ELKHART -- It was an old college dogma, preached by many higher education institutions for years -- A college degree equals a job.
But tell that to graduates from the class of 2009 and chances are their responses will be somewhat scathing.
"There are only a few people from our graduation class who have jobs," said Diana de la Reza, an Elkhart native who just graduated from Goshen College with a degree in nursing. Her job search is still under way. "I looked around here and there just wasn't anything."
Where graduating from college even a couple years ago brought a sense of security or entitlement, graduating today is often followed by frustration and doubt.
It's easy to see why. According to a recent survey by the National Association of Colleges and Employers, of the roughly 1.6 million students who graduated from college in May, only 19.7 percent had secured jobs.
Even more ominous is another recent NACE report that surveyed employers. It projected a 21.6 percent decrease in new hires among college graduates.
WHAT'S NEXT?
The answer for many newly jobless graduates in Elkhart County has been to travel.
Matt Rody says that's his plan. Rody, an Elkhart native who graduated with a degree in elementary education at Ball State, is interning in Baumholder, Germany. But that internship ends in a few months and Rody said he likely won't be returning to Elkhart.
"For me, I'd say the job search is going OK because I'm willing to go out of state," Rody said. "A lot of my friends want to stay in Indiana and so they're having a lot of trouble. You're better off if you're mobile."
Jeff Jackson, director of cereer services at Indiana University South Bend, often says the same thing to students he advises.
"We had to look at their transferability," Jackson said. "We can usually work with those students who aren't necessarily set on staying here."
That advice may resonate in a county where the unemployment rate is at 17.5 percent. With so few jobs available at home, the rest of the country may seem like prime hunting grounds.
SERVE OTHERS, SERVE YOURSELF
Brian Flora, a diplomat in residence with the State Department and part-time volunteer with the Peace Corps has noticed a growing trend -- a call to public and service-oriented jobs.
"A lot of the university career centers are pushing government jobs," Flora said.
Flora notes that the numbers of students applying for the Foreign Service Officers Test has gone up from February to June. But he cautions students who see the test and government jobs as a fallback option.
"I try to tell students it's a great career but it's a tough nut to crack," Flora said. "Your chances of being accepted go way up with the number years of experience you have after undergraduate."
Flora himself took the FSOT three times before he made it into the State Department. He says one reason he was eventually hired was his involvement in Peace Corps, something he recommends as an option to recent grads.
And many have exercised that option. Peace Corps numbers have been up. In 2008, there was a 16 percent increase in the number of applications and Flora expects that number to increase. This year, he says, he has seen more people attending the interest meetings.
"These meetings used to be a room of about 30 people," Flora said, "but now it's more like 70. They're going to have to get a bigger room."
Christine Torres, a spokesperson for the Peace Corps, says that more young people have been joining but that may be more reflective of a culture that emphasises service and even President Barack Obama's call to Americans to volunteer.
"People don't usually make such a big commitment just because of the economy," Torres said.
Drew Monger, a recent Purdue graduate from Elkhart, says that the poor job market wasn't why he applied for Teach for America, another nonprofit organization that has seen an increase in applicants. Monger was an economics major and minored in political science and math. Now, rather than pursuing an economics related field, he wants to teach.
"I had an internship with Boeing and I liked it there," Monger said. "I may have gotten a job but I wanted to do something that was more service-oriented."
Manger also says there is security in that decision. He won't have to worry about a job over the next two years while he's involved in the program.
RIDING IT OUT
But many who are frustrated in their search retreat back home to continue looking for work. The boomerang option is often the soundest financially for young graduates.
"I wouldn't be able to live on my own without a job." said de la Reza, who lives with her parents and is looking for a nursing position in Chicago. "Mostly I just study and look for jobs."
Another recent survey from the NACE shows that most recent grads, despite the odds against them, have a positive outlook. Naturally, 63.6 percent say they are concerned about their job prospects, but 53 percent are confident they'll get a job in the next three months.
"There are jobs out there," de la Reza said, noting that some of her friends have had success around the country. "It's just a matter of going out and finding them."