[cnn-photo-caption image=http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/05/26/intv.volpe2.art.jpg caption="Recent grad Michael Volpe wears a sign to advertise to potential employers."]
A harsh reality is facing the class of 2009 as they begin life after graduation. Many employers are cutting the number of college graduates they hire. Recent graduates are now hard-pressed to find work, but some grads are taking their search for work in a whole new direction.
One of those is Michael Volpe. He has brought his job search to the Metro of Washington, D.C. where he wears a sign around his neck that reads: “Entry Level Job Seeker.” He spoke to T.J. Holmes on CNN’s “American Morning” Tuesday from outside the Judiciary Square Metro stop in D.C.
T.J. Holmes: You have a degree in Physics. You're a former Peace Corps volunteer. You're a pretty impressive guy. Explain to us what you have resorted to doing?
Michael Volpe: Well, I was frustrated with the internet job search and just writing cover letter after cover letter and sending off resumes. I’ve attended career fairs; I’ve used networking; pretty much any means I could try to get work here in D.C. And I was tired of it all, so I just came up with the idea and hung a sign around my neck.
Holmes: Why this idea? I’m sure there are other directions you could have tried first. But this is one that really put you out there.
Volpe: Yeah, I chose this way because this way I can see people. They can see me. They can see I'm a clean-cut guy. I’m ambitious, creative, obviously, by the sign. And I just wanted to get that interpersonal relations working for me. And so far it has been.
Holmes: Are people taking you seriously? Is it yielding any good job leads yet?
Volpe: I've gotten a lot of interest. I'm starting to get a lot of e-mails and people are generally supportive. Probably the most impressive lead I'm working on right now is with the State Department in the Bureau of Diplomatic Security. So we'll see how that pans out.
Holmes: What have you been doing in the meantime? You've been looking for a job since the end of last year. What have you been doing to get by?
Volpe: Well, I moved down to D.C. in November, and ever since then I started job searching full-time, but when that wasn't yielding any results, I took up a part time job so I'm waiting tables to pay the bills.
Holmes: Waiting tables. A lot of people have to do that. You're in these transit stops. There is a lot of foot traffic. How important is it to get the eyeballs on you but also it’s a bit of a publicity stunt, knowing that press would pick you up locally and nationally?
Volpe: You know I never expected it to get this big. I guess you could say I didn't look past putting the sign around my neck. So I just went out there and did it and then kind of reaping the benefits, I guess.
Holmes: How much pride did you have to put aside to do this?
Volpe: Well, it was tough at first. Obviously it's a vulnerable position that I put myself in. But, you know, a lot of things happen when you put yourself out there and go out on a limb. People have been supportive, given me a lot of encouragement. Some people have passed by and just say, oh good luck, you'll get something soon. So, it’s actually built my self-esteem more than the internet job search has.
Holmes: I'm going to hand the last 30 seconds over to you and let you do a sales pitch. If someone is out there looking to hire. Give us a pitch why they should hire you.
Volpe: Okay, well… I have a Bachelors in Physics; two years in the Peace Corps. Some of my interests are in the following areas [Environment, Energy, International Development, Foreign Affairs.] I'm a creative, talented, hardworking guy and I’ve got a lot of discipline and I think I would be good at any company or firm. Email: m.volpe@ymail.com