May 9th, 2008
A College Student’s Guide to Surviving the Economy
Some people are lucky enough not to notice the impact of an economic downturn. If you’re in school, or in a job that’s not affected by the ups and downs of the housing market (like healthcare or public service), sometimes you don’t realize that the economy’s sneaky fingers are goosing you until it’s too late.
So if you’re in school, or going back to school, or thinking about going back to school, what else should you take into consideration now that the economy has got its tail between its legs?
1. Pick a growing industry. If you haven’t already chosen a degree program, think about healthcare and technology. Despite the market slump, these fields are the fastest-growing in the U.S. today. Aging Baby Boomers are making the former indispensable, and a worldwide explosion in the use of technology makes the latter a wise choice.
2. Get practical. The Wall Street Journal recently ran an article on job-hunting strategies for grads, offering this sage advice:
A good start for job seekers is to set pragmatic goals, says Alexandra Levit, author of How’d You Score That Gig. ‘College graduates today have very high expectations of their first job,” she explains. But in a sour economy, “you might have to settle for a situation that’s not 100% ideal.’
The same may be true for career-changers and working adults who have gone back to school. In a tough economy, you can’t always be picky – but what you can do is gain resume-building experience.
3. Get involved. The United States is about to choose its direction for the next four years. Do a little homework on the various presidential candidates’ higher education policies to determine which one is most in line with your views and goals.
4. Keep that sense of humor. Even colleges have their own economic issues.
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