By Christina Loforti
This fall, new career maps will help students focus more on their majors, enabling them to compete in an economy where rules seem to change all the time.
'The purpose of the maps are to convey to students that the sky is the limit,' said Scott Greenhalgh, manager of alumni placement in the Career Placement Center.
Greenhalgh developed the career maps so freshmen and sophomores could prepare for their careers early. He said he was having problems with students coming into the Career Placement Center the week they graduated, having the conception they would be handed a job.
'There is a ton of work involved in getting a job, especially with the economy the way it is,' he said.
Starting in fall, the maps will be distributed at advisement centers around campus. Each map displays strategies, key opportunities and classes needed for individual majors.
Recent graduates have also echoed Greenhalgh''s thoughts.
BYU graduate Melanie Dahlin is far from where she thought her English degree would take her. She works as a custodian for the Kimball Tower but said she wants to teach creative writing at a college level.
'I partially blame on the economy right now because companies are downsizing and prefer people with a lot of experience,' Dahlin said. 'They aren''t willing to take a risk on inexperience.'
Dahlin stressed the importance of taking advantage of the job opportunities universities provide. She used the writing lab as an example of how she could have gained valuable experience, making her more marketable.
'It is important to keep in mind the future and to make decisions early that will get you experience while attending college,' she said.
Matt McLane, a BYU theater graduate, said he thinks the poor job selection in this area comes from a lack of focus in particular majors.
'The options are so broad with some majors that it makes it difficult, not only to find a job, but to find your focus,' he said. 'The more specific the degree, the better chance a college graduate has of finding a job.'
McLane is a window washer for his own business he started this summer called 'Sparkly Windows' but wants to produce music for a major record company someday.