The college graduate's Real World

With the economy in a recession, graduating from college is a scary realization.  I am graduating in May and currently have no lead on a job.  So instead of looking forward to graduation day, I am dreading it.  I have spent numerous hours searching for jobs and had little luck so far.  I would prefer to get a job in Washington D.C. because of its market size and culture.  I have the assumption that because of its market size it might be easier to get a job in D.C., especially with the new president and all the buzz around his presidency.  However, living in a big city, like D.C. is more expensive than a smaller market like Kansas City.  So I can't move out there until I have a job because it is so expensive compared to what I am used to.  As I notice few journalism jobs in television, my fears are beginning to heighten.  My ideal job would be a television reporter but that is looking more like a dream at this time.  Maybe I will be forced to step outside the journalism industry and look for jobs in other industries until I find a job in television.

On top of the stress of looking for a job I received a phone call from my health care provider.  They informed me that they are going to terminate my coverage after my graduation.  So if I don't find a job after graduation I will have no health care coverage and may be forced to move home with my parents.  Now that's a scary thought too.  I can't imagine having to live under my parent's roof again.  Don't get me wrong, I love my parents more than anything, but it would just be so hard after not living with them for four years.

I know that there are thousands of other soon-to-be college graduates out there in the same place.  I sympathize with them because it couldn't be a worse time to be graduating and searching for a job.  It is frightening how many qualified college graduates are applying for jobs and it is likely that a large percentage won't find jobs right out of school.  I am nervous because although I have experience with KUJH-TV and the Kansan.com it might not be enough to get a job.  It does help that I had a summer internship at Comcast SportsNet in Washington D.C. but there are no job openings there.  The only thing I can hope for is that the connections I made while there will help me find a full-time job.