Issue date: 3/18/10 Section: Opinions

What will do you after graduation? Photo: Cryptic_star / Flickr

Spring is in the air, and I'm thinking about ... graduation? Really, it's right around the corner, I promise. In fact, right now I'm replaying my ceremonious walk across the lawn of Kings College circle, and my brief moments on the Con Hall stage.

In those moments, exchanging polite banter with the university administration, I was feeling pretty good about my decision to enroll in a graduate program; things seemed certain and sure.

Now, two years and one MA later, this means graduating and looking for a job. I wonder what it means for you. As Vic students, so many of you have made your academic careers in and around the Social Sciences, Arts, and Humanities, so we're all in the same proverbial boat.

As Humanities-minded students, you have a pretty tough decision to make: either more school, or trying to enter an unsteady job market. For some of you, this might even be the time you're thinking of taking a year off to explore the world- and you might be on to something.

Those of you wishing to remain in academia have to wade through so many possibilities: college, graduate programs, and professional programs in teaching, law, or medicine. There is no shortage of possibilities here, as all levels of government are pouring money into graduate recruitment in an effort to expand Canada's post-secondary research profile. Believe me, they want to hear from you.

For others though, you're likely thinking about entering the job market, and it's starting to feel like a BA in History or English just won't cut it anymore, even if it is from the University of Toronto.

We don't know what to do with what we've learned, and for many of us our education seems practically useless in the 21st century. Statistically, students who graduate from programs in the Social Sciences, Arts, and Humanities are less able to see how their academic experience might be useful in a real-world work environment. They're often flummoxed by interview questions, or discouraged by job postings they don't think they're qualified for.

Don't lose heart. It's normal. You might get stumped by an interview question, but it's likely because you've been trained-up to think critically, and to respond to things in so many different ways that sometimes a simple answer ends up seeming like the biggest question. Practice your interview skills, you'll figure out what to do.

Continued...

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