As part of the College's commitment to providing a liberal arts education, Dartmouth often prides itself on its ability to cater to a variety of interests. Students are given a wide range of choices in terms of classes, majors and extracurricular activities. This diversity was not present, however, at this past week's career fair. The majority of companies represented were either not-for-profit or in the field of financial services, giving students a sense that only those options are out there.
It must be acknowledged that it is expensive to have an on-campus recruiting program. However, with the general confusion and pressure to find a job that characterizes senior fall, the presence of a limited number of recruiters creates a sense that students must not only go to the career fair but seek employment in those few fields.
This feeling of obligation is a problem, since it emphasizes merely finding a job over finding a job that actually fits your interests. And this pressure is now creeping downwards, as juniors feel the obligation to get internships during off-terms and as sophomores attend the career fair. Even those who did not flood Alumni Hall are under pressure, as students take graduate school exams out of a feeling of necessity, not interest.
Career Services should be applauded for their success in bringing recruiters to campus, but their accomplishment should not be misunderstood as the only opportunity. Career Services does provide a variety of resources for those who take the initiative and who felt limited by the options this week. They also offer a variety of programs that allow students to help themselves.
And there are more choices out there than those presented in Alumni Hall. The difference is that it is necessary to go out and find them. While in future years it might be beneficial for Career Services to provide a booth listing additional opportunities at the career fair, for now students must take the initiative.
The first job out of college is almost never the only job. This being said, it is still important to explore all possible opportunities before shipping off to Kenya or spending 80 hours a week at a desk. The career fair this past week provided a myopic view of what opportunities exist. Still, it was valuable as a starting-off point. The onus is on the job seekers, not the employers. Many different opportunities do exist; it is just a matter of finding the best one through the best method.
