Cope with recession

An empty mind is a devil’s workshop and many graduates have taken these words to heart. So instead of languishing their free time, they are keeping themselves busy. Viraj Maldar (name withheld), who recently completed an MBA in Finance and has been looking for jobs since December last year, has made a work out of the job hunt. “I wake up late and after getting ready I devote most of my time hunting for job openings over the internet. I surf job and company websites and cold call HR people of companies to check if they have any openings.” 



The responses may not have been very encouraging, but Maldar seeks solace in trying rather than throwing up his arms. He spends a lot of time meeting up friends. “Thanks to recession a lot of my friends are in a similar situation. Meeting and talking to them makes me feel better. Besides, it’s better than staying at home all day.”



Shruti Bendarkar, who completed her TY BSc (Computer Science) in April, has been on the lookout for a job. She agrees with Maldar, “I’ve been looking for some work experience before pursuing either an MCA or MSc IT. However, due to recession, getting a job is tough, so I spend my time studying for the CET, working out at a gym and meeting friends. Thinking too much about a problem makes it seem worse. So it’s best to keep busy and avoid over-thinking.”

Exercising entrepreneurship

The viability of entrepreneurship in today’s market scenario is debatable. But that hasn’t stopped youngsters from exploring the option. After six months of futile job-hunt, Zubin Shah, a recent management graduate, decided to explore entrepreneurship. "I was not willing to shortsell myself because of the market conditions. With good jobs hard to come by, I’ve decided to head out on my own by starting a business that comprises training schools to help students with memory enhancement.” Shah has been devoting a lot of time to his upcoming venture and is hopeful about its prospects. Besides taking up his time, doing something he likes, keeps his spirits up. Thinking long term: Education counsellor Swati Salunkhe feels that now may be the right time for graduates to “hit the books”. Maldar corroborates, “A lot of graduates are in a hurry to get jobs, despite the economy not fairing well. They can in fact use this time to get further qualifications because it helps in the long run." Salunkhe says that there are a variety of courses open to students looking at further education ranging from Master’s to PG diplomas and correspondence courses.     Keeping it realistic Expectations can lead to much frustration for many youngsters on the look out for suitable jobs. Dr Rajan Bhonsle, a reputed psychiatrist says that the number of students visiting him owing to rising frustration because of a lack of job, has tripled. He advises such students to “keep it real”.  “Many-a-times youngsters may have bragged about their prospects to their family and friends. So it’s best that one doesn’t play hide-and seek and admits that finding jobs is a problem because of recession. They must understand that the problem is an outcome of the market situation rather than their own merit.” Dr Bhonsle adds that parents play a pivotal role in helping their child cope with the pressure.     Keeping it realistic Comment    Mail to friend "Most youngsters are not as upset about themselves as they are about letting their parents down. They get depressed when they are unable to secure jobs or land up with low-paying placements. They might feel that the money their parents spent on their education has been squandered. Parents need to support their children and help them cope with such feelings.” On the practical front, Salunkhe advices, “Students need to go beyond brand names. There are many small and medium enterprises that continue to hire people. Students should be looking at these as well. Being extremely specific about the job profile can create problems, especially when one is starting out with a career. Students should be willing to experiment with broader job profiles. The overall focus should be on learning not earning. Also, seeking immediate gratification can cause frustration. Just because one has a particular qualification doesn’t mean that s/he can get a job easily. Lastly, this is a good time to self-introspect and ask if one’s soft-skills are in place and the bio data is rightly presented.”