Wednesday, November 11, 2009

For New College Grads, Have a Plan B

You are about to graduate college and you majored in a field that was most interesting to you, but the job market is tough in your area. Just because things look bad now, it doesn’t mean that your field won’t open up in a couple of years. However, you need to pay your bills, including your educational loans, right now. Start thinking about what else you can do and develop a detailed alternative plan that you can fall back on should things not work out. Your alternative should preferably be in an area considered “recession-proof.” This is a required assignment in the management and entrepreneurship courses I teach.

36 comments:

  1. Professor Bruce is so right. This is exactly what Im going through right now. I am a management major and its hell finding a job because apparently everyone wants to be a manager. So my plan B is babysitting and at $15 an hour that my be my new plan A, LOL

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  2. I agree with Professor Freeman having a plan B is important because you may not get the right job for you the first time around. Having a Plan B shouldn't be seen as settling because it should probably be a job can enhance the job you really want to have in the future. I know what I am planning on doing if I don't get into a Law or Business graduate school. Lastly Plan B's shouldn't be seen as a bad idea but as strong and viable alternative until the real job you want presents itself.
    (Erik D. Developing Management Skills)

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  3. I concur with Professor Freeman. Countless students think about a Plan B but never develop it. Only a small fraction of students actually develop and analyze their Plan B. It is vital in this economy to develop a solid Plan B, you never know where you will end up and what opportunities can arise.

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  4. Prof Freeman couldn't be more right. I know several people who I went to high school with, who were a grade or two ahead of me, who's "Plan A" never worked out. One of the guys I know went to and graduated from college and ended up working at Wendy's. He graduated with a degree in finance and economics.
    (Roque S. Developing Management Skills)

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  5. This is the best advice that I have ever received from a professor. There are many college students that go through their four years of college only focusing on their field. They do not consider a plan b so when times are rough, they do not know what to do. However, if they think about a plan b then they see how they can take their current skill sets and apply it to other fields until they can get the job they truly desire.

    -Bettany

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  6. I feel it is important to have a plan B. I'm a college student, so I know it's important to have back up to fall on. In this economy, a plan B is a must. -Nitish

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  7. Prof. Bruce is right about having a Plan B. Everyone has their bills, and in order to get them paid you need a job. If I wouldn't be able to find a job in my field, when I graduate I would definitely consider a job at a retail.

    Agnes K.(Small Bus. Management)

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  8. That is very true professor I totally agree with you. I’m actually paying my loans right now, as I continue to pursue my bachelor’s degree.

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  9. Professor Bruce is wise to say have a plan b. The more option a person has the better chance they can weather a economic storm. Professor Bruce from what i have heard always has another plan b.

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  10. Plan B does not mean that you have given up your hopes and dreams. Plan B can be temporary until the economy improves. The reality is that you have to eat. Plan B can also be an opportunity to explore other avenues that you might not have considered. Today's Plan B could become your future Plan A.

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  11. Professor Bruce gives great advice to have a plan B. As I approach the end of my college career, I am looking for a job, but I am sticking with my part time job that I have had since high school for now just in case things do not go as planned because I know that job will be there to help me pay my bills if i can not find one right out of college.
    Daniel N.

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  12. I think there should always be a second option in case if your first choice doesn't work out. It is always good to havea back up plan because you don't want to fall behind in payments.

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  13. I agree with Professor Bruce you have to have a plan B, but it is important to build relationships and those graduates who took the time to do this will find it easier to get work I believe that it is not what you know it is who you know

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  14. William makes an important point. Keep building personal relationships. For instance, professors at your college, in many cases, are involve in outside activities ie small businesses, consultants to corporations and research grants. An after class chat and making sure the professor knows your name are important.

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  16. I believe this is a very smart suggestion. I am about to graduate and I am also worried about finding a job in my field. I already started developing my ‘Plan B’ and build my resume and prepare myself for my career. Thank you, Professor, for good tips!

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  17. Prof.Freeman has some great ideas about Plan B. I would definitely consider getting a certificate in another field of my interest, hopefully something related to my field. Therefore, after the economy gets better I can have the certificate and work in my field.

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  18. Professor Bruce is correct about his statements here. You need a Plan B to survive in anything that you do. Especially in finding a job with the market being the way it is now, if you have a specific job in mind that you want to persue and after college its not hiring, you need to try to find another job to take up for the mean time. You cant not have a job because you have many different bills you will need to pay.

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  19. This is a great idea because if you just focus on "your major" and the field you are interested in, chances are that when things get a little rocky, you won't know how to readjust and fall back on a Plan B. In everything we do in this LIFE, we must have a Plan B, or to be even safer a Plan C. There's an old saying that is internationally known, "better to be safe than sorry." People with a backup plan have a better chance of succeeding because they can easily adapt to change. Life is full of surprises and if one unfortunate surprise heads your way, you got it under control.

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  20. A plan B is always great especially for newly graduated college students. And Im sure it will work. I also think that keeping your options broad will help. For example if you are going to be a business major, don’t narrow your major too much. For example do put all your focus on accounting classes, or managerial classes. This will only limit your options when you are looking for a job. If business is your field of interest do a broad study perhaps like general business, or business management. The courses given in those type of majors are very well rounded you learn a good amount on all aspects of business. As a result when you are applying for a job you will most likely be qualified for numerous positions.

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  21. Everyone should have a Plan-B no matter what the economically circumstances are. Even when the economy is good after you graduate you may find that your field is nothing to what you expected it to be. Two close friends of mine majored in business and are currently working in two completely different fields. One is a partner in a snow plowing company and will eventually take over his father’s landscaping company. The other now lives in Washington D.C. working in the Capital building.

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  22. Profesor Bruce, im agree with you 100% is important to have a plan B, specially this days. everybody know how is the economy. but the point that you just mantionate that is really important to keep your dreams! thatPlan B does not mean that you have given up your hopes and dreams. sometimes people get affect or impact for the economis situation and give up!

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  23. Having a plan B is A great idea. These days with the market they way it is not everyone is getting jobs right out of college. Bills do need to be paid BUT i also feel that you should try to get a job in your field. Nothing these days is rescission prof as Prof Bruce said. There is not a job market out their that has not been effected by the economy, everything had been effected. I disagree because in my opinion there is no job that the economy has not effected.

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  24. i really agree with professor bruce because he is the first one to encourage his students to plan for the future and for their success. plan B is giving us a great hope to do more, work hard, and to be ourselves even if we don't find the job we are looking for. by the time the economy is back we will be strongly ready. i'm happy because i'm not the only person who agrees with professor bruce.

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  25. I agree with Professor Bruce, you should definitely consider having a plan B. Just in case the job you are looking for isn’t hiring because of the economy don’t let that stop you. Work an odd job for now if you have to eventually your job will open up.

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  26. I agree with Prof. Bruce on that you should keep you mind open to any opportunities that come across your way. You never know who you will meet or what you will learn while working, even in the field that is not your first choice.

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  27. I sort of have a recession proof job. I teach music privately. My income comes from each student individually. If one student stops taking lessons due to funds by that time I usually have a new student to take their place. The more students I have the better I'm doing. I just have to keep on getting more students that way I'll be okay if a few start leaving due to money troubles.

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  28. As a student who is about to graduate and looking for a job. It is very difficult in finding a job in my field of study right now. Having a Plan B is very important, unfortunately I don’t have one but will be thinking about it.

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  29. I agree with professor Bruce. Having a plan B will be very useful at times, especially now when the economy is in bad shape. When I started college in 2005, the major that I chose, which is management, was in demand. Now it is very hard to get a job with my major, so when i graduate, I probably will resort to a plan B until jobs are available again.

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  30. I agree with prof bruce a plan b is always necessary in these times. Having a backup plan is important is because it is the difference between finding a job right away or 6 months later.

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  31. A "recession proof" plan B would be a great idea. It could be hard knowing exactly what you are going to do right after you get out of college so I think having a backup plan is smart. Not only would it be a good thing to fall back on if something goes wrong but it could also be a great experience.

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  32. Again professor bruce leaves us with some very wise information. i too have already constructed a plan B incase when i graduate i cannot find what i am looking for. and yes it is definatlely recession proof because who knows how log this recession can go on for.

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  33. I agree with Professor Freeman, I think the plan B idea is a great one. It really makes you evaluate the skills that you have and think of what other options you may have if your plan A falls through. It really helps to prepare you for the future. Great information.

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  34. Having a "Plan B" is very important, especially in today's economy. However, just because your first career choice didn't work out, doesn't mean you should give up on it. When working with your "Plan B" I think it is important that you take steps towards achieving your "Plan A."

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  35. I don't ever want to be tied down into one career feild, I feel as though that would very boring. Also, Technology is constantly evolving and it could be quite possible that the careers many people have chosen will become elimated due to no fault of their own.For theese reasons having a Plan B should be necessary in everyone's life.-Brittany Ricciardi

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  36. Before writing the "Plan B" paper I had always thought about different types of career paths that I could choose but I never thought about how my skills could relate to those different career paths. I think that this was a create excercise to start off the semester because it gets us to think outside the box and explore other possible options for ourselves.-Sean Drury

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