I have young newlywed friends who both graduated from Syracuse University in 2008. They were musical theater majors and maintained a rigorous course schedule to earn a BA in the Performing Arts. Students in Syracuse's College of the Visual and Performing Arts start on degree courses in their first semester, take acting, dance and vocal classes along with science, math, and humanities programs and perform in college and professional productions throughout all four years. It is not an easy program and many students take on-line courses in the summer in order to allow themselves to focus on the degree courses and productions during the school year.
One of the things that impressed me about their education is the focus that was placed on their first few years after graduation. Each semester, they and their classmates met with former graduates who were building careers in the performing arts. As juniors and seniors they learned how to get the best head shots, traveled to New York City to perform in front of agents, and learned how to audition for commercials, movies and the theater. The university's program seemed to be focused on turning out talented, educated, hard-working graduates who know what it takes to succeed.
I've spoken to business and marketing student groups about I am looking for in resumes and cover letters and have given my advice about what they will encounter upon graduation. After one talk, a young man came up to me and stated that he did not feel it was "fair" that he had to "pay his dues" at his first post college job. He felt he had earned the right to be treated as a professional because he had earned a degree in Business and Marketing.
Similarly, this week someone told me about a young man who has an MBA and another advanced degree but little work experience. A local CPA firm chose not to hire him because he was "too cocky" and they didn't think he would take direction.
I think my young acting friends have learned valuable lessons that are not internalized by those who major in other disciplines, such as:
- The education doesn't guarantee anything and hasn't trained you for your dream job. It has given you a foundation and the house you build up on that foundation is up to you.
- Upon graduation you will need to begin a self directed program of life-long learning. The actors have moved to New York City and after finding a safe apartment, they sought out vocal coaches and acting classes. They continued their education on their own.
- You are in competition with those who graduated with you, those who came before you and those who will graduate next year. Your job isn't "your" job. It is the position you hold now. You must continue to earn it and also look for the next right opportunity -- within your current company or someplace else.
- The success you had last year or last week doesn't matter. The value you have in a production (or job) is what you bring to the table today.
- You will need to pay your dues. Some people don't have to -- sometimes fate, talent, or the production's (company's) special needs will allow some folks to "jump in front of the line" --but assume that you will have to pay your dues and be ready to do so gracefully and with good humor.
- Your career may not rise straight to the top, but can meander along a seemingly random path. You may reach a plateau and you may have to re-evaluate your talents, experience, and opportunities in order to move forward.
- You may have to sacrifice - take a second job, work as an intern, take an extra roommate -- in order to earn enough money to survive while you build your portfolio (resume) toward a job that you love.
Have colleges, universities and parents over-promised today's graduates? I think so. I think all college students would benefit if the course work involved learning from recent grads, from accomplished professionals, and from those who have chosen alternative paths. If the colleges of the performing arts can prepare students for the real world, certainly the colleges of business can do the same.
