Here’s How Graduating From An HBCU Can Help Land Your Next Job
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Posted By: S. Moore on May 15, 2023 What do Nick Cannon, Taraji P. Henson, Spike Lee, and K. Michelle all have in common? Suppose you guessed that the names mentioned above are famous alumni of the nation’s 107 historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs). In that case, you are correct: These people had the incredible opportunity to get the whole black college experience during their undergrad years. Of course, there is nothing like the HBCU experience. Whether it’s Nick Cannon, Taraji P. Henson, Spike Lee or K. Michelle, they’ll all say that graduating from an HBCU made them who they are today. If you’re wondering what your next steps are post-graduation and have doubts about stepping out into the real world and whether or not you will succeed, consider an HBCU. Let me remind you of what you already know. Being an HBCU graduate comes with many perks. It can even assist in helping you land your next job. If you want to learn a bit more about how being an HBCU grad helps you stand out from the others in the job market, continue reading below. Land your Next Job Through Networking Networking is one of those things that will be beneficial to landing your next job after you have earned your degree. HBCUs boast a student body on campus with diverse backgrounds, and thus understanding and incorporating the best communication skills to build relationships while living on or off-campus, is ideal. In doing that, you are setting yourself up for future success by building relationships with some of your peers and colleagues on campus. That’s how you build your professional network. After all, they may be able to help you land your next job sometime down the road. You won’t become friends with everyone who will ultimately be a fellow future black professional, but you do want to be mindful of how you interact with them. You will all be on the team as alumni of your HBCU. Burning bridges could potentially cost your dream job and more, so pay attention and stay connected. Increase in Recruitment of HBCU Grads According to reports, there has been a dramatic increase in HBCU recruitment interests by companies across the country. The above comes after the wrongful murder of George Floyd by a Milwaukee police officer during the summer of 2019. This led to many companies to decide to stand in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement and recognizing HBCUs’ role in building equity. From ABC11: “Public outrage spread globally after the widely viewed video of Floyd’s death at the hands of former officers in Minneapolis circulated in May 2020. That motivated many Fortune 500 companies to do more to improve racial equity in the United States, including bolstering the ranks of Black Americans working in Corporate America.” The ABC11 report continued: “Since then, HBCU leaders say they’ve been flooded with millions of dollars in donations from major companies as well as billionaire philanthropists like MacKenzie Scott, Michael Bloomberg and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.” With that said, it would be helpful to point out that although HBCUs have been historically underfunded and under-resourced, their mission to educate Black Americans is more important now than ever. Indeed, HBCUs are leading the way to black excellence in every endeavor. Pride in Being HBCU Made “I went to a historically black college where we’re always told there are no limitations. And so I’m happy to represent for black colleges” - Terrance J. Being an HBCU grad doesn’t mean that things were easy. This is far from the truth because going to a historically black college forces you to grow up and grow up fast. Learning to document everything, mainly if and when dealing with the good people in the financial aid office and humbling yourself, are two essential parts of the black college experience. We must admit, though, it’s all worth it in the long run. Additionally, being an HBCU graduate means you gained new members to add to your family, having a home away from home and more. Maybe the Black college experience made us this way. Rick Keller said it best, “Historically Black Colleges and Universities, or HBCUs, have played an important role in enriching the lives of not just African Americans, but our entire country.” In Conclusion Since historically black colleges are lasting cultural jewels in this country, graduates have strong HBCU pride. Life after college will be challenging. However, remembering and celebrating the points above is why HBCU graduates stand out from the crowd: You are part of the legacy that says you will succeed and thrive in whatever given profession you decide to pursue. SOURCE The HBCU Career Center If you enjoyed this article, Join HBCU CONNECT today for similar content and opportunities via email! |
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