Don't give up! Job market is looking better for new graduates

A proud mom at Winter Commencement shares a message
with her graduate, who would be glad to hear the job market
is improving.

Good news for this spring’s class: Employers plan to hire more than 19 percent more new college graduates than they did last year, according to a national survey.

Another good sign is the growth in the number of employers signed up for this week’s Spring Career Fair, says Tina Loudon, Western’s director of Career Services and Academic Advising. More than 70 employers will be at the fair looking for potential employees and interns on Thursday.

“It’s getting better,” Loudon says. “Conditions are better this year than they were last year.”

But with so many people looking for jobs, new-graduate job seekers need to represent themselves the best way they can, she says.

“In this kind of job market, you can’t afford to have a lackluster resume or fumble around in an interview,” Loudon says. “The good news is we’re here to help.”

The Career Services Center offers help with resume writing and interview practice. Western’s upgraded jobs database, Symplicity, also allows students to conduct more flexible job searches and keep track of on-campus recruitment, job fairs and other events. The database now has more than 800 employers registered, with hundreds of jobs posted.

“The important thing is to get out there,” Loudon says. “Last year, some students gave up before they started.” She was disappointed in the student turnout at the Winter Career Fair, she said, but employers told her they were pleased with how well students were prepared for the event.

No matter what happens, Loudon says, students should keep building their skills. Keep taking classes, volunteer in career-related areas, or do anything else that will impress a future employer.

“It’s tough for everyone right now,” she says. “An employer is going to understand if someone is still looking three or four months after graduation. But they are going to want to know what you’ve been doing.”