In a Tough Job Market, This College Grad Landed at the Head of a Class
BY JEFFREY JUUL
In this economy, even the surest of dreams can easily be dashed. For her whole life, Mary Schmitt knew she wanted to be teacher.
“This sounds cheesy but I’ve wanted to teach my whole life. I have been playing teacher in my bedroom since I was in second grade.”
For Hudson, Wisconsin native Mary Schmitt, a high school teaching job appeared to be well in reach after she graduated from St. Olaf College in 2009 with a major in social studies education.
Unfortunately, as for many recent grads, finding work was a colossal if not impossible task. In the past, a strong education—such as one from St. Olaf or Carleton—generally pushed graduates to the head of the list for any number of jobs. This year is different.
In light of the recent global economic recession, spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on education is sometimes becoming more of a liability than an asset.
Against the wishes of many cash-strapped students and parents, a lot of college graduates now feel they have no choice but to pursue further education. These graduates then face the choice whether to rack up further debt in hopes of a lucrative future career, or to settle for what they can get right now.
Easier Said
“Because of the state of the economy, many of my friends thought that continuing their pursuit of education was a pretty good option,” said Schmitt. “It’s not like companies were handing out jobs, so a lot of people felt like they really didn’t have another choice.”
Rather than pursue further education like many of her peers did, Mary decided that it would be most beneficial to get some classroom teaching experience first.
“Instead of speaking in hypotheticals, which you do for most of your four years of undergrad prior to student teaching, I would actually be able to refer to experiences in the classroom as I move forward with my own education.”
In today’s market, this is much easier said than done.
Currently, job seekers with years of experience are being turned down for entry-level positions a college graduate would normally take. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the most recent unemployment rate for recent graduates was 6 percent—nearly double the rate of two years ago. For all the unemployed, especially recent grads, the market just isn’t there.
Applicant Pools
“I applied to over a dozen schools and didn’t even hear a word back from about 10 of them,” said Schmitt. “I had one interview from a school where I student-taught last fall which was pretty much a given. But I was extremely disappointed when I got a call back saying they had given the job to a man with 10 years of teaching experience under his belt.”
Because of their lack of experience, college grads entering the job market are at the biggest disadvantage.
“I am assuming that as administrators looked through their applicant pools, they simply looked over anyone without teaching experience. They had the power to be extremely picky,” said Schmitt.
Competition for scarce jobs is at the highest level it’s ever been. In September 2009, the Economic Policy Institute cited a Bureau of Labor and Statistics report that showed 6.1 jobseekers for every available job in the United States.
Fortunately, this one got lucky – she got a job teaching American history at Northfield High School.
Economic Stimulus
“They offered my current position to another woman with five years of experience who was coming from a school that had to make cuts,” said Schmitt. “However, her school was able to get back a portion of its budget and rehire their old teachers. Fortunately for me, she chose to go back to her old job and it opened up a position for me.”
Rather than creating new jobs, statistics show that measures passed by local and national governments are saving jobs which would have otherwise been cut.
According to the Minnesota Office of Management and Budget, over 5,800 K-12 teaching jobs have been saved due to the economic stimulus measures implemented by the government.
“I am loving my first year of teaching!” said Schmitt. “Of course, like any other job, there is a learning curve and I am sure I make mistakes everyday but I am dedicated to improving my skills in the classroom and continuing to mold myself into the teacher that best fits my personality.”
Often times, the Northfield community sees Carleton and St. Olaf students as temporary—a four-year pit stop for many. Mary, on the other hand, stayed in Northfield and decided to use the colleges to her advantage in the classroom.
Graduate School?
“With the colleges in town, there are a wealth of possibilities to expose students to the advantages of higher education,” said Schmitt. “Just a few weeks ago, I took my students on a mini field trip to St. Olaf to see a photo exhibit on immigration. Not only did it fit perfectly with our current content but it got the students into a library as well.”
“The students got to see the college first-hand and witness students taking their studies seriously and pursuing their education,” she said.
Next semester, Mary will be teaching ninth grade civics and 12th grade social psychology at Northfield High School.
And as for graduate school?
“I would like to continue getting teaching experience alongside of graduate work ,” she said. “But I think if I start taking a few courses maybe this summer, I can at least start making progress towards another degree.
“However, there is something intriguing to me about administration or maybe even teaching at a college level. I am just going to see where it leads me!”
To contact the author: juulj@carleton.edu
Copyright @ 2009 Pressville
