It’s your senior year of college. Graduation is fast approaching, and as you’re sitting down for Thanksgiving dinner, someone utters the most dreaded question of all: What are you going to do when you graduate? Don’t sweat it. Not all people jump right into their dream jobs post graduation.

The problem today isn’t one of unemployment, but rather an issue of underemployment. The Center for College Affordability and Productivity states that 48 percent of college graduates are in jobs that the Bureau of Labor Statistics says require less than a four-year college education.

The Center also states that about 5 million college graduates are in jobs that require less than a high school education. To bypass this, many college graduates are looking for alternative paths for after graduation.

Teaching in Korea

Katy Ruckstuhl, A’12, always knew she wanted to take at least a year off before going to graduate school so she could get more life experience before choosing her career.

“All I knew was that I wanted to live abroad, so through the course of my research, I learned that teaching was the best option,” Ruckstuhl said. “There are so many opportunities to teach in such a wide range of countries, it seemed like an easy choice.”

And Ruckstuhl said the application process wasn’t too difficult.

“First you have to take a TEFOL course, which I did over the course of one month. After you’ve passed, you decide what country you would like to teach in and what level,” Ruckstuhl said.

Ruckstuhl posted her Curriculum Vitae, a picture and the countries she was interested in on different teaching recruiting websites. Once schools took interest in her, she underwent Skype interviews, and when she got offered the job, began collecting proper documentation for Korea.

Ruckstuhl said she decided to move halfway across the world to teach English in Busan, Korea.

“I decided to go, because I felt that if I did not take the opportunity to go at that point in time, I may never have done it,” Ruckstuhl said.

She said it also gave her a unique opportunity to both travel and make money.

“I, like many others, will need to pay my own way through graduate school, and have student loans that kicked in way too soon. Teachers in Korea have an excellent opportunity to save money, as our employer plays for our housing and the cost of living is a little lower than America,” Ruckstuhl said.

Teaching abroad has its perks as well, she said.

Ruckstuhl works as a kindergarten and elementary school teacher, instructing children ranging from ages three to 13. In the mornings, she is responsible for phonics lessons as well as song and dance. In the afternoon, she teaches middle school students a variety of subjects from phonics to history.

Other than working, Ruckstuhl said she has also gotten a chance to explore the local culture.

“Every day something interesting happens. Sometimes an old lady will try to sell me a live squid, and other times the highlight of my day is ordering a coffee in Korean, and the barista actually understanding me,” Ruckstuhl said.

She said not to worry about the transition that much.

“The transition is actually easier than you would think because Korea is modernizing very quickly and everyone under the age of 30 has basic English skills,” Ruckstuhl said.

Ruckstuhl said she is really happy that she chose to teach English abroad.

“I am having experiences that I would have never been possible if I had stayed in American and gone down a more ‘traditional path,‘”Ruckstuhl said.

“Some people see taking a year off as a waste of time, but if you’re living and working abroad, you’re building your resume, learning new skills, as well as a new language while you take the time to experience life from a different point of view,” Ruckstuhl said.

She said she would advise anyone thinking about moving abroad to make sure they understand what they are getting themselves into.

“It isn’t the same as backpacking for a month or two and going home afterwards. The country you choose becomes your home, and you get what you put into the experience,” Ruckstuhl said.

“If you’re looking for a way to see the world, meet people from all walks of life, save money and are unafraid of change and new things, teaching abroad is definitely something I would recommend,” Ruckstuhl said.

Not everyone is as adventurous as Ruckstuhl, but there are plenty of options for alternative post-graduate paths here in the United States.

Traveling the U.S…and Canada

Margaret Vienne, A ’13, also opted for an alternative path, taking on the unique position of Collegiate Development Consultant for her sorority, Delta Gamma.

Vienne says she doesn’t her position as a “detour,” but rather a professional endeavor that is a stepping stone to her end goal: a career in student affairs.

As a consultant, Vienne travels weekly to different Delta Gamma chapters all over and helps guide them in internal and external chapter operations.

“My experiences ‘on the road’ are helping me to define my goals and aspirations for my future,” Vienne said. “It is hard to call it a job, because honestly it doesn’t feel like a job.”

Vienne’s favorite part of the position is being able to visit chapters all over the United States and Canada.

“Each chapter is so unique and has taught me something new and different about myself and about Delta Gamma. I knew I would be teaching and motivating Delta Gammas to become stronger leaders and women, but I never anticipated just how much each chapter would teach me and motivate me,” Vienne said.

Vienne said she is happy with her choice.

“When I accepted the position, I was ready and willing to learn and be challenged and changed by Delta Gamma in a new and exciting way. My role as consultant allows me to do that,” Vienne said.

If you are looking for an alternative path for after graduation, Vienne suggests following a path that follows Jesuit ideals and to remember that the Jesuit mission is centered on educating the whole person.

“Find a path that will allow you not only professional growth, but personal growth as well. Choo
se a route that will continue this education of the whole person,” Vienne said.

Volunteering in California

Chris Bauer, A’12, took advantage of one of the major post-grad volunteer programs in the country, the Jesuit Volunteer Corps, even though he never really thought about taking a year off post-grad.

“I remember hearing about JVC my freshmen year and thinking that there was no way I would be able to do that, but it kept coming up again and again as I thought about where my path was headed post-graduation and the decision to apply for a service program started to make a lot of sense,” Bauer said.

Jesuit Volunteer Corps is a volunteer organization that allows recent graduates the opportunity to work in areas where they can directly help the poor in various ways.

JVC puts a large focus on its four core values: social justice, simple living, community and spirituality. “They were values that I thought would be good to spend some time building into my life,” Bauer said.

Bauer said that he didn’t see joining JVC as “taking a year off.”

“I think many people see a year of service as an isolated experience separate from the ‘real world,’ but I didn’t and still don’t see it that way,” Bauer said.

Bauer was placed in San Jose, California.

“The transition was a bit of a whirlwind. I think the toughest part was getting settled living in an intentional community. You move to a new city, meet five new people and within a week you’re sharing meals, a house and a bank account. On top of that, you’re also working a brand new job that often is in an unfamiliar field,” Bauer said.

Bauer worked at the Law Foundation of Silicon Valley in the Mental Health Advocacy Project, which provided legal aid for people with mental illnesses in areas of housing, public benefits and patients rights.

Bauer said a lot of the situations were very emotionally and physically draining, but worthwhile in the end.

“Sometimes the job was tough, but then I would meet with an especially grateful client or have a successful case, and it would be worth it,” Bauer said. “MHAP helps people in tough situations have a little bit of a louder voice, and even though it felt like I was constantly fighting an uphill battle, I had an opportunity to work towards change that affected individual lives.”

Even though at first he didn’t know his fellow JVC volunteers, they became close as time went on.

“The community sort of functions like a family, they are there for support, to have fun together, argue etc. It was always nice to have people to go home to and hang out with, especially in a new place,” Bauer said.

One of his favorite memories of the experience was a road trip he took with fellow JVC volunteers.

“One of the most amazing trips we did was an eight day road trip to the Grand Canyon and through Arizona. It was a good break in the middle of the year for me and it was probably the best road trip I have ever been on,” Bauer said.

For those considering applying to the JVC program, Bauer advises allowing plenty of time to complete the application because it is lengthy and includes several essays as well as an interview.

Also, he said, “talk to those that know you best about your decision, often the people who know you best will be able to offer a lot of clarity into what you should do.”

Overall, Bauer enjoyed his time with JVC because he saw a transformation in himself.

“I wanted to do something that would challenge me to see the world and myself a little differently,” Bauer said, “It has only been a few months since I left JVC, but there are parts of my character and lifestyle that have changed for the better because of my JVC year.”

Margaret Vienne is one of 10 travelling consultants for her sorority, Delta Gamma