking for may you please just help me out thanks
Posted by: Zhivago Hines at January 16, 2008 10:07 AM