When Does Plan B Become Plan A?
April 5, 2011, 9:30 AM ET
Source: Wall Street Journal
By Emily Noonan
It’s a familiar scene. While skimming the latest job postings, I discover a listing that sounds too good to be true. Entry-level position with prestigious company XYZ in (fill in the blank with a decently sized city), must be willing to travel and so forth. Then just as I’m already mentally forming a cover letter, I glimpse at the qualifications: Minimum two years of full-time experience required.
Many of the jobs that I suspect were offered to recent graduates several years ago are now reserved for those who have already been in the field a few years. With more and more jobs seeming out of reach, there’s one question I’m still grappling with: when does your plan B become your plan A?
Essentially, when is it better to give up the pursuit of a full-time job in favor of internships or fellowships? While many of my friends are now happily employed in entry-level positions, I’ve noticed a growing number accepting temporary positions. From one-year fellowships to even the unpaid, friends latch on to anything they think can be used as a launch pad for their eventual career.
There are benefits to both positions. Many internships turn into jobs or can get you the experience for your resume. Yet, many programs I’ve come across are low-paid to the point of not covering loan payments or are dead-end career paths. I can’t help but wonder if the people who accept such positions are giving up too soon, that maybe if they had kept on applying, they would have landed the full-time job.
For my part, I have become more open to an internship or short-term stint. Even if it is not the ideal full-time employment, I want to be doing something beyond watching TV on my parents’ sofa. However, as I catch myself considering jobs that are far away from my personal preferences, I try to find compromises between my ideal locations, career goals and living expenses. I find myself with thoughts like, “Dallas wouldn’t really be that bad,” or “Maybe, I’m more interested in finance than I thought,” or “How would a year of service benefit my career?”
With 1½ months until graduation, it’s time to start moving ahead with plans A, B and C. But I’ll put a hold on plan D(esperation).
