Wow. I know the economy is difficult right now, so I guess I shouldn’t be surprised to read about an alumna suing her college because she can’t find a job. But I am surprised to read about this. Obviously she didn’t put too much thought into the long term ramifications of her lawsuit.
If I were a hiring manager, the first thing I would do after glancing at the resume is run a quick Google search on a potential employee. If the first page of search results listed nothing but a news result about a baseless lawsuit against his/her former school, I would drop the resume in the shredder and never respond. If you are willing to sue a school, you would be willing to sue an employer. And that is an issue most companies are not willing to take – especially for someone who isn’t bringing any special skills to the table.
Why is she suing? Trina Thompson graduated from New York’s Monroe College in April with a bachelor of business administration degree in information technology and is suing her college for $72,000, which covers the full cost of her education, plus $2,000 to cover the stress of her 3 month job search. Why? Because she believes (in her words) the “Office of Career Advancement did not help me with a full-time job placement. I am also suing them because of the stress I have been going through.”
Her chief complaint is that her college hasn’t done enough to help her with job placement. Again, in her words, “They’re supposed to say, ‘I got this student, her attendance is good, her GPA is all right — can you interview this person?’ They’re not doing that,” she said.
By the way, her GPA was a robust 2.7, which should have most employers knocking down doors.
What does the college say? Monroe College released a statement saying that “while it is clear that no college, especially in this economy, can guarantee employment, Monroe College remains committed to working with all its students, including Ms. Thompson, who graduated only three months ago, to prepare them for careers and to support them during their job search.”
My thoughts? I don’t have all the facts, but I am siding with the college on this one. To expect a job simply because you have a degree is naive. To expect a multitude of job offers in a difficult economy, when people with years of experience have been unemployed longer than you have had a degree, is grossly naive. To sue someone because you haven’t been able to find the job you desire shows a sense of entitlement that is disturbing. No one owes you anything. You need to work for it. Simply having “good attendance and an all right GPA” is not enough. You need to bring real skills to the table. You need to show how your skills and experience separate you from the other 100 job applicants, some of whom have decades of practical experience – not just an all right GPA.
A college degree does not guarantee a job. Once upon a time it may have. But not today. Not in our economy.
Source article: Jason Kessler, CNN.
{ 17 comments… read them below or add one }
yea that seems a little far-fetched to me – which leads me to warn you Patrick – when she does Google her name and this article shows up – you don’t want to be next!
Forget college degree, even masters degree means very little these days. It’s all about who you know, networking and getting your name out there is the best way to make connections and learn about job opportunities.
Very true. It’s more about making opportunity than having opportunity come your way.
I agree with Craig. A lot of people get along quite nicely without a degree. I have several friends who are making mid 6 figures in sales and never darkened the doors of a college. Conversely, I know many with a degree that are slaving away at menial jobs. It’s all in what you do with it, and all in how you handle yourself. I finished my MBA a few years back and I can honestly say it did nothing for me professionally (yet?), though I’m still glad to have gotten it.
Good point, Ron. That’s why I changed my goals and no longer feel like I need an MBA.
Yes, this case has no merit. You can help your self by majoring in fields that pay well, and going to a good school, and studying and learning, and having relevant employment experience, etc.. As I wrote today: Another Survey Shows Engineering Degree Results in the Highest Pay.
Obviously she’s an idiot – not to mention the horrible epitome of the self-obsessed entitlment mentality plaguing our cultire.
You went to a school no one’s ever heard of. You made BAD grades (which is almost impossible to do at US colleges nowadays what with remedial courses, rampant cheating and grade inflation). You graduated only THREE months ago. Oh, and your graduation happened to coincide with one of the worst recessions our country has had in decades.
And you think the reason you don’t have a job is because your school isn’t helping you? This despite the fact that the school never promised to help you find a job so it’s not like they’re in breach of contract or anything else you could sue for.
But good strategy painting yourself as a low-achieving, non-ambitious whiner to all of America through the media. I’m sure employers will be lining up straight away.
This is totally ridiculous and makes me a little bit ashamed to be part of this generation.
I am happy with the job that I have gotten with the help of my degree. But I have also had the help of job experience, hard work, applicable skills, resourcefulness and luck. Maybe girl should have looked into some of those things before deciding to sue.
Unbelievable! This is another example of what this country is coming to . . . disgraceful!
I find this story interesting, but keep wondering if there’s not more to it. It just seems like if the facts are as simple as the media has been making them out to be, no reasonable lawyer would have taken the case and/or a judge would have thrown it out. I’d be interested to find out what legal issues are involved.
That said, the girl sounds like a bit of a dullard, and I’m surprised that her lawyer isn’t telling her to keep quiet. Maybe she’s hoping for a book/movie deal to go along with her 15 minutes of fame.
Jane, She did not hire an attorney because she says she cannot afford one. A quote from the article:
I’m not sure an attorney would touch this case. Most colleges offer job search assistance, but I have never heard of one guaranteeing a job (outside of the military academies and similar institutions).
As an attorney, while reading this post…all I could think is what lawyer would take this case on a contingency fee?
I think this girl is smarter than we think – she’s simply riding the wave of current national politics:
According to our government, we have a right to own a home, a right to health care – so why not a right to a job? Her only problem is that she’s complaining to the wrong people. Don’t sue the school; take it up with the federal government. It’s the government’s responsibility to provide a job for each and every one of us should we need it. It’s the individual’s responsibility to sit back and wait for it.
Dan,
Didn’t I vote for change? Doesn’t change equal a job for me, regardless of my GPA, or Degree? Doesn’t change equal a job even though I can barely get my name out on an interview? Doesn’t change mean that I can show up to a job interview in shorts and call my interviewer “dude”?
Journey,
Of course it does.
Dan
Hmmm…I wonder if she mentions her attendance on her resume.
ie “Achieve 94% in attendance”.
Wasn’t it “good attendance.” what qualifies as good? If good is average, and 70% is average, then maybe she missed 30% of her classes. That could account for the “all right” GPA.