Sense of Entitlement? Not Anymore.
Back in the early nineties when I was in college, the economy was pretty rough. Jobs were hard to find and college graduates all over the country were searching for employment. Luckily, I attended a university that required each student to complete two three-month internships in his/her field of study before graduating. Many of us completed more than that because we were competitive and we could see that no one was just going to hand us a job, especially in that economy. I must say, we were lucky to be more marketable and prepared than others out there.
Being prepared for the working world is important — not that I am encouraging anyone to grow up too fast or not enjoy college.
Over the years, I have met many undergraduates unwilling to take on an unpaid internship or one that would require them to do any grunt work. I also regularly received resumes from graduating seniors who had never once worked in their field of study but expected to get hired because they are “really good with people”. Oh, and they wanted to be paid an executive salary. Their sense of entitlement absolutely amazed me.
Well this economy seems to have changed that a bit. Interns are taking their roles at the agency very seriously and looking to really learn. They are hungry for knowledge and hands-on experience. Universities are calling us more frequently, requesting one of our staff members to speak to their students or review their resumes. We have also had more inquiries for informational interviews.
Though I certainly can do without the tough economy, I am glad that it has open some eyes.
I agree, in this economy those who work the hardest will come out on top. It seems that more and more college students are understanding this.
It’s nice to have such a dedicated intern pool. When they have an understanding of what the relationship is, it’s a great way for us to give back to the community.