Lead 1: As America’s economy continues its struggle, providing insufficient job numbers, there are few and far between who are thriving. Massachusetts college graduates see consistent patterns of struggle in the state, and therefore have a great desire to move out of Massachusetts and into a different part of the country.
Lead 2: Economic specialists at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst have done much research on the differences and similarities between economic situations on the east and west coast. Massachusetts and California, in particular, are great example of states to compare and contrast, as both have diverse American cultures which have been impacted by the current economic struggles in several ways.
Many graduates wish to go to California and the west coast, but why? The economic differences and impact of climate on the economic situation could be a main attraction for new college graduates. Despite the vast land, the west coast has economic issues separate from what one faces daily in Massachusetts. A particularly successful outplacement company, California’s own Executive Career Services (ECS), has shown that finding employment in today’s economy is possible with the right resources, and they are more than successful in their area, partly due to the large number of constant new residents. There are fascinating similarities and differences in the various regional economic situations of the U.S. yet there is a lot to learn about the overall economy of the country. Looking at the east and west coasts in particular and post-graduates’ relocation decision provide evidence of the direction in which the job market is headed and where it could pick up the steadiest.
· Background Structure:
o Massachusetts
§ What’s good?
§ What’s not so good
§ Massachusetts students/residents interviews
§ What does this area have to offer?
o Some geographical research of California
§ Get to know California
§ What’s the economy like out there?
§ Research from book/online databases on California
§ Add some stats and facts received from ECS interview
o Economist point of view
§ What makes California better for new grads?
§ What could make Massachusetts work, but why is life more stressful here?
§ Job front in California
o ECS in-depth
§ What they see
§ What they do
§ How they help
§ California economic positives compared to Massachusetts
§ Experience dealing with Massachusetts companies that do what they do
o Personal experience story
§ Grew up in Mass.
§ Went to UMass
§ Graduated, moved to California to pursue career
§ Why? Career choice? Great offer? Better economy/money/people/weather/food/stores/life?
§ What’s good
§ What he misses
o What can we do?
§ To help
§ Educate on what economic struggle level we are at currently
§ Where is it headed to?
§ How are companies like ECS helping?
§ How are economic specialists helping?
§ What can the young generation do to make economy prosper in the future decade?
o Tie into final conclusion
§ What will things be like if NATIONAL economy does not get fixed and what will it be like for post grads, perhaps, 5-10 years from now
· California lifestyle?
· Massachusetts lifestyle?
