This year’s graduating seniors will have to work harder in their searches for jobs than those in the past due to a faltering economy and a 22 percent drop in hiring.
A recent report by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) has noted the economic recession’s impact on college graduates.
Ninety-one percent of employers responding to the survey stated they have decreased their number of college hires.
There are some industries which expect to hire more college graduates as full-time employees from the class of 2009 than they did from the class of 2008.
Those industries are federal government agencies and a group of companies in the logistics, transportation and utilities sector.
All other industrial sectors of the economy project a decrease in their hiring of 2009 graduates.
The Smith Career Center refers to an Employer Advisory board for insight into what is taking place in the job market, and Executive Director of the Smith Career Center Jane Linnenburger said many have revised hiring plans.
“The employer advising board met this past Friday,” she said. “We heard that all [of them] had revised plans for hiring based on economic conditions. None of them are going to hire the same number they had in the past.”
Despite these reports, Linnenburger, said the best thing students can do is get involved in their job search.
“I don’t want students to think [job prospects] are all doom and gloom,” she said. “Our staff encourages students to make full use of everything we offer.”
Linnenburger said she recommends students take advantage of the eRecruiting Web site, upload their resumes and make use of all social networking sites.
When it comes to sites like Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn, Linnenburger said it’s important to appear professional at all times.
“Students really need to clean up their sites so it presents them in the best possible light because job seeking is so competitive,” she said.
Also, she said she recommends prospective job hunters keep in mind one specific trait.
“The one word our employer advisory board stressed is flexibility,” she said. “Students and new graduates should be open to a variety of opportunities in different geographical locations.”
The reports from NACE indicate 46 percent of employers are unsure of their hiring plans for next year.
However, Linnenburger said her office has gotten positive feedback from employers thus far.
“Our staff has been calling targeted employers and most indicate business conditions will improve and they will continue hiring at Bradley,” she said.
The career center has already sent out save-the-dates to many employers for next year’s career fairs. And she said most employers are telling them hiring will pick up for 2010.
Until then, Linnenburger said she urges students to use their resources, be flexible and make a sincere effort.
“We know the opportunities are out there, it will just take more knocking on doors, sending out more resumes and more work to get them,” she said.
