In 2009 I graduated from university with my undergraduate degree in commerce. Maybe I’m the only one, but does anyone else think that their bachelor’s degree is completely useless?
Maybe I had unrealistic expectations about what my degree would do for me but before I graduated I really thought that my degree would be my ticket to easy street. I thought it would land me a good job right away and I could start climbing the corporate ladder all the way to CEO. Boy was I wrong.
It might have something to do with the fact that when I graduated the economy world wide was in the midst of a freefall. I am willing to entertain the possibility that it’s slightly harder to find jobs when there is a global recession going on. But, then again, maybe a bachelor’s degree just isn’t that impressive anymore.
When I started to look for work there seemed to be a plethora of jobs that I had the education for and that appeared to be well within the realm of what I was capable of. I set to work sending out hundreds of resumes and cover letters. I must have applied for about 150 jobs. I got back no response. Not one. Nobody called or e-mailed asking for an interview. I didn’t understand what I was doing wrong. I had help from seasoned business professionals in putting together my resume and cover letter. I had a university education. I had a wealth of volunteer experience. But, I couldn’t get so much as an interview.
Then I realized what was going on. All the jobs I was applying for wanted at least two years experience. I couldn’t believe it. Entry level positions were requiring two years experience. I couldn’t get a job for which you need no experience because I didn’t have experience. To this day I can’t figure out why you need a few years experience to be a data entry clerk. I would like to think that my $30 000 degree would give me all the qualifications I need to enter a company’s phone bill into quick books. Apparently not.
Eventually I got lucky and got a job as a bookkeeper at a small law firm. But, of the multitude of applications that I sent out I only got three responses. One was from a woman who owned a company who felt that I wasn’t quite qualified for the position I had applied for but that might be adding a more junior position that she would keep me in mind for if she did in fact create the position. The second was from the law firm where I was hired. And, the third was from an insurance company that wanted an interview but that I turned down because I had already received an offer from the law firm. As it turns out, turning down that inter view was a bit of a mistake but I’ll get to that later.
When I was no longer working at the law firm and trying to find a new job, I encountered the same difficulties. Eventually I got lucky again and got hired by the organization where I am currently employed.
I guess I shouldn’t be too angry about this. All things considered I haven’t had too many difficulties in finding work. It just seems that my Bachelor of Commerce is only slightly more impressive than a high school diploma. I sometimes wonder if I should have skipped university and just started to work after high school. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t regret pursuing my degree and I feel that I am better off for it. I just don’t think it does as much for me as all my teachers, parents and guidance counselors said it would.
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