The Kept-Up Librarian recently reported on this fascinating story from the New York Post. Apparently, a recent grad has sued her alma mater for the tuition she spent, claiming its Career Advancement office did not do enough to help her find a job. The article paints a sad story: the grad had found herself with tons of students loans, and her single mom was struggling to support her. It points out the severity of the current economy, and shows to what lengths someone will go when facing a dire situation.

What I’d like to discuss is not the merits of this particular lawsuit (short and obvious answer: not much), but what we can learn from this example. So for all of you students either in college or planning to attend, here are some points to take away:

1. Be prepared. Work a part-time job during school and save up some emergency funds, or get an internship over summers to increase your chances of finding a job. If the subject of this story had laid this kind of groundwork, she might have found herself in a better situation.
2. Be resourceful. No matter how bad the economy is, there are jobs out there. Getting one is simply a matter of standing out and working your butt off. Polish that resume, practice your interview skills, and network, network, network!
3. Be flexible. If there are no opportunities in your preferred field, expand your search. Look at positions that pay less than your expected salary. You will gain useful skills at almost any job, and you can apply them to get your eventual dream gig. Life doesn’t always take the path we plan; sometimes the detours are just as rewarding.

By the way, here’s a bright side for you recent high school grads: the business cycle is in your favor. By the time you graduate from college, you will most likely find yourself in a boom, not a recession. (Don’t take this to the bank; this is just conjecture on my part based on historical business cycles.)

But regardless of the economic situation you find yourself in, you should always follow the rules above. If you do, you’ll be able to make things happen for yourself, rather than being at the mercy of your employer, your school, or in this case, the courts. Earning is much, much sweeter than receiving, as I hope the grad in this story will learn.

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