An ASU graduate with a double-major recently landed a job after a long battle with unemployment that drove him to hit the streets, passing out his resume to anyone who would take it.
Matthew Anthony graduated from ASU over a year ago with a bachelor’s degree in public policy and public service and urban and metropolitan studies. He struggled to begin his career for 18 months before he was offered a position Wednesday.
While Anthony has worked several jobs, he struggled for months to find a career opportunity suited to his field of study, despite his rigorous education.
Anthony's former instructor, management and public policy professor Nicole Darnall, said Anthony was one of the most dedicated undergraduate students she ever had the pleasure of interacting with.
"His level of inquisitiveness paralleled (and often exceeded) that of most master's students. He was a finalist — and in tight contention — for the School of Public Affairs' most outstanding undergraduate student,” Darnall wrote in an email.
ASU grad was unemployed for so long he hit the streets, passing out his resume to anyone who would take it. Story to come @statepress
— Isabella Castillo (@isabella_m_cast) August 20, 2015
Assistant Director of Career Advising Cynthia Baysdorfer said these kinds of situations can be avoided if students make the effort to connect with Career Services and take advantage of the opportunities presented to them.
“The key is to take advantage of all the opportunities," she said. "Just being a good student and getting a 4.0 means nothing."
Baysdorfer said that beginning a career is about networking and reaching out to employers, and a field of study should have no effect on the job opportunities that are available.
Anthony, however, disagreed, saying that the job opportunities for his career field are extremely limited and that if he could, he would go back and change his major without hesitation.
Anthony said while he feels ASU adequately equipped him for the competitive job market, he also believes there should have been more transparency about the reality of finding a job in his field.
“The harsh reality is that just because a degree exists it does not, by any means, equate to a job for that discipline being available," he said. "I wish I'd better understood that."
Anthony said he believes other college graduates are struggling with the same issues he is.
“I am not one to make excuses, however, I think recent graduates have been hurt by the lack of decent paying entry-level jobs," he said. "Having racked up over $30,000 in student loans at ASU, this is definitely a problem. I simply can't pay my bills on minimum wage and I know I'm not alone."
Anthony said that he’d estimate he has applied for 50 to 60 jobs and handed out around 40 resumes on the streets.
Anthony said handing his resume out on the streets was very difficult for him.
“It's really tough to swallow your pride and be out there in the scorching heat trying to get a job on a street corner, nor is it something I'd call fun," he said. "I never, ever, pictured myself handing out my resume on the streets, I thought that going to college would allow me to land a stable job after graduating and that'd be the end of it.”
Looking back over his struggle with unemployment and the fields of study he chose, Anthony said, “I don't want to tell people to not study what they love, however, you do need to consider how your degree will impact your career and your ability to find a stable job.”
Related Links:
Entrepreneurs create company to help the unemployed
Editorial: The value of a degree
Reach the reporter at icastil3@asu.edu or follow @isabella_m_cast on twitter
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