The job outlook for 2012 college graduates is significantly improving, with 916 job postings in March—the highest single-month total since 2007, according to officials at DePaul University’s Career Center.

“Things are looking much more promising for 2012 graduates. We’ve seen a big increase in job postings on DePaul’s recruiting site,” said Gillian Steele, managing director of the Career Center. “The growth in job postings represents a trend we’ve seen over the last year and a half. We anticipate postings for the year ultimately to be up more than 20 percent from 2010-11 levels.”

Eighty-two percent of these job postings were for full-time positions. Among the positions most in demand are those in professional services; health/social and human services; and accounting/finance/banking, Steele said. The top seven bachelor’s degrees in demand are business, accounting, engineering, computer sciences, physical sciences, communications and social sciences.

At DePaul, industries showing the largest growth in job postings from 2010 to 2011 are professional, health care, social and human services, and accounting/finance/banking.

According to Recruiting Trends 2011-12, nearly 40 percent of employers will hire candidates from all majors, seeking the best talent regardless of field of study. Computer science majors are still in strong demand in nearly every sector, and the supply of graduates will not be sufficient to fill all available positions. Accounting, finance and supply chain management are also expected to do well this year.

The National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) predicts that employers will hire 10.2 percent more new college graduates than they did in 2010-11. More than half of employers intend to increase salaries an average of 3.3 percent.

According to NACE, more than 90 percent of respondents plan to hire undergraduates. More than half of the respondents expressed some interest in hiring graduates at the master’s degree level, and almost one-quarter said they plan to recruit at the doctorate degree level.

A 2011 DePaul post-graduation survey showed that of the 2011 baccalaureate graduates who were working full-time, 86 percent were working in fields related to their degree—up from 83 percent in 2010. For master’s degree recipients, 93 percent were working in a field related to their degree.

Employers value the fresh perspective and skill set younger workers bring to the table. Many companies that participated in NACE’s survey stated that their organizations are too “top heavy.” In addition to increasing hiring due to company expansion and business growth, employers are also looking to replace a retiring workforce and gain younger talent. Additionally, many employers plan to hire more interns this year—8 percent more than last year.

Internship programs again emerged as the top recruiting strategy used by most employers (not including postings to college and organization websites). Social media is now used by 36 percent of employers (up 10 percent from last year) and is expected to become the core recruiting tool as more organizations quickly adopt various media options. Alumni working for a company are an effective and important means for identifying and recruiting talent from their alma mater.

Seventy-three percent of employers said they preferred candidates with relevant work experience, according to NACE. At DePaul, 68 percent of those who had academic internships reported that it led to employment, supporting the new paradigm that internships have become the new entry-level jobs.

Despite the positive indicators, a job search still takes time, persistence and patience. According to NACE, employers cited college major and leadership experience as the top influencers when choosing their hires, followed by GPA (3.0 plus), extracurricular activities, community service and volunteer work. Other important skills employers look for include teamwork, problem-solving, analytical and communication skills, and a strong work ethic.

When talking with potential hiring managers and on resumes, students should give good examples of these skills gained during internships, part-time work, class projects, volunteer work and extracurricular activities, according to Steele.

Before meeting employers at job fairs or interviews, candidates need to do their research—they should know about the organization and be able to ask relevant questions that demonstrate their knowledge and interest, Steele said.

DePaul’s Career Center offers graduating students a dedicated service, “senior season” in the spring quarter, which includes capstone classroom presentations and visits, priority career advising, on-the-spot resume reviews, job search and money management workshops. Also included are the Just-in-Time Job Fair on June 12 and the Healthcare and Nonprofit Job & Internship Fair, which was held on April 26. For more information, visit http://careercenter.depaul.edu.

DePaul’s Alumni Relations works in partnership with the Career Center to offer Corporate Connectors, a program to help DePaul students and alumni make a smooth transition to a new job or prepare for an upcoming interview at a specific corporation. Several hundred alumni have offered to meet or correspond with fellow alumni or students who are applying to their companies. These volunteers welcome DePaul-affiliated new hires or interns who’ve recently joined their firms.  
 

About DePaul

With more than 25,000 students, DePaul University is the largest Catholic university in the United States and the largest private, non-profit university in the Midwest. The university offers approximately 275 graduate and undergraduate programs of study on two Chicago campuses, four suburban campuses and several international locations. Founded in 1898, DePaul remains committed to providing a quality education through personal attention to students from a wide range of backgrounds. For more information, visit www.depaul.edu.