Assignment for Design Thinking Action Lab

1. Say
• I studied X but I’m passionate about Y
• Not sure what my opportunities are
• I’ll go to grad school because I can’t find a job
• I like doing X but I’m not sure shat skills I have in that
area
Students need a broader understanding of the areas of employment their degree and
experiences prepares them for because they perceive many constraints / limitations
Think
• My degree has not prepared me for what I now
know I want to do
• There are no good work opportunities for me
• I don’t know how to find a job with a career path
that leads me in the direction I want to go
• The only way to get a good job is to get a graduate
degree
Do
• Search for jobs using academic degree as
“filter”
• Ask other graduates where they are applying
• Network
• Emphasize academic accomplishments on
their resume
• Go to job fairs
Feel
• Inadequately prepared
• Job opportunities are limited
• Most important factor is the degree
• Non-academic experiences are less
significant than academic degree
Insights: Students don’t understand all the things employers value; a new graduates
understanding of their field is fairly limited; students are good at networking and making
connections; students lack a long-term view and knowledge on pathways to careers