Originally published on LinkedIn August 7, 2019.

A little-discussed reality is that many recent college graduates are underemployed. French sociologist Pierre Bourdieu called this diploma inflation, the disparity between the educational promise and the opportunities the diploma offers. Roughly 43% of college graduates are underemployed in their first job after earning their degree. The first job after college can set the pace for one’s career. It’s a false promise, especially for first-generation college students, that a college diploma guarantees a good-paying career-relevant job. Bourdieu’s compatriot, Raymond Boudon claimed that education plus class is what ultimately influences the type of job a person gets. It’s something to ponder. American sociologist Ricardo Stanton-Salazar writes that when low socioeconomic status youth do overcome the odds, it is usually through interventions that embed them in a network of institutional agents connected to services, organizations, and resources oriented toward their empowerment. 

Cal State University, Fullerton (CSUF), one of the largest universities within the 23-campus California State University system, is a Hispanic serving institution with a 42% Latinx student population. The College of Communications at CSUF graduates the most Latinos with a degree in Communications in the state. The Latino Communications Institute (LCI) at CSUF helps prepare the next generation of bilingual, bicultural English-Spanish communicators through culturally responsive curriculum. This includes a “Spanish for Hispanic Media” professional certificate, immersive research in the Latino marketplace, partnerships with Spanish-bilingual media, faculty experts, and industry professionals to create a workforce pipeline for students. The LCI has a track record of coaching first-generation college students to become competitive in the workforce. We do this by advising students to focus not just on coursework, but also on obtaining career-relevant experience and building a professional network that will help them succeed. 

One of the ways the LCI makes a difference in students’ lives is by advocating on their behalf to key employers in order to help place students in paid internships as well as help recent graduates land entry-level jobs in their field. It’s not that easy to get that first break after college, especially when one has limited social capital. LCI’s founding partner Casanova//McCann, is an excellent example of the vital role an employer can have in preparing college students. Casanova has welcomed dozens of interns to their firm and hired many recent college graduates. As part of the LCI’s two-year partnership with the PRSA Foundation, we placed Latino PRIME Scholars in top PR agencies such as Edelman, Weber Shandwick, Hill + Knowlton Strategies, and Ogilvy. In the newsroom, where Latinos are underrepresented, the LCI works to identify small media markets that are willing to give a chance to recent graduates. Telemundo in Oklahoma, for example, has opened its doors to several of the LCI alumni. The advocacy that we do on behalf of the students is paying off. LCI has alumni working in Texas, Philadelphia, Oregon, Arizona, Washington, D.C., New York, and California. The LCI has also increased its presence in the entertainment industry in Los Angeles and New York with alumni working at Creative Artists Agency (CAA), NBC Universal, Paramount, and Sony.

The LCI also identifies barriers that inhibit academic and professional success. For example, one hurdle is familial pressure to stay local after graduation. For most of our journalism students, initial career success is predicated on relocating out of the Los Angeles market to start their careers. However, this proves problematic as Latino parents expect that their children will choose to live nearby after graduation. The LCI mitigates this barrier by providing culturally appropriate advocacy that helps parents and students understand the opportunities made possible through relocation. Beyond advocacy, LCI also addresses the specific needs of students and graduates by offering emotional support to assist with the transition into a predominantly white-dominant industry and possibly out of the region.

Regular events keep the LCI network connected and active. Alumni are asked to “pay it forward” by mentoring peers and students, which makes the network more powerful and effective. The LCI alumni stay engaged and involved because they see a benefit from being an active member of this network. Job postings are often shared within the group by alumni who act as references for each other. As the alumni continue to move up the ladder, the network becomes even more resourceful. Often referred to as a family-type community by student participants, the LCI is a valuable network for students and alumni. If you are an employer who offers paid internships and has entry-level jobs, we would love to hear from you and make you part of the work we do to lift up first generation college students.