Job market outlook for the class of 2009

Employers expect to hire 22 percent fewer new grads from the college class of 2009 than they actually hired from the class of 2008, according to a new study conducted by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE). The new projections in NACE's Job Outlook 2009 Spring Update report override those employers made back in the fall, when hiring projections looked flat.

"Earlier, employers indicated that they expected to keep their new college graduate hiring levels even with last year," says Marilyn Mackes, NACE executive director. "Our current survey shows that college hiring is as affected by the economy as other types of hiring."

Not surprisingly, the anticipated drop off in hiring was prompted by the deteriorating economic situation. "More than two-thirds of employers said the economic situation forced them to reevaluate their college hiring plans, and nearly all of those said they have decreased their planned number of hires," says Mackes.

In the immediate future, the projected drop means a sharp decline in employer activity on campus this spring, with 66 percent of employers responding to the survey reporting plans to lower or eliminate spring hiring. NACE's study also ends a string of positive hiring reports for new college graduates dating back to 2004.

Students graduating in the early part of the millennium experienced significant drops at the hands of the dot.com bust and the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Hiring fell off 36 percent for the Class of 2002 but steadied for the Class of 2003 before rebounding in 2004. Nor do employers appear to be especially optimistic about the near future. More than 46 percent said they are unsure about their hiring plans for fall 2009, and 17 percent are already reporting that they expect to trim further their college hiring.

Employers research candidates in unlikely places

Job candidates who maintain profiles on social networking sites, such as Facebook or MySpace, may want to rethink their postings. 26.9% of the employers surveyed by NACE reported that they have "googled" or reviewed job candidate profiles on social networking sites. It is important that students be aware that any information that they have posted and made public can be accessed by potential employers. Results of a student survey at Purdue University indicated that some students said they would revise their profiles if they knew employers would be reading them; other students said they would be unwilling to share their profiles. How social networking sites affect the job search and the candidate screening process is only beginning to be explored and reported. If trends continue, the use of social networking sites to evaluate candidates will likely increase.

New hiring regulations

Many employers now require a student to apply for positions on their Web site before they will conduct an interview on campus or at a job fair. This change in recruiting and hiring was mandated by the federal government to ensure that employers who receive federal monies are seeking and creating diversity in their work force. It is anticipated that all employers will be subject to this new regulation within the next two years.

If you apply online you will be asked to provide your race and gender. This is for tracking purposes; recruiters will not know your answers. You will be required to apply for a specific job within the company; you will not be able to make a general application. You may also have to complete a checklist of skills based on the job description and meet all or most of the skills to be considered for the job.

Getting a job requires key skills

Employers say they consider communication skills to be the most important "key" skill in job candidates, but find that many potential employees don't have them. Communication skills include the ability to write, talk, speak, persuade, motivate, sell, and negotiate as well as good appearance, self confidence, and social ease. While these skills will not guarantee a candidate the job, they certainly make a clear statement about the candidate's ability to work effectively within the organization.

Networking and internships still define the gold standard

70% of successful job searches depend on personal contacts. It is more important than ever to have face-to-face meetings with employers and others who can assist with a job search (e.g., friends, family members, business associates). Networking can be expanded through membership in professional organizations, attending trade shows, or even doing volunteer work in a selected career field. Among many employers, internships have become a primary, if not the most significant, hiring tool. More companies are focusing on the internship approach for long-term employment management.

Misconceptions about online job hunting

Today the Internet offers almost 10,000 career and employment sites that post millions of jobs daily. Recruiters caution against relying on finding a job online; in fact, less than 5% of nontechnical jobs are filled from online applications. Students should become aware of the following myths about online job hunting.

• "Posting my resume on one or two career sites is all I need to do in order to land a good job."
  Posting a resume and sitting back to wait for a job offer is a big mistake. While technology has made connecting with employers much easier, students still must work at finding a job.
• "No need to bother applying for older job postings. I just focus on the new ones."
  Sometimes older postings mean the jobs are harder to fill. They should not be overlooked and may be even better opportunities than newer postings.
• "I know there are many niche sites out there but I prefer to stick with the big portal sites."
  The big sites may be great if job seekers aren't sure which field they want to work in because they can quickly scan a variety of industries and job listings. But the industry specific sites are preferred for job seekers that are more focused and want to attract employers interested in their specialized skills.
• "I don't want to bother doing a special resume for use online so I just scan my paper resume into my computer, and then send it as an e-mail attachment."
  There is unanimous opinion against sending resumes as attachments because of potential virus contamination. Even pasting a resume into an e-mail message can result in a jumbled transmission. A newer and more effective process allows the sender to upload a resume in HTML to a web hosting service (example: Hypermart). The job seeker can then send the employer the URL, which displays a perfectly formatted resume.
• "To save time, I often apply for two or more jobs posted by the same employer."
  Only one resume should be sent to an employer even if the candidate is qualified for more than one position. Usually all resumes go to one person and he or she will determine the positions for which a candidate is qualified.

Top employers of candidates with liberal arts degrees

• Accounting services
• Educational services
• Retail/wholesale trade
• Financial services
• Banking (commercial and investment)
• Consulting services
• Government (federal, state, and local)
• Insurance
• Food and beverage industry

What employers seek in a new graduate applicant

The following are rated "important" to "very important" in a recent survey conducted by the National Association of Colleges and Employers.

• Communication skills: verbal, written, presentation, listening
• Honesty
• Integrity
• Teamwork
• Strong work ethic
• Analytical skills
• Flexibility/adaptability
• Interpersonal skills
• Motivation
• Initiative
• Computer skills
• Detail-oriented
• Organization skills
• Leadership
• Self-confidence
• Work-related experiences (particularly internships)

Employers say that grade point average can also play a big role. More than 70 percent of employers in the NACE survey say they screen candidates on their GPA.

NACE executive director cautions: Finding a job really is a job…. Employers have a substantial set of criteria against which they judge potential employees. Students need to demonstrate to employers that they have what it takes.