In spite of the nation's economic recovery, this year's class of college graduates faces a barren job market that could prove the worst in almost a decade.
Earlier this year, Marilyn F. Mackes, executive director of the National Association of Colleges and Employers, said the job market for students graduating from college this spring will be the worst since 1994.
"It seems like the employers are being very cautious and taking a wait-and-see attitude," NACE Spokesman Jerry Bohovich said.
University Career Services Director James McBride echoes such sentiments.
"Even when an economy begins to rebound, like this one is, employment tends to follow after it," McBride said. "It's had a negative impact on us."
The persistence of the tough job market for graduates despite the recovering economy seems to stem from the nature of the recent recession.
Unlike in previous recessions, last year unemployment did not skyrocket, said Terry Rhodes, principal of the Harrisonburg, Va.-based human services firm Career Resources Inc.
As a result "the employers don't need to hire" now that the economy is recovering, Rhodes said.
The University's Career Services department has taken a variety of steps to try to help students continue to find jobs.
"We became much more aggressive trying to reach out to some different companies," McBride said.
Career Services also has partnered with other universities to form employment events. This summer Career Services plans to send representatives to a national convention of human resources employees and to maintain e-mail contact with graduates who have not yet found jobs.
Yet, prestige is helping the University continue to attract employers, McBride said.
Much of the burden still rests on students to have the skills to get a job. Given the difficult job market for this year's graduating class, possessing the traits that employers are looking for is all the more important for job seekers. Both McBride and Bohovich said employers look for communication skills above all else.
"At the very top of the chart are communication skills - written and verbal," McBride said.
Employers also put emphasis on honesty, integrity and experience Bohovich said.
"GPA is further on down the list," he added.
Employers also put emphasis on honesty, integrity and experience Bohovich said.
This year's graduates will have a more difficult time finding some types of jobs than others. In particular, college students are having a much harder time finding consulting jobs than in previous years.
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