DePaul Career Experts Offer Solutions for Making Employers Take Notice

It’s college graduation season, which means many new graduates are out in the job market for the first time. However, due to the struggling economy and the uncertainty of current events, graduates are facing the most challenging job market in a decade.

DePaul University’s Spring Job and Internship Fair, held last month at Navy Pier, set a school record, with more than 1,100 students attending. Nearly 60 employers participated--significantly fewer than last year--but those companies in attendance weren’t just collecting resumes for their files.

“By and large, employers were setting up interviews to hire students, which is a good sign,” said Karen Allen, associate director of the Career Center at DePaul. However, there is no question that the sagging economy has had its effects on the hiring of college graduates this year. Nationwide, employer hiring on campuses is down 37 percent from last year, according to the National Association of Colleges and Employers. DePaul has seen an equivalent decrease of 37 percent in employer participation in campus recruiting efforts from just one year ago. Student participation in DePaul’s Career Center services has increased across the board. Employment workshop attendance is up 27 percent from last year. The number of students taking part in one-on-one career advising is up 25 percent, and attendance at networking events is up 20 percent. Overall student participation in all DePaul job fairs rose five percent.

One area not affected by the recent turmoil in the economy is the government and non-profit sector. DePaul has seen an increase of 12 percent in on-campus recruiting in this area, and students have been flocking to these available positions. In addition to the availability of jobs, with all of the current uncertainty, students have expressed a desire to find careers in “recession-proof” fields, said Allen.

“Students are more actively taking charge of their careers now and utilizing the resources at their disposal in an effort to land a job,” said Allen. “The days of sitting back and watching multiple job offers roll in are over.”

In addition to internships, there are other things students can do while in school to make themselves attractive to potential employers.

“We encourage students to build a diverse array of skill sets,” said Elaine Monterastelli, job and internship fair manager at DePaul. “There are many things that they can do: take a course outside their major, travel abroad, perform volunteer service. There are lots of options for students to gain experience that separates them from other candidates.”

Some students have found they are having to settle for a short-term internship rather than a full-time job upon graduation. However, considering that companies offer a full-time employment position to nearly 60 percent of their interns, this oft-forgotten avenue could be the pathway to a full-time job for many graduates.

More often, employers are not limiting themselves to students who majored in a related subject area, but rather are trying to find candidates who are well-rounded. For example, a bank will look to hire the best person for the job when interviewing, not just the best accounting or finance major, said Carrie McAteer, assistant director of DePaul’s University Internship Program.

“Your major is less important than how you learn and how well you communicate the value and experiences of your education,” she said.