Students graduating as soon as this year may have a better chance at getting a job straight out of school than they thought.
Liberty Mutual, as well as 17 other companies including Google, Dell, eBay, General Electric and Microsoft, is participating in the Invest in America Alliance, in which companies pledge to significantly increase the number of college graduates they hire in 2010 compared to the number they hired in 2009.
“College hiring is a fundamental part of our strategic plan to successfully grow our operations,” said manager of corporate employment for Liberty Mutual Christine Lahey. “With a good mix of employees, we are able to harness a wide variety of backgrounds and ideas that will ultimately help to make the organization stronger as a whole. Participating in the Invest in America Alliance also challenges us to increase our level of hiring across the board.”
The Invest in America Alliance, led by Intel and also supported by many leading firms and corporations, will be responsible for at least 10,500 new jobs for college graduates in 2010. Some companies are hiring almost double the amount of graduates they would normally hire. Liberty Mutual’s college hires will increase by 30 percent.
“It would be a long-term mistake to let our future scientists and engineers sit idle after graduation,” Intel President and CEO Paul Otellini said. “[The Alliance] is both an investment in the country’s innovators and a signal to the global marketplace about America’s commitment to innovation and future competitiveness.”
Companies who will be hiring more graduates due to the Alliance will mostly be looking for graduates with engineering and computer science backgrounds. There will also be positions available in financial analysis, marketing, management consulting and sales. Many of the jobs will require some business skills and knowledge.
“Many more college graduates will now be able to put their education to work thanks to these 17 companies,” said Vice President and Director of Human Resources for Intel Richard Taylor. “We hope this is just the start and welcome companies across all industries to join this open effort.
Many college graduates have been among the hardest hit by the economic downturn, and providing them a place in the economy today is the best way to ensure America’s innovation and competitiveness for tomorrow,” he said.
Intel has also announced the creation of a $200 million Intel Capital Invest in America Technology Fund, which will promote growth in clean technology, information technology and biotechnology. More than 20 companies, including Good Energies and Advanced Technology Ventures, will be joining Intel in this endeavor.
Although there are currently 17 companies involved in the Invest in America Alliance, many other corporations are expected to join with investment funds or hiring goals in the coming weeks and months.
