First Jobs

Townhall.com ^ | July 18, 2012 | John Stossel

[No Truce With Kings]

“Got a degree in Electrical Engineering, looked for over a year for a EE job and no one would take me without any formal experience. Any kind of an internship would have made that transition easier.”

Did not say an internship would not help — but I still consider unpaid internships as a rip-off. I had four years experience as a computer operator and database analyst by the time I graduated from college, and got paid for that work. My oldest son had two paid summer internships at Lockheed-Martin in college. And so forth.

I am not really sure of the value of unpaid work, however. Know plenty of people who did unpaid work, and then spent a year (or more) after college looking for work.

Key to finding paid work is focus and networking. Spent my non-classroom/study time working in college rather than partying and found my jobs via networking — someone who knew someone else was looking for someone to work for them. I think a lot of folks go to college thinking everything will take care of itself once you get the degree. I went there thinking I better dig hard if I wanted a job after graduation.

[Vigilanteman]

Paid internships are the norm in engineering. Not so much in other fields. Its called supply and demand. Companies have problems finding engineers. Paid internships are a great tool to try before you buy.

That might also be true in some other fields, but if they don't have to pay for them, they don't. Our company has gotten good employees with both paid and unpaid internships. I suppose you could say that we don't treat engineering grads and business grads equally at the intern level. Maybe it isn't even fair, but it is what the laws of supply and demand dictate.

[loveliberty2]

For John Stossel and Walter Williams to be featured in threads on FR on the same day regarding jobs and opportunity for youth is a real blessing! Thanks for posting both!

From the very beginning in America, work was honored as a means of achievement, for an individual growing up, and as a citizen later. Many came to these shores as apprentices, learned a trade, and went on to become prosperous as they, in turn, offered opportunity to others in this land where liberty was the prize and freedom to pursue happiness came to be a goal of good government.

Beginning in the late 1800's and early 1900's groups of arrogant elitists, calling themselves by different names (currently "progressives") latched onto another idea. That idea, called by whatever name, is counterfeit and tyrannical and enslaves those it professes to "help."

"Ideas have consequences"! Weaver

A rediscovery of America's founding ideas can restore freedom and opportunity.

The challenge is ours!

[mass55th]

Worked part-time after school as a salesclerk in a department store in Rochester, NY. After I graduated, my first job was as an office clerk for Noah’s Ark. My employment was very short, as I’d taken a county civil service test during my senior year, and ended up being hired as a clerk at the child welfare department in Rochester. More money, and better job security.

[redpoll]

>>>>“Any work is creative work if done by a thinking mind.”
Ayn Rand, Atlas Shrugged<<<<

Hanging this one in a prominent place in my classroom this fall. Thanks.