For this year’s college graduates, there is no getting around some very hard facts. They are facing one of the worst employment markets in nearly two decades. Hiring on college campuses is down 15 percent this year and is off by more than 50 percent in the past two years nationwide. The effects of the struggling economy and the competition of thousands of laid-off workers with experience are taking their toll.

However, according to experts at the Career Center at DePaul University, the not-for-profit sector may offer graduates a refuge from the job-search storm, as well as the opportunity to launch a career. Many not-for-profit organizations, such as government agencies, charities and social service groups, are hiring with increasing frequency.

"The hiring numbers in not-for-profits have been going up," said Elaine Monterastelli, job fair manager for the Career Center at DePaul. "It doesn’t seem to have been hit as hard as some other sectors, for a variety of reasons."

Those reasons include the government’s increased personnel needs due to the war on terrorism and the growing demand for social service organizations during an economic slump. DePaul students will have the chance to learn more about this sector for themselves on May 9, when the Career Center will host a Not-for-Profit Job and Internship Fair. The event, culminating a week of not-for-profit workshops and networking events on campus, will feature more than 40 employers. More than 300 students are expected to attend, triple the number of just two years ago.

Even if students are not able to locate a full-time job with a not-for-profit employer, there are plenty of internship opportunities available. The National Association of Colleges and Employers reports that more than half of all interns are offered full-time positions by their employers, so this is a smart option for college graduates seeking future permanent positions.

"Reality has set in, and students are more open to taking an internship after graduation than in the past," said Karen Allen, director of the Career Center. "Not-for-profit firms are always looking for interns."

According to employers’ comments to the Career Center, the adjustment to non-profit work has been easier for DePaul graduates than those of other universities. Allen credits DePaul’s values-based mission and emphasis on service learning for that fact.

"It shows that DePaul is a good partner involved in the community and that our focus on experiential learning is working," she said.

Traditional Sectors Require Networking, Open Mind

Allen noted that there is still hiring going on in the for-profit sector. However, most of the hiring is being done in the accounting, retail and financial services fields, as well as by many small and mid-sized companies. The technology and telecommunications sectors remain the hardest hit, and the hospitality and travel industries have not recovered as expected, either, she said.

Job postings for these jobs are off by approximately one-third from a year ago, an indication that most of the hiring is being done via other means.

"A lot of the available positions are being filled through networking, referrals and word-of-mouth," Allen noted. "This makes networking skills crucial for any graduate who is seeking a job."

Monterastelli added that students shouldn’t necessarily give up on finding a job in their chosen field because of the economy.

"Just because you can’t find a job at one of the big accounting firms doesn’t mean you can’t find a great job as an accountant for a small company in another field," she said. "Students cannot afford to limit their job search to certain types of employers or companies now. They need to be ready for the unexpected opportunity."

DePaul is the largest private university in Chicago and the eighth-largest private university in the nation. A richly diverse population of 23,227 students attends classes on two city and five suburban campuses. More information can be received by calling the Career Center at DePaul at 312/362-8437 or by visiting http://careercenter.depaul.edu/.