While the job market for college students graduating this spring is definitely tough, there are jobs available to those willing to be flexible and patient in their job searches and goals, according to Lisa Severy, director of the University of Colorado at Boulder's Career Services office.
"There are jobs out there, and what we're telling our students is they are going to have to be more flexible and recognize that their job search is probably going to take longer than they originally expected," Severy said. "They might also need to take entry-level positions in this kind of market."
CU-Boulder students and alumni will have a chance to meet with representatives from more than 40 companies on Wednesday, April 15, during the final job and internship fair on campus before graduation on May 8.
Whatever type of job students are seeking, Severy said the Career Services office is available to help them in their pursuit. Students can work with one of the nine career counselors on campus to prepare their resumes, practice interviewing skills and get help with networking.
"Networking is key, and we have partnered with the Alumni Association here at CU-Boulder to provide our graduates with opportunities to network with alumni," she said.
While some industries are reducing their campus interviewing and hiring, Severy said others are looking to replace higher-paid, mid-level employees with new graduates.
"When organizations make the decision to rehire, they look for people with the latest skills and the lowest cost, and in many cases this describes new college graduates," Severy said.
She also recommends that students clean up their online profiles on sites such as Facebook. This is always a good idea, she said, but it is especially true in a tough job market.
"Employers with good positions available are being flooded with applications, and they use the Internet, including Facebook, to narrow down their candidate pool," Severy said.
The good news is that in 2008 CU-Boulder graduates excelled when it came to landing the "good paying" jobs. According to PayScale.com at , CU-Boulder ranks seventh in the nation among state universities with a starting median salary of $47,100 for students graduating with bachelor's degrees in 2008.
The technical, education and government sectors are probably the most stable employers in 2009, Severy said. However, a new trend also is taking foot in many industries.
"I have been hearing a lot about what is called 'gigonomics,' where you are essentially a free agent in the job market and you have two, three or four different contracts, and taken together they make up a full-time job," Severy said.
This may not be for everyone, but Severy said this is a way for recent graduates to gain experience and get a foot in the door.
For those students who will graduate in the winter or next spring, it's never too early to start thinking about the job search process, Severy said. Sitting down with a counselor to help hone their interviewing skills, prepare a resume and become knowledgeable about the job-seeking process can really pay off when it's time to find job, she said.
Upcoming events offered by the CU-Boulder Career Services office include:
o Monday, April 13, from 5 to 6:30 p.m., "The Job Search Stimulus Package: College Edition" event will be held in the Environmental Design Building, room 134. The information session is open to all CU-Boulder students and alumni and is designed to help job seekers develop and brand themselves for success in their job searches.
o Wednesday, April 15, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., "The Just in Time Hiring and Internship Fair" will be held in the University Memorial Center's Glenn Miller Ballroom. More than 40 companies will have booths at the job fair, which is open to all CU-Boulder students and alumni. The companies attending are listed at .
o Tuesday, April 21, from 3:30 to 8 p.m., "The Stand Out in a Tough Economy!" career conference will be held in UMC room 235. The event, which is open to graduating CU-Boulder seniors and alumni, is intended to help seniors and recent graduates build job search skills and meet industry professionals. Cost for students and alumni is $10 for the whole event or $5 for only the workshops or only the networking segment. To register visit . Participants interested in workshops should indicate which ones they plan to attend. The event is hosted by the CU-Boulder Career Services office, the Alumni Association and the Senior Class Council.
Additional facts about the CU-Boulder Career Services office:
o Conducts more than 6,000 appointments, walk-in sessions, practice interviews and group sessions with students per year.
o Posts more than 5,000 jobs and internships to the Career Services Web site.
o Hosts more than 300 on-campus visits from companies seeking to interview students for internships and professional positions each year.
o Welcomes more than 500 organizations and 5,000 students to career fairs each year.
o Provides vocational testing for individuals, classes and groups.
o Regularly presents panels of alumni and recruiters discussing industry-specific information.
o Manages a professional networking group on the Web site LinkedIn with more than 1,000 students, alumni, recruiters and community members interested in connecting with each other for professional development.
o Provides a testing center that administers academic tests and some professional certification exams including the GRE, TOEFL, SAT, CLEP and foreign language proficiency tests.
For more information about the CU-Boulder Career Services office visit /.