Workforce looking better for grads
Employers plan to hire 13.1 percent more new college graduates in 2005 than 2004, according to research done by the National Association of Colleges and Employers.
Donna Crow, director of Utah State University Career Services, said the improving economy is the largest factor contributing to more graduates finding employment. Also affecting the job market are lower interest rates, increased government spending, the aging workforce and new construction, she said.
Crow said an employer’s willingness to reexamine hiring needs each quarter, rather than each year, is another key element. A student’s willingness to look for a job will make a difference if they find one, she said.
“If you’re passionate about what you’re doing, you’ll find success,” she said.
According to NACE, on-campus recruiting is No. 1 of the top 10 list of where employers find new employees, and the rate of on-campus recruiting will be up about 20 percent in 2005. The Tech Expo in the fall and the Career Fair approaching this March provide for on-campus recruiting at USU, Crow said.
Also on the top 10 places of where employers look for new employees are internship and co-op programs, faculty contacts, internet job postings and student clubs. Crow said seven of the 10 ways employees recruit listed are available through Career Services.
Internships are especially important, she said, and about 50 to 60 percent of graduates receive offers from the companies for which they interned.
Also important is networking, or “who you know,” Crow said. One program offered to expand one’s personal network is student-alumni mentoring. It connects more than 1,000 alumni to students so students can get advice about where to look and what to do to prepare for the workforce, Crow said.
It is important for students to get to know their professors, because faculty can “point students in the right direction,” she said.
Another resource is CareerAggie, an online recruiting system which allows users to search and apply for both internships and permanent employment, Crow said.
Troy Winward, a senior graduating this month in irrigation engineering, has already landed a job with the State of Idaho Water Resources.
“It’s a matter of timing and knowing the right people,” he said.
Winward said that although he did not find his job through Career Services, they were very helpful on editing his resume and giving him interview advice. Every Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., resume editing is offered at the Career Café, a newly remodeled area within the Career Services Center. Crow said resumes are very important and one single resume should not be used for all employers.
“Some students want to create one resume and have it as a holy grail of resumes, but that is opposite of what should be done,” she said.
Resumes should be tailored to the specific audience, she said. In addition to resume editing, the Career Café also has many shelves of job directories, “Internship Bibles,” guidebooks, lists of top employers and cost of living indexes for areas to which a new graduate may move. None of the literature is older than the year 2000, and most are new, Crow said.
For personal advising, students may arrange one-on-one meetings with specific college representatives, Crow said.
“They really know the employers, faculty and curriculum of each college,” she said.
Career Services can help students from all different levels of education, not just students nearing graduation, Crow said. Interest testing and peer advice is available for those trying to decide or change their major, she said. Services are also available to all alumni.
“We want you forever. We are still a resource after you graduate,” Crow said.
Graduating can be a little scary, according to some seniors.
“I am nervous but it feels good to finally see the light at the end of the tunnel,” said Tyrell Philpott, a 2005 mechanical engineering graduate.
According to NACE research, employees look for certain qualities when selecting new graduates for employment. The top 10 qualities/skills employers want are: communication skills, honesty, interpersonal skills, strong work ethic, teamwork skills, analytical skills, motivation, adaptability, computer skills and detail oriented.
Employers say skills new graduates lack are communication skills, maturity and business etiquette and work ethic, NACE reports.
-ashschiller@cc.usu.edu