Towson is off for spring break next week. When we return, reality will begin to set in for May graduates. College days are over; it’s time to get a job.
So what’s the job market like? Great, according to Jobweb, which offers career development and job-search advice for new college graduates. Jobweb says this is the healthiest job market in three years. According to an annual survey of college recruiters called Job Outlook 2008, employers plan to hire 16 percent more new college graduates in 2007-2008 than they did in 2006-2007. The survey is conducted by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) who also owns JobWeb.com.
As discussed here in More With Les, part of the reason for the bright hiring outlook is the fact that Baby Boomers are retiring. That leaves employers with many job openings to fill both now and in the future as the Boomer retirements accelerate.
Hiring projections are strong regardless of industry, economic sector, or geographic region, Jobweb says. Hiring is projected to be especially strong in the Midwest at up to 25 percent more this year.
That’s the good news. Here is the less-than-good news for communication/PR majors: Survey respondents say they plan to target bachelor’s and master’s level graduates with business, engineering, and computer-related degrees. The top priority hires for those with bachelor’s degrees will be accounting majors.
Rounding out the top ten degrees in demand at the bachelor’s degree level are mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, computer science, business administration/management, economics/finance (including banking), information sciences and systems, marketing/marketing management, computer engineering, and management information systems/business data processing.
The master’s level degrees most in demand are the master’s of business administration (MBA), electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, computer science, and accounting.
At the doctorate level, the degrees most in demand are computer engineering, electrical engineering, computer science, mechanical engineering, and business administration/management.
Does this mean it is hopeless for communication/PR majors to get jobs? No, it does not. Getting a first job after college depends on many things, but it mainly depends on the graduate. You own your career. It is up to you to make of it what you will. For specific advice, see my October 12, 2007 post titled, “Getting, keeping and changing communication/PR jobs.”
Jobweb offers good advice on what employers want in new hires. Communication/PR majors take note — the top skill employers want is communication. Following in descending order are strong work ethic, teamwork skills, initiative, interpersonal skills (which they define as relating well to others), problem-solving skills, analytical skills, flexibility/adaptability, computer skills, and technical skills. This is valuable information for communication/PR graduate job seekers. If this is what potential employers seek, look for opportunities to stress these skills in your interviews.
I am happy to see one of my strongest recommendations to my students validated by Jobweb: get work experience. Ninety-five percent of employers prefer to hire recent graduates who have some work experience. Further, employers say they look first to their own interns for possible full-time hires. Towson’s Mass Communication & Communication Studies department heavily stresses internships for undergraduates. Here is proof of why internships are so valuable — employers say that almost two-thirds of their new hires have internship experience. Jobweb says internships tell a potential employer that you have tested your career choice up close and have learned some of the basics of the workplace.
I hired many employees in my practitioner days, including recent college graduates. I can add that, in addition to internships, employers look for any work experience as valuable. It does not matter what the job was. If a student works his/her way through college doing even typical college student jobs, you have proved you know how to earn a pay check. Working during college demonstrates a work ethic, flexibility/adaptability, and initiative, all key skills employers value.
Les, thanks for some great information and advice once again.
Here’s wishing you all the best for a wonderful Spring Break.
Spring break is the new therapy.
Les,
I would like to also mention the value of a strong portfolio. Having just finished my own job search, I can tell you that examples of your class work and work you may have done in Internships can go a long way towards building your case as the best candidate. As your students are finishing up these last weeks, they should pull aside projects and work they feel best demonstrates their ability to communicate professionally. This is especially important if the student may not have had much internship experience.
Good luck all!
Steve
Hi Les,
I had the pleasure to meet and chat with one of your students, Mattie Powell, at the IABC-DC monthly dinner meeting last night. She represented extremely well, and I believe will do quite well in the job market. I’ll share with your other student/blog-readers the advice I gave her (not that I think she or they need it armed as they are with the wisdom of Potter):
Pick somewhere, something. There’s a whole massive world out there and there is no magic “one right thing,” or if there, is you won’t find it by striking a mariner’s horizon-scanning pose. Pick a direction, communications discipline, industry and some companies and pursue them until you land a good substantial job. Work that job to your abilities, soak up what you can and learn from that experience what direction you’ll steer next. You can’t walk anywhere without taking steps.
You pick by deciding where you think you’d like to live — like Mid-Atlantic, South, Atlanta, New York, England — the industry you think you’d like to work in — like investments, toys, sports, journalism — and the companies you’d like work for. Make a wish list.
Now have some gaul — identify the person in that dream company, doing the job you want to do, call that person up and say, hey, I’m graduating(ed) and I want your job. Can I come in for coffee or lunch and talk a little about how you got where you are, what qualities and skills are most important and how you gained them over the years? People love to talk about themselves and their success; they will be flattered. And if you are able to meet and have an enjoyable stress-less conversation that does not ask them to give you a job, you gain a valuable connection in your network, a potential referral and maybe even a friend and mentor.
Understand that always through your career, but especially at the beginning, “I don’t know” is a great answer. Admitting that is the first step in allowing yourself to learn, and I’d rather hire a college grad eager and capable of learning than one trying to pretend they are already the grizzled veterans they cannot possible be and I don’t expect them to be.
And be prepared to do this multiple times in your career as it is likely that you will build a resume with several positions at several companies — I know very few experienced communicators with short resumes.
Go forth and be fruitful!
michael
Steve and Michael, thank you for your comments. You provide valuable advice.
Les
Les,
What a great, timely post! I just got back from a slew of first-round interviews in D.C., and everything you listed was true. I got most of the interviews by using the network I had, trying to find contacts, sending out e-mails, and hoping for the best. At the end of it, I had 8 interviews with great agencies in the area (you’re part of the reason, so thank you!).
Even if I don’t want to work with a particular agency, just meeting with professionals in the field and going on different interviews was valuable experience.
The job search in public relations is difficult– but it’s doable. Students HAVE to be proactive– e-mails, follow up phone calls, more e-mails (almost like pitching the media!).
Take care!
Meg
P.S. Drove by Towson University briefly– really great area. Enjoyed breakfast at the Einstein Bagels across the street. I wish I’d had your contact info so I could have stopped by!