Job market full of opportunities for grads with skills and networking
To the editor:
Cheycara Latimer’s assertion that "the job market as a whole is horrible" (June 5, Opinion) is simply not true. In fact, your chances of securing an entry-level job are better than ever. According to Job Outlook 2007, employers planned to hire 17.4 percent more college graduates from the class of 2007 than they did from the class of 2006.
This is the best entry-level job market we have seen since 2000, yet some students may not have offers for employment.
The average online job posting will generate hundreds of resumes within days of being posted. How many students can successfully compete against 300 others for a job? The truth is, more than 70 percent of people find their job through networking. You have to go out and find opportunities.
Take a look at your resume. Better yet, have a career counselor take a look at your resume. One of two things may be happening. One, you might be applying for positions that you can’t compete for. In other words, the employer can get someone with more experience or education. Two, your resume may not be conveying your qualifications effectively.
You might have one idea of what an "entry-level position" is, but the truth may be that you need to revise your expectations. The only way to know for sure is to get out there. The job search is a search for information. If you find yourself jobless after graduation, you probably don’t have enough.† Susan Hlavac Assistant Director for Career Counseling
