Escape Unemployment, Go Abroad
A couple of weeks ago I read an article in the New York Times that annoyed me more than just a little. Titled 'For a New Generation, American Dream is Elusive', the article profiled an unemployed 24 year old from Boston who, since graduating from college with a liberal arts degree, has been unable to find a job despite frantic effort.
Well, this isn't entirely the truth. It seems that the guy, one Scott Nicholson, actually was offered a job for 40,000 USD a year but decided it wasn't good enough for him. So he turned it down. His failures to land a corporate track position has led both his parents and grandparents to conclude that the American dream just ain't what it used to be.
What galled me most was that the article intended the reader to sympathize with Scott, and in the comments section many actually do. Now I don't know Scott and don't want to judge him, but what on earth was he expecting? 24 year olds with a bachelor degree, no work experience, no real life experience, (likely) no language or other marketable skills simply aren't going to hit the gravy train straight out of a liberal arts college. This is hardly news; I heard much the same thing when I graduated from college, one of the reasons I ultimately chose to go to China to teach English. And when I graduated the job market was considered good.
My faith in the intelligence of our generation was restored somewhat by this parallel piece, authored by another young American. Like Scott, Andrew Hudson graduated from college and couldn't find a job. So he went to India and found work. And while he admittedly won't make much money while abroad, he is still gaining invaluable life and work experience and will be much better off when he decides to head back to the US.
Given my personal history I'm understandably bullish about going overseas to live- I've long encouraged most of my friends to do so, and several have. For me, I was pulled to China by a sense of adventure, not as a strategic maneuver. As a 23 year-old I didn't think in such terms. Yet the strategic advantages of going overseas are numerous. To wit:
- For a native speaker of English, there are always, always English-teaching positions available pretty much anywhere in the developing world. Even if teaching isn't a glamorous profession for all, there are far worse ways to make a living, especially in the short term.
- It goes without saying, but learning another language is much easier when you live in a foreign country.
- There are many exceptions to this rule, but spending some time abroad- particularly in an unusual place- usually makes one a more interesting person.
Not everyone has the temperament or desire to live overseas, so my prescription isn't going to work for everyone. But a twenty-four year old like Scott Nicholson ought to know that sitting and e-mailing companies his resume isn't the only way forward in the world.
