Job market is mostly contingent upon timing

The Wall Street Journal recently reported that consumers are finally spending money on more than just basic material goods again. It’s been two years since retailers, restaurants and other merchants made significant profits. Women are starting to splurge on cute shoes, families are celebrating birthdays at their favorites restaurants and couples are opting to improve their homes.

As a direct result of increased spending, employers are beginning to recall laid-off workers or hire new people. While it’s often hard to make heads or tails of the convoluted business jargon regarding sales, profits and markets, recent news seems to indicate there will be more happy people.

It’s important to keep in mind that the recent upturn is only in its early stages and much improvement is needed in the economy. California, one of the states most affected by the economic downturn, is not showing signs of improvement just yet.

Even so, the pattern is encouraging news for current laid-off workers and those entering the job market.

Upon reading this Wall Street Journal article, I began to wonder how the economic downturn has affected the decisions seniors are making regarding their future.

According to Andrew Starsiak, a senior majoring in biological sciences, the recession has not affected his immediate career path decisions. After graduation, Starsiak plans to work at a biological research firm in order to gain experience in that field. Though he hopes to continue his education within a few years, Starsiak is focusing on finding a job. He said the poor economic situation has not turned him away from that objective.

“The job market is like the tide. It will go in and out all through life. If you start using it as an excuse, you are already giving up on your goal,” he said.

Similarly, Avi Kushlan, a senior majoring in communication who hopes to work as a director of video operations for an NFL team or a major college program, said he intends to enter the workforce following graduation, no matter what the economic situation.

“[I want to work in] anything with the word ‘grunt work’ in the description,” he said. “Internships, low-level assistants or anything similar that matches the skills I already have and provides me with the opportunity to take it to the next level.”

And if all else fails, we’ve got a great alumni base and Trojan Family on which to fall back.

“I got my job through USC’s career posting from the USC’s career website,” said Jason Finkelstein, a senior majoring in public relations. “They wanted to hire someone right out of USC because of their familiarity and satisfaction with USC students in the past.”

The news of the economic downturn has made it increasingly obvious that it’s difficult to predict the ebb and flow of the market; forecasts of the job market had predicted a much bleaker outlook than the current trend suggests.  Surely, seniors will benefit greatly by graduating during the beginning of the upward trend.

But if anything, this serves as a reminder that the job market is all about timing.  Rather than deciding to switch majors or add on additional academic pursuits for the sole purpose of increasing one’s job prospects, we should seek to pursue subjects that we are passionate about.

We can’t control the timing of the economy, but we can control what we choose to explore in our time here at USC.

Here’s to congratulating the class of 2010 and hoping that the future graduating classes will be able to catch a ride on the economic upswing.

Danielle Nisimov is a sophomore majoring in public relations.  Her column “On the SCene” ran Thursdays.