Fewer Jobs for Recent Graduates
Many of the students now graduating college have fears about their abilities to find work. With the national media focusing so much attention of jobs lost due the recession, some of these individuals are concerned that their degrees won’t be enough to land them employment. According to a recent press release from CareerBuilder.com, these fears may have some grounding in reality.
Through a survey of employers the job search giant found that the number of employers planning to higher new graduates for entry-level positions this year has dropped in comparison to projections from the last two previous years. This means that the job market for graduates will be somewhat more competitive for 2009.
Every year CareerBuilder polls employers for its Annual College Job Forecast. This year 43 percent of employers who participated reported that they plan to hire recent graduates. This figure is down 13 percent since 2008’s 56 percent and 36 percent from 2007’s 79 percent.
The survey was conducted between February 20th and March 11th of this year. Altogether 2,543 hiring managers and other human resource professionals participated.
Aside from reporting a more competitive job market, CareerBuilder found that graduates have other concerns. Out of those participants that reported planning to hire graduates for entry level positions, 21 percent reported that they will lowering the starting salaries they offer such employees. Despite this, 68 percent said they plan to increase salaries, while 11 percent intend to raise them.
Approximately 33 percent of participants reported that they plan to start entry level workers off at somewhere between $30,000 and $40,000. Another 17 percent say that they will offer starting salaries from $40,000 to $50,000. Fourteen percent will start these employees off at more than $50,000, while 36 percent plan to give these workers less that $30,000 in compensation.
“While recent college graduates are facing a highly competitive job market right now, there are still opportunities out there,” said CareerBuilder’s President of its North American operation Brent Rasmussen in a recent press release. “The biggest challenge is showing relevant experience, which employers say is one of the most important factors they look for in applications from recent college graduates. This isn’t limited to professional work experience, so don’t get discouraged. Class work, school activities and volunteering also qualify as relevant experience and can be included in your resume as well.”
Employers also told CareerBuilder that the following activities on a resume makes a candidate more likely to receive a job offer; internships, part-time work in an unrelated field, volunteer work, involvement in school organizations, class work, mention of assisting in the management of sorority or fraternity activities, and the participation in sports.