Grads talk about jobs, election

Students may think that the economy and job growth are secondary issues in the presidential election to things like abortion and education. But, with more and more University graduates unable to find jobs, students may need to take a closer look at the issues. Career Planning and Placement Director Patricia Rose said this week that the graduating class of 1992 has had more trouble in finding jobs, especially in their chosen career field. "We won't have any statistics until the spring," Rose said. "But the class of '92 has had a harder time of it." Naneen Ortiz graduated from the College of Arts and Sciences in May with a Bachelor's degree in Design of the Environment. She participated in the work study program during her undergraduate years and now works full time in the same job. "I don't know of anyone with a job, or at least a career oriented one," Ortiz said this week. "Most of my friends are living with their parents or looking for jobs in faraway cities." Ortiz said that her current job is temporary and that she is taking some additional classes in the hopes of applying to medical school next year. She added that her first career choice was in architecture, but that her degree did not prepare her for the field. "Design of the Environment is the most worthless major," Ortiz said. "It doesn't prepare you for architecture school. I haven't figured out what it prepares you for, really." Ortiz said that she did not blame the University for her troubles in finding employment. "I picked my school and I picked my major, so I really can't blame [the University]." Ortiz did say, however, that she needed much more assistance than she received from CPPS. "CPPS is pretty useless if you're in the College," she said. "If you're in Wharton or the Engineering School then they have things for you, but not if you're a liberal arts major." Ortiz said that many of her friends ended up with jobs that they could have gotten after graduating high school. "I wasn't thinking of [getting a jobwhen I was an undergrad," she said. "I should've picked a major that would've given me a job right after graduation." Ortiz said that she will vote for Bill Clinton on November 3rd because he might make the help the economy. "I think that he can't do any worse, and I'm hoping he'll make things better," she said. Dave Sokolove, another 1992 graduate who has had trouble finding a job, is now working full time at the Gap and teaching English as a second language on a volunteer basis. "Before I graduated, I applied for [teaching jobs] but wasn't accepted," Sokolove said this week. "After that, it was too late to apply for much else." Sokolove advised undergraduate students to start looking for jobs early, because graduation comes "before you know it." He added that graduates who are unemployed should take a year and decide where they really want to go in a career. "There are jobs out there for people with degrees," Sokolove said. "You just have to be patient and give yourself a year to find out what you really want to do. I'm at the six month mark right now. I'll give myself another six months and see where I am." 'I think that he can't do any worse, and I'm hoping he'll make things better.' Naneen Ortiz Class of 1992

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