Job Market for Recent College Grads
Despite the perception of the U.S. economy, this Spring’s college graduates have reason to be optimistic. According to the CERI (Collegiate Employment Research Institute), employers plan to hire 7% more recent Bachelor degree graduates in 2008 than in 2007. The rise in open positions for all degree levels is expected to be 2%. Larger employers are more likely to hire a greater number of recent graduates, while small/mid-sized employers will be hiring fewer new grads this year. Overall MBA candidates can expect to fair well in the current job market.
How will you land one of those positions? The first step will be to prepare your resume. If you work with a professional writer, part of the process will be to establish your personal brand and define your major accomplishments. In the interview you’ll be able to showcase your personality, passion, and paint a picture of your accomplishments. What do employers want in a candidate?
Interestingly, these are the items reported by CERI to be of greatest importance to hiring employers: “Enthusiasm/Excitement/Drive: 17%, Communication Skills: 13%, Technological Aptitude: 11%, and Fresh Perspective/New Ideas: 10%” Most recent graduate clients are very concerned about work experience. Work experience is not the only way to cultivate these attributes.