Traditionally, college graduates
pursue a career in the field they receive
their degree in, however
lately this has not been the trend.
According to the U.S. Bureau of
Labor Statistics, the unemployment
rate in Pennsylvania is currently
8 percent, and the job
market is very limited for newcomers.
“After I graduated, the plan was
to get a job as a photographer and
go from there,” said Dave Mershon,
a Hallmark Institute of Photography
graduate. However,
since graduating that has not been
the case for him, “All my professors
had great job experiences,
and my school was one of the best
for photography, so I thought I
would be OK,” Mershon said.
With the limited job market,
unpaid internships are some of the
only opportunities available for
new graduates. The Bureau of
Labor recorded that, in June 2009,
the unemployment rate for young
college graduates was 7.3 percent,
and as of Oct. 7, the average
salary for a college graduate with
a bachelor’s degree is $46,000.
“I am trying to get a job bartending,
I have to pay the bills
somehow,” Mershon said.
Currently, young adults look for
jobs that may not require degrees.
The restaurant business has always been
one way of making money, and recently has
increased in appeal as a quick way to
make cash.
Average server salaries
range from $23,000 to $80,000 per year depending on the restaurant and location.
Ian Foster, a University of Pennsylvania
graduate, currently works
as a waiter. “I have been doing
this for a lot longer than I
planned,” he said. “I can afford to
live off of less money at this job,
because the jobs I’m looking for
are just not out there.”
The financial world has taken a
large hit during the recession, and
Foster continues to try to apply for
jobs, while still making good
money serving tables.
“Every industry has taken a hit,
and unfortunately, the career path
I chose is very limited in opportunity
right now,” said Foster, who
continues to pursue his dream job.
Restaurant owners and managers
have also seen an increase
in employees who hold degrees.
“It used to be work here during
school, graduate, then get a real
job, but now this is the real job,”
said Marc Masso, owner and general
manager of La Stalla restaurant
in Newtown.
“Being in the business for so
many years, I am used to full-time
servers providing for a family, but
now so many full-time servers
have college degrees. They
choose this industry as a quick and
easy temporary cash flow, that becomes
more permanent during a
very competitive job market,” said
Vince Masso, a restaurant owner
for over 20 years.