Does It Really Take 52 Jobs To Find the ONE?

A colleague recently forwarded me an article from The New York Times about a young college graduate who is working 52 jobs in a year -- one a week, in case you're wondering.

I know, it seems cool, right? He explores different gigs, gets a sense of what he likes and doesn't like and has a story to tell when all is said and done. On one side, it is cool. A year to find yourself through the career lens trying anything and everything you can. Sure, he's sleeping on couches and pinching pennies but he'll be a new person when all is said and done--or at least have a new perspective.

But what really frustrates me is that this is what we've come to. Students can't--or don't try--to get what they need when it comes to career development on campus and still struggle with that illusive "what do I want to be when I grow up?" Millions of young people still job hop just for the sake of hoping they end up with the right fit at some point. It's like trying on bathing suits. Painful, but you eventually settle on one you can tolerate.

The thing is, it doesn't mean that we have to try out careers to find the right one. Companies and universities need to find better ways to bring experiences to students so they don't have to go out to find them.