The Great Work Experience Conundrum

Young people by nature are full of energy, passion and hope; and that is a good thing, because they’re going to need all of those qualities to survive this job market. Though it appears the economy may be improving, there is still a bottleneck of young talent trying to fill too few career-fulfilling jobs out there. And this is frustrating.

This article elaborates, “Too many students aren’t sure what job they could get after four, five or even six years of studying a certain major and racking up education loans. Many aren’t getting on-the-job training while they are in school or during their semester or summer breaks. As a result, questions about employment opportunities or what type of job they have the skills to attain are met with blank stares or the typical, ‘I don’t know.’”

This situation is nothing new, however. Recent graduates from college are often confronted with the challenge of needing work experience to land a job but never being given the opportunity to gain that experience. Unfortunately, these job seekers fall through the cracks of the American dream as they shift from a thrive mentality to a survive sensibility. So they work at Starbucks, moving companies, and take internships that don’t pay just to get by, to make it until better times arrive. And from these jobs they learn a lesson that will benefit them for the rest of their lives: Life isn’t easy; it’s not supposed to be.

Take pride in the fact you haven’t given up and are willing to fake it until you make it. Struggle builds character, and for the rest of your life character will determine the outcome of most of the major decisions in your life. Keep going. Eventually life experience will land you where you were always meant to be.

Photo courtesy of thinkpublic.