On a beautiful spring day, Penn State University Park seniors wait in line to create a college momento. The Nittany lion mascot – a man dressed as a scarf-wearing lion – stands by the legendary Nittany shrine – a large limestone statue of a lion. Seniors who will graduate soon line up in cap and gown to have their photos taken with the two Penn State icons.
They’re smiling until you ask them: what’s next…
"It’s kind of hard with the economy right now," Nicole Miller said.
Miller is finishing up a double major in criminal justice and psychology and hasn’t found a job yet.
"I think I’m qualified for the jobs I’m applying for. I don’t know. I guess it just makes it hard. There are so many people looking now that weren’t looking three years ago. Makes the competition a little bit worse for us," Miller said.
Miller said it’s hard to leave Penn State, not having something to look forward to afterwards.
New grads are trying to land that first job in the worst job market in decades. A recent survey says employers plan to hire 22% fewer college graduates this year than last.
Forty miles east, at Lock Haven University, new graduate, William Dowd, makes another pot of coffee for himself and his friend Liz Regan.
"Now, I don’t measure out how much I put in there. So I never know how strong it’s going to be normally…well I do know, it’s overtly strong. I mean, it’s too much," Dowd said of his coffee preparation.
They settle down on the flowery second-hand sofa in Dowd’s living room. Four creased pieces of paper lie on the coffee table in front of them.
"These are my notes, [rustling] for like, all of my interviews thus far [rustling]," Dowd said.
The notes they’re poring over are for AmeriCorps jobs – full-time volunteer positions that come with a small stipend and an education grant at the end. Dowd decided to apply for one of these jobs when he didn’t get into graduate school.
"Because I have ADHD and I can’t serve in the military just because I’m on medication and what-not," Dowd said. "I look at AmeriCorps as a way to serve my country, domestically. And it’s a way for me to give back because I can’t be in the military."
Dowd always planned to apply to AmeriCorps in the future. But he’s decided now’s the time. He’s had three interviews so far.
"I’ll tell you, it’s been intimidating. These interviews. Cause there’s awkward silences. You’re like, what do I do? Where do I go? What do I do? What do I say next?" Dowd said.
AmeriCorps is one of the few organizations with more jobs available now than in the past. Recent legislation has more than tripled the number of AmeriCorps positions. But just because these are volunteer positions, doesn’t mean landing one is easy. The number of applications is up 240% over last year.
"I don’t know if they have, 'this guy met the cut or that guy met the cut.' You know what I mean? I don’t know what kinds of qualities they’re looking for…It’s pretty rigorous," Dowd said.
Meanwhile, a whole lot of nothing is happening for Nicole Miller. Graduation looms. She tries not to think about it.
There’s no plan. It’s Senior week. Get drunk, have fun. Worry about real life next week, after graduation.
Miller sits in her apartment, walls covered in Penn State memorabilia.
"It’s kinda surreal. I don’t think it will hit me until I have to take down all my decorations, not come back in the fall when everyone else does. Until then, I’ll just pretend it’s not true. They didn’t really kick me out," Miller said.
Miller’s applied for a ton of government jobs online, but so far… no luck. She’s landed only one interview.
Economist Michael LeVert said the federal government is a good place to be looking.
"What you’re seeing is the federal government hiring many people with the stimulus money. The states, because they have balanced budget requirements, are not. And in fact, many many are laying people off," LeVert said.
LeVert said students should take the long view of future plans - what they want to be doing in ten years, not 18 months. But that’s cold comfort for a graduating senior, like Nicole Miller, thrust out into the world.
"It’s frustrating. It’s scary now. Cause I’m like, 'okay, what am I going to do?' Because, I think when you think about college, you think, you go, you get your degree, you get a job, you go to work. It’s not as easy as it sounds," Miller said.
On a more hopeful note, William Dowd landed one of those AmeriCorps positions. He’ll be arranging volunteer opportunities for students at a Massachusetts college in the fall. The job isn’t just a way to pass the time until the economy improves, either. It’s the kind of job he’d like to land in the future.
