As graduation approaches, fourth-year students rush to solidify career plans. While newspapers across the nation warn of recession and economic slowdown, students and faculty on Grounds think the job market is better than ever.
Some fourth years, such as Engineering student Jamala Massenburg, who recently accepted a position with the Ford Motor Company, were able to choose from many job opportunities. The Engineering Career Services Office helped her narrow her choices to five or six companies.
Although Massenburg ended up picking a job within her field of study, she was able to choose between a variety of offers both in and outside of her major.
"Even commerce companies were looking for engineers," Massenburg said. She also was able to use her gender and ethnicity to her advantage.
"Many companies were looking to diversify, so being a woman, black and an engineer was an asset."
Massenburg's experience agrees with what C.J. Livesay, director of Engineering Career Services, has heard from many company recruiters.
"At least in the technology job market, there is no sign of a recession and no drop off in companies recruiting [compared to last year], Livesay said. "If anything, there has been an increase in demand for qualified applicants which exceeds supply."
The experience at the University is consistent with a national trend, Livesay said. A plethora of companies, from Capital One to Mays Department Store, came to the College Career Fair assuring students a successful job-hunting experience like Massenburg's is not limited to the Engineering School.
Shayla Brown, an English and Philosophy double major, is searching for a job between her time after graduation and attending law school.
"I've been to all the career fairs," Brown said. "They have been very helpful. I've been doing a lot of interviewing especially in education."
She also looked into the marketing and public relations field and found plenty of opportunities.
"I've had a few companies turn me away because they wanted a finance major, but for every one company who turns me away, there are 10 who do not care," she added.
Lindy Blevins, a Commerce student with majors in marketing and English, noticed a similar trend. Before accepting a position with A.T. Kearney, a consulting firm, she had a group interview with students majoring in a variety of subjects, from College majors to other majors in the Commerce School.
"The majority of companies are seeking any major," said Leslie Williams, one of the associate directors of University Career Services. "On-Ground interviews are equally distributed among College, Commerce School and Engineering School students."
Not everyone has been completely satisfied with the job search, though. Fourth-year College student Teryn Hanggi, a foreign affairs major, found the commerce career fairs much more helpful than the College Career Fair.
She said she was particularly disappointed with the geographic representation of the companies at the fair. Teryn would like to relocate to the West Coast and was bothered that the recruiting companies are primarily based on the East Coast. "All the companies are East-Coast based and most are based around the D.C. area." She also noted that during the spring semester, most of the companies are recruiting for financial jobs, government jobs or non-profit organizations but she is searching for a job in Sales or consulting.
Williams agreed that the end of the year saw more non-profit and investment banking organizations interview on Grounds, while corporations with large hiring classes visit the University more often in the fall.
The good news for those who have yet to find a job is that, according to the employers sampled by Williams, companies will hire "as many if not more than last year."
The bad news, however, is this: Students will have no excuse to sit on the couch and watch TV in the fall.
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