Students, career counselors compete for fewer jobs as market tightens
The Business Review (Albany) - by Robin K. Cooper
Employers across the country are scaling back hiring plans, forcing college students and career development officials to work harder for a shrinking number of jobs.
University at Albany student Alyssa Cavosie is searching now for a summer internship to gain an edge on a career in pharmaceutical sales.
Cavosie, a 21-year-old junior and business major, has a cosmetology license and bartending job to fall back on during what she believes are tough times.
“It’s scary. All you can do is work hard and hope for the best,” she said.
The economic crisis that has led to the elimination of 1.2 million U.S. jobs this year also is prompting employers to cut back on the number of new college graduates they plan to hire during the 2008-09 school year.
Total hiring during this academic year is expected to decrease 8 percent from last year, according to a new survey by the Collegiate Employment Research Institute at Michigan State University.
Nearly half of the 945 companies surveyed will hire fewer workers this year. Another 29 percent plan to hire more workers and 20 percent will maintain current staff levels.
The researchers surveyed all business sectors. Professional services and manufacturers accounted for nearly half of the responses.
Other fields included health care, finance construction, real estate, insurance, education and government.
Finance and banking jobs that were a hot commodity a year ago have disappeared. Employers in those sectors now are restricting much of their hiring to tech-savvy workers.
“Many companies are putting recruiting needs on hold,” said Tom Tarantelli, director of student life at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy.
“Barring any unforeseen change, over the next few months, I think you’ll see a continued softening of the market,” Tarantelli said. “It’s going to be a wild ride.”
The outlook in the mid-Atlantic region, which runs from New York to Virginia, is among the bleakest in the country. Employers here have forecast a 13 percent recruiting reduction compared to last year.
Students will have no choice but to work harder to make sure they can compete for a smaller pool of jobs.
“The economy definitely is causing students to be a lot more proactive,” said Noah Simon, assistant director of career services at the University at Albany.
College clubs are requesting more career planning programs and more students are asking for career counseling assistance.
More students also realize they’ll need an internship to gain an edge in the job market, Simon said.
Internships have become commonplace in many area schools as more employers look to protect themselves by hiring students they are familiar with, Simon added.
Career counselor Thomas Denham, who operates Careers in Transition LLC in Colonie, said students should complete two internships before graduation. It’s one of the best ways to compete in a tight job market.
“People already know we are in deep trouble,” Denham said.
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