Good news for this year's college grads, not to mention their beleaguered parents: After four years of hard work (grads) and tuition payments (parents), there is about to be some return on that investment. Yes, we're talking about jobs!
The National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) 2007 Job Outlook Survey found that employers planned to hire 17.4 percent more new college graduates this year than they did from the class of 2006. Prospects are also bright for the class of 2008.
 LEITA COWART/Special |
| Linda Wu (from left), an Emory University student majoring in economics and international studies, and Indu Anand, a psychology and physical therapy major, talk about career prospects with Kori Neville, associate director of recruiting and corporate relations at Emory. |
 LEITA COWART/Special |
| Karen Andrews (left), director of career services at Kennesaw State University, talks with psychology major Ashton Sappington. 'With the work force getting older, it's time to add employees again,' Andrews said. |
"Employers have told us that they are very positive about their hiring plans for this year's graduates, and they report that they're seeing more competition for the best new graduates," said Andrea Koncz, employment information manager for NACE.
Atlanta colleges are seeing the proof in increased numbers of recruiters on campus this fall.
"The numbers are good," said Kori Neville, associate director of recruiting and corporate relations at Emory University. "Normally, we see recruiting end at the end of October, but this year we have companies booked for another two weeks. It looks like students will be interviewing up until Thanksgiving break."
Given headlines about the mortgage industry, Neville wasn't expecting to see many investment bankers on campus this year, but they've been present, as have accounting, consulting and business firms.
Corporations aren't just looking for business majors, either.
"The majority of employers are hiring from all majors," Neville said. "They recognize the value of a liberal arts degree."
In addition to its normal career fair for all majors, which had the most companies attending in five years, Emory hosted a science career fair at students' request this fall. Several companies attended.
Karen Andrews, director of career services at Kennesaw State University, has seen more large companies, such as Coca-Cola Co. and Southern Co., back on campus.
"A lot of companies have gone through cutbacks and downsizing and [have] been conservative about hiring. Now they're stable, and, with the work force getting older, it's time to add employees again," Andrews said.
Accounting majors have been in great demand, but that's not unusual for this time of year.
"Accounting firms traditionally want to recruit in the fall, because they're too busy come tax season," Andrews said.
An information technology and systems employer showcase last month was well-attended, with companies heavily recruiting computer science majors.
More surprising to Andrews was a two-day visit from the CIA.
"They were most interested in technology majors and people with second languages, but they were recruiting from all majors, depending on what skills people could bring to the table," she said. "We normally see the FBI, GBI and the state [agencies] at our career fairs, but in 20 years, this is the first time I've seen the CIA on campus."
Getting top dollar
This year's job fair at Georgia Tech was the largest in 25 years, with 440 national and international companies attending, according to Ralph Mobley, director of career services.
"We've been really busy with recruiters this fall. The numbers are up over last year, and the job market is quite good," he said. "When the job market gets good, companies pay more to attract top talent. The competition causes salaries to rise."
He's not surprised to find engineering and computer science degrees at the top of the charts for salaries offered.
"With the possible exception of the telecommunications industry, which recently went through mergers, we've seen all industries — energy, engineering, information technology, defense, etc. — recruiting our engineers. Computer engineers and computer science majors are running neck and neck in demand," Mobley said.
He's also seen some nontraditional companies, such as investment banking firms, recruiting engineers.
"The banks can teach them finance. What they like are the analytical and problem-solving skills that engineers have. They've always hired computer science majors for back-of-the-house operations, but they're looking at engineering now for analysis positions. That's a relatively new trend," Mobley said.
According to NACE's year-end 2007 Salary Survey, chemical engineering majors commanded the highest salaries ($59,218 on average), with other engineering specialties and computer science majors not far behind.
The demand for accounting majors increased salary offers by 3 percent since 2006 to $46,292, but other business majors also showed increases, as did liberal arts degrees.
Every major in the liberal arts category saw an increase in average starting-salary offers, according to NACE. History majors saw a 6.1 percent gain to $35,092. Political science/government majors jumped by 6.5 percent to $35,261. Sociology grads received offers averaging $32,161, a 3.4 percent increase; offers to those with English majors rose slightly to $31,924.
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"For liberal arts majors, there's more emphasis placed on graduate school than the job market, but the opportunities are there," Neville said. "English majors may think that they can't get a job in business. They'll see a job posting for a consulting or banking firm and think that doesn't apply to them. It could, if they can show how their skills apply to the job."
Jobs in business for liberal arts majors generally pay more than those in the nonprofit and government sectors.
According to the NACE 2007 Job Outlook Survey, the good news extends to those who earn associate's degrees, especially those with technology/engineering, computer science and business administration/management majors. Many two-year graduates start out with annual salaries in the $30,000s and $40,000s.
In terms of salary offers, all majors are not created equal. So does that mean that everyone should switch to chemical engineering?
"No," Mobley said. "Chemical engineers will make more money starting out, but, if you hate it, what's the point? We talk to students about finding something that they really want to do for a living. We don't talk about money. If they find something they really enjoy, the money will come."
Besides, the market is too unpredictable for anyone always to foresee hot career fields. Mobley said that, if anyone had asked him in 2000 what degrees would lead to high-paying jobs, he would have said computer science. That was before the dot-com bust. Computer majors weren't in great demand in 2002 or 2003.
Andrews remembers when the nursing market was glutted.
"Now we can't provide enough nurses," she said. "We encourage students to major in what they love. If you go into something for the money, and you're not very good at it, you won't make the money, anyway."
If you want to garner interest from employers, earn a good grade-point average.
"If you've got a 2.0 [GPA], you're going to find it more difficult to get a job," Neville said.
Internships and cooperative work arrangements are also important — about 80 percent of college graduates have completed them, Andrews said — as are campus activities and studies abroad.
"Employers want to see practical skills, initiative and leadership," Andrews said. "If you've done an internship in your field, been a club president and have a good GPA, and you put that with a history major, you're marketable."
Working with your college's career services will improve your job search.
"Why wouldn't you work with a service that can show you how to apply and sell what you have to offer, especially since it's free?" Andrews said. "You've put all this money and time into a degree. Why not get the most from your investment?"