With the economy slowly recovering, the job hunt seems a little less scary these days for college seniors and recent graduates, according to career counselors.
“It’s never fun, but they’re dreading it a little less,” said Brad Karsh, president and founder of Chicago-based consulting firm JobBound.
Graduates can look forward to more attractive jobs, as well as just more job openings, Karsh added. Still, it’s hardly 1999’s spectacular hiring market, and finding a position is never easy.
“Getting a job is a job itself,” he said.
First, it takes time–anywhere from four to nine months. Many students start the process in the fall of their senior year.
“It’s the equivalent of taking another class,” said Liz Michaels, director of career and placement services at the University of Chicago.
“Dedicating that much time during the academic year” isn’t for everyone, Michaels added, but students must be prepared to graduate with a potentially long job hunt ahead of them.
Robyn Rough, a 2003 graduate, conducted her job search while handling a full class load at the University of Illinois.
“It’s a lot of work–there’s always a thank-you note to write, always a cover letter and resume to send out. A lot of nights, working on the search, I thought, ‘I should be writing this paper for class instead,’ ” said the 22-year-old, a media associate at Starcom.
Rough said a lot of her classmates were exasperated with last year’s poor job market, and many applied directly to graduate school. Upon graduation, about 60 percent to 70 percent of her friends had jobs.
But things are looking up for 2004 graduates, career counselors say. More companies are recruiting on campus with more positions to offer, and the business news is encouraging.
“Students are cautiously optimistic,” said Christine Lynch, associate director of employer relations for the career center at DePaul University
“It’s not all doom and gloom,” she said. “I tell students they need to be competitive. Don’t assume that just because they have a degree and the market is getting better that they’ll get a job.”
One way to stand out is through networking, the experts advise.
Find a contact using the Internet, cold calling or researching the trade magazines–anything to get into the company, talk to someone and help your resume stand out from the pile.
Jennifer Pedersen knows her field is competitive–marketing/communications for professional baseball–but the bubbly 21-year-old already has five job offers.
“I thought long and hard about what sets me apart. What can I say that people will want me? I’m energetic, I’m confident, I guarantee I’ll work my butt off,” the University of Illinois senior said.
Although some students like Pedersen seem to have the job hunt all wrapped up, it’s not too late for others to get cracking, counselors say.
Some employers start looking as late as April for positions beginning in May, so seniors should organize themselves now to respond immediately.
Also, at this point, don’t worry that your resume isn’t ideal, said Brad Karsh of JobBound, which specializes in working with college students.
“It’s too late to dramatically improve your GPA or get involved in leadership positions on campus or get a summer internship,” he said.
But it “doesn’t mean it’s too late to get a great job.”
