Is getting a job a sure thing with a college degree? Most believe the answer to this question is “yes,” otherwise, why would we all be attending a university? But, one must always be prepared.

Although, having a college degree could increase your chances for job opportunities in the future, it does not guarantee it anymore.

Most students at CSUN attend a university to secure a future, work in high positions, prepare themselves for the world, and, some, merely come to socialize.

However, did you know that employment agencies conceal that most 2004 graduates still await their first job interviews?

A majority of these graduates have not landed a job yet. So, is a bachelor’s degree still an honorable level of education? Many employers would say “no.”

Students should start trying to improve their chances of getting a job. A degree still holds a level of value in society. But how can we add to that value.

After talking with graduates who once struggled to get a job, here is a list of tips that will help improve your odds of getting a job.

Variety is the spice of life.

If you want one option when you graduate, study only one field. But, a double major in a field of study could give you flexibility and increase your options. Be creative. Two majors do not necessarily have to be related.

“One of our majors had a double major in fine arts and anthropology and became a small museum director,” said Larry Zimmerman, University of Iowa.

Do not rule out minors. They are just as helpful in adding to your resume.

Ralph Emerson, a famous essay writer and poet, said, “We are shut up in schools and college recitation rooms for ten or fifteen years, and come out at last with a bellyful of words and do not know a thing.

On that note…

Acquire as much experience as you can in the field you are most interested in.

“Whether it is a part-time job or even volunteering, you are telling the employer that you have experience and that is the key,” said Elvira Grigourian, graduated CSUN, cum laude.

A degree does not give you the hands-on experience that employers are magnetized to.

Graduate with skills.

Many people who compete in the job market do not have additional skills. If you have computer skills, speak a second language, or any other specific skills related to your major, it can open doors for you.

“I graduated with a degree in Applied Finance, and landed a job easily once I had received training in currency trading, here in Los Angeles, for almost six months,” said Robert Gagliano, graduate of Macquarie University, in Australia.

Consider attending graduate school. Most, higher-level, jobs require Master’s Degrees.

“Almost everyone has a Bachelors Degree. You need to separate yourself from the average job hunter,” said Arin Broosan, graduate of USC.

Today, an increasing number of people attend graduate school.

Extended learning programs and graduate programs are becoming more popular as graduates are denied employment after receiving their bachelor’s degree.

For example, a surgeon would never enter the operating room without his scalpel.

A chef could not create a meal without the ingredients.

An artist could not compel your eyes with a masterpiece, without a pencil and paper.

A student should not expect to be chosen off a list full of job applicants, if one cannot attract the employer with good value and a little something extra.

So, hold onto your degree it will get you the interview, but will it get you the job?

Mineli Grigourian can be reached at spotlight.sundial@csun.edu.