December Grads Experience Opportunity And Uncertainty

December means more to Solana Vander Nat than winter break and candy canes.

When she walks across the stage at this December, Vander Nat will be the first in her biological family to receive a college degree.

Unlike many of her peers, Vander Nat is a first generation college student. However, like an increasing number of students, her graduation date will fall before the beginning of the new year. 

According to a Virginia Tech news release, more than one-third of all graduates last year walked across the stage in December.

And at least 67 percent of all Tech graduates are entering the workforce after graduation, according to a survey of 4,689 graduates published on the Career Services website.

Entering the workforce in the middle of the school year comes with a unique set of advantages and challenges. To help students like Vander Nat, Virginia Tech’s Career Services offers many resources to aid students in the job search year round.

“We see between 10 and 15 students a week who are graduating in December,” said Debbie Wilson, a career coordinator at Career Services. “At this point, many of the students that are graduating in December have already gotten the job through career fairs during fall or on-campus interviewing or one of those things.”

Wilson said the students coming in this time of year are usually students who weren’t sure if they were going to graduate school or if they are going to get a job or they waited until the last minute to do their career search.           

Career Services offers walk-in and by-appointment advising sessions for students, in addition to mock-interviews, career fairs, special events and seminars throughout the school year. However, Wilson said the most utilized resource is the Hokies4Hire system, that allows students to post their resume online and have potential employers search for candidates and contact students for on-campus interviews.

Vander Nat, an international studies and Spanish double major, has used Career Services for advice on available careers for each of her degrees.

“I have attended numerous workshops about graduate school and the job search,” she said. “They helped me use Hokies4Hire and through that system I got my internship this past summer and so far have had two interviews.”

Her internship this summer with the United States Postal Service has led to a job offer as a government contractor, an offer she plans to accept.

Wilson said Hokies4Hire and the on-campus interview program gives students access to between 400 and 500 potential employers, depending on the economy and job market at the time.

Senior communication major, Holly Witte, has already received one job offer from Hokies4Hire.

“I’ve had numerous companies contact me after viewing my resume,” she said. “I have also had a variety of on-campus interviews that are extremely convenient for me in meeting face-to-face with various companies.”

Hokies4Hire connects potential employers to students from all majors and graduates with a variety of plans for the future.

Hospitality and tourism management major, Brandon Eason, has plans to own his own business and started his own limited liability corporation in October. His company, Four Point Service, LLC, is a service-oriented company specializing in multiple hospitality fields. However, he says that he recognizes the need to develop his business management skills before he can rule out the job search completely.

“I have been going through a rigorous interview process with Pepsi and the Department of Defense,” Eason said. “I feel that I have a high advantage with both of those as far as being offered a position.”

A representative in the employer relations department of Career Services said a list of employers visiting the school is available each week. This week, 40 employers are conducting on-campus interviews, including Microsoft, Ameriprise Financial and Alliance Engineering.

Witte said she plans on having a job lined up either in December or January.

“I want to jump right into the job market,” she said. “It would be nice to take some time off but financially I need a job lined up as soon as possible. I also think it’s important for me to jump into the job market before the wave of students graduating in May.”

Eason also said he is eager to accept a job offer.

“My plans are plain and simple,” he said. “Work, work, and work.”

For students graduating next December, Wilson recommends starting the job search this upcoming spring and summer.

“Career Services does its best to prepare students for either the workforce or graduate school, but it is up to the students to take advantage for what we offer,” Wilson said. “The information is out there, they just need to take advantage of it.”

Vander Nat has been prepared.

“It’s been a long time coming,” she said. “I’m blessed and excited for my future.”