But college grads will have to work a lot harder to find the jobs they want.
Many college seniors will be receiving their diplomas this month, and heading out into an uncertain job market. The National Association of Colleges and Employers says hiring for graduates has improved by 4% compared to 2011. But it's still expected to take some time for grads to find the position they want. In many cases, they'll be competing with more experienced men and women already in the workforce who have lost their jobs, and are actively looking for a position similar to what they once had. "Recent college graduates are in a different pool than those who may have been laid off because of downsizing with this economy," says Nancy Hennessey, director of the Hood College Career Center. "They are really entering entry level jobs, and employers are looking for certain foundational skills."
Some of those "foundational skills" include being able to write and speak clearly, and work as a team, says Hennessey. "They want them to be able to assimilate into their team and their work environment," she says. "And I often hear: 'we'll teach them the details; we'll teach them the business. But I need to know that I have somebody whose bright and articulate, and can work with three generations, not just their own generation.'"
While waiting for the position they want, a lot of college graduates may need to take an interim job. It can be frustrating and discouraging when a job application is turned down, but Hennessey says stay focused on the future, and not just what's at hand. She also advises graduates to take advantage of opportunities which come their way that could make them more marketable to employers. "If you're a hostess at a restaurant, or you're a headwaiter, or maybe you can even within that company, offer to do some things such as training, or some background research for their HR {human resources} department so you can take some skills with you," she says.
In the past, some college seniors enrolled in graduate school because they couldn't find a job. Hennessey says if you're planning to get into certain professions which require an advanced degrees, like a research scientist, then you should start attending after graduation. But everyone else should wait a few years until they have a concrete idea of what they want to do. "No one should go to graduate school because they don't have a job, or they don't know what they want to do," she says. "Because graduate school is a very different program than undergraduate. You don't come in undeclared. You go in with a specific idea of what you want to do."
When seniors graduate, freshmen begin their college careers that following fall. Hennessey says those young men and women who are starting college should start coming to the Career Center, even if they don't have a major declared, or any idea for a profession. She says they can find out what's available, and learn about internships, part time jobs and volunteer opportunities. They should not wait until they're second-semester seniors because by then it's too late, Hennessey says. But even if that happens, she says there is hope for those students; it will take a lot more effort.
Hood College will hold commencement exercises on Saturday, May 19th.
