Repeatedly, when I get asked about IST by well-wishing family, friends, or acquaintances, the response I receive is usually a half-nodding, sort-of-understanding but overall impressed. Being a growing field, it is easy to see that an IST degree would be more job-ready than others offered at Penn State. The prospective student page on the IST homepage says as much:

Our college has as a 94 percent cumulative placement rate for students graduating with bachelor’s degrees, with the starting salary for the Class of 2006 averaging $56,156.

Wow! 56K, right out of college! And the figures don’t lie: the demand for IST grads is very strong. But let’s dive in a little deeper into what the job market holds, what treasures await.

As you must no doubt be aware, the economy right now is, well, stagnant. In today’s press conference, President Bush asked congress to submit something, anything, that might get this ship turned around. Unfortunately for us as a country, the problems run deep– and the bleeding may not end for some time. The ripple effects are obvious: people are more cash-strapped because of inflation, gas prices, and the mortgages, and are willing to spend less. Industry suffers, and the spiral continues.

So where do we all fit in? Aren’t our jobs “recession-proof”? Those PBL skills will transcend any subprime crisis, surely. In a very enlightening discussion I had with a professor recently, it became brutally honest how little water the term “recession-proof” holds. I refer you to this, this, and also this. Quite literally every industry will be feeling the squeeze in the coming months, and we the recent-grads are simply along for the ride.

What do we do? Only get jobs in the oil industry? Wait in school another five years for it to blow over? Just push through as you normally would?

There are no easy answers, as this is your life you’re dealing with. The choices truly are yours, and yours alone.

What would be pertinent, however, is to realize that no matter how safe you think your career is, it might not be. In class, on the job, in interviews/resumes/career fairs, always ask yourself “what separates me from the rest of them?” We have the luxury of not being in the financial sector, where at any point 9,000 jobs can be cut without notice. You can separate yourself as a quality investment to whomever you’re working for… especially if you’ve taken IST 425 and that employer is you.

Get a masters, an MBA, connections. Work overseas, what the hell? Just remember — things are going somewhat… downhill. Your employment prospects shouldn’t be, and with the great education you get here at Penn State in the fantastic college of IST and your own commitment, they won’t.

Continue this conversation in the IST Building Forum.

Categories: Entrepreneurship, Internships & Jobs, Opinion