Spring Break
Students struggle to find summer employment
In light of economic recession, students wary of job market
Issue date: 4/30/09
According to Presnell, the effects of the recession have been mitigated at universities like Hopkins in terms of research opportunities.
"[President Obama's] stimulus package benefited research universities," Presnell said. "There are a lot of opportunities for summer and semester-long research projects."
Additionally, Presnell found many students turning towards volunteer opportunities over the summer.
"Without a doubt, people are taking a serious look at what they want to do over the summer that may benefit their future careers," Presnell said.
"An unpaid internship is really a more serious volunteer job, and in light of the current economic situation, students are being much more flexible about their careers and are definitely looking at volunteering."
After Lelin's failed summer job search, he began to scout out volunteer opportunities in his town.
"Since I didn't see anything I could do [through online searches], I am starting to think about volunteering somewhere, like at a museum or through some sort of healthcare related field," Lelin said.
Some students were able to go back to jobs they had worked at during previous summers. For example, Sean Murphy, an environmental engineering major, said that he will be returning to the same job he had last summer.
But trends are showing that today's internships, both paid and unpaid, are becoming more competitive and scarce in light of falling economy.
"It has been much more difficult for companies to fund programs this year," Presnell said. "Students at Hopkins tend to work for competitive internships and jobs, but it may be harder to do so this year."
Even students employed during the school semester have experienced problems with the job market. Sophomore Cristina Millett, who worked as an office assistant in human resources at Wyman Park, lost her job in November.
"My boss said they were cutting student jobs, obviously because of the state of the economy," Millett said.
"[President Obama's] stimulus package benefited research universities," Presnell said. "There are a lot of opportunities for summer and semester-long research projects."
Additionally, Presnell found many students turning towards volunteer opportunities over the summer.
"Without a doubt, people are taking a serious look at what they want to do over the summer that may benefit their future careers," Presnell said.
"An unpaid internship is really a more serious volunteer job, and in light of the current economic situation, students are being much more flexible about their careers and are definitely looking at volunteering."
After Lelin's failed summer job search, he began to scout out volunteer opportunities in his town.
"Since I didn't see anything I could do [through online searches], I am starting to think about volunteering somewhere, like at a museum or through some sort of healthcare related field," Lelin said.
Some students were able to go back to jobs they had worked at during previous summers. For example, Sean Murphy, an environmental engineering major, said that he will be returning to the same job he had last summer.
But trends are showing that today's internships, both paid and unpaid, are becoming more competitive and scarce in light of falling economy.
"It has been much more difficult for companies to fund programs this year," Presnell said. "Students at Hopkins tend to work for competitive internships and jobs, but it may be harder to do so this year."
Even students employed during the school semester have experienced problems with the job market. Sophomore Cristina Millett, who worked as an office assistant in human resources at Wyman Park, lost her job in November.
"My boss said they were cutting student jobs, obviously because of the state of the economy," Millett said.
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