During the last year, as the economy slowed and unemployment rose, it seemed as if the job market for new graduates was somehow disconnected to what was happening outside the University. Unfortunately, this is no longer the case. A recent nationwide survey of 219 employers that the National Association of Colleges and Employers conducted shows that employment projections for new college graduates, while still positive, are definitely lower than during the past six years.
Employers responding to the NACE survey report they plan to hire 6.1 percent more new graduates in 2008-2009 than they did last academic year. By comparison, last year’s fall projection was a 16 percent increase in hiring – this number shrank to eight percent in the spring of 2008.
One thing to keep in mind is that many companies will continue hiring to replace retiring workers. For instance, during the next two years, the largest U.S. government agencies project that they will hire nearly 193,000 new workers for “mission-critical” jobs. These jobs are located all over the U.S. – not just in Washington, D.C. – and offer great benefits and job security.
How should students respond? Certainly not with a sense of doom or panic. Instead, build yourself a good strategy for future success. The Career Center recommends that you PLAN ahead, PREPARE yourself for your job search (whether it’s for an internship or for a full time job after graduation) and PARTICIPATE in the many opportunities you have on campus to connect with employers.
A smart strategy early on is to gain work experience, preferably in the field of your choice. Employers often limit hiring to students with internship or co-op experience during economic downturns. Do NOT assume that finding an internship or a job is an impossible task. Your success is more dependent on your own preparation and participation than on the economy, but you need to start now.
Here are some steps you can take:
-Get ready to talk about yourself to a potential employer, including your experiences, goals, abilities. If you are not sure of how to do this, see below.-Utilize the University Career Center and all of the resources available to you through your college and department. -Take advantage of the knowledgeable and friendly career counselors in UCC. They can help you with choosing a major, finding the right career path, writing a resume, identifying potential employers and handling job search questions. Call for an appointment or for a quick resume critique, come by during walk in hours.-Get a copy of the UCC’s Job and Internship Guide to learn how to conduct your search and for sample resumes. -Utilize ePACK, the job search system for N.C. State students, to find employment listings and to sign up for interviews on ePACK.
Attend and maximize your time by attending at least one of the several career fairs that will take place on campus – prepare before you attend. A handy list of fairs is on the UCC Web site. Helpful information on preparing for a job fair is in the Job and Internship Guide.
Some final thoughts: conducting your job search is like learning to ride a bike or to play the violin. It takes practice to feel confident and to develop competence, so make use of the resources listed above as part of your college experience. You will feel a lot more comfortable conducting a job search and will have a higher degree of success, regardless of the economy.
E-mail your thoughts on the economy to [email protected].
