Grist: Recent college grads contributing to society whether they like it or not

[marmar]

Recent college grads contributing to society whether they like it or not
by Jess Zimmerman

2 Mar 2011 4:05 PM


Well, The New York Times has finally found a trend to report on that doesn't consist of three people in Park Slope. The trouble is, they're not sure exactly what that trend is. Either millennials -- otherwise known as "kids these days" -- are more likely to get do-goodnik jobs because they're big-hearted givers, or they're more likely to get do-goodnik jobs because the recession put soulless corporate money out of reach.

Interest in nonprofit and service jobs is definitely going up:

In 2009 alone, 16 percent more young college graduates worked for the federal government than in the previous year and 11 percent more for nonprofit groups ...

Renewed interest in public service is visible across the country. Applications for AmeriCorps positions have nearly tripled to 258,829 in 2010 from 91,399 in 2008. The number of applicants for Teach for America climbed 32 percent last year, to a record 46,359. Organizations like Harvard's Center for Public Interest Careers have been overwhelmed -- and overjoyed -- with the swelling demand from talented 20-somethings.

But is it because they were raised on breast milk, Barney, and community service credit?:

Some experts say millennials -- those who grew up in the 1990s or the 21st century -- are unusually big-hearted, maybe because of the community service requirements they had in school.

"The millennial generation is a generation that is just more interested in making a difference than making a dollar," said Max Stier, the president and chief executive of the Partnership for Public Service, a nonprofit group that advises government recruiting efforts.

..............(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.grist.org/article/2011-03-02-recent-collegeontributing-to-society-whether-they-like-it-or-not