2008 Woodie Awards
Recruiters on campuses in record numbers
By: Jane M. Von Bergen of The Philadelphia Inquirer
Issue date: 5/3/07 Section: News
"This group of students - it was so challenging for them to get into college because they are part of the baby boomlet," she said. "I see them as applying the same strategies they used to get into college to getting a job. They seem savvier about the need to market themselves and get started earlier."
May's graduates are entering the job market at a time when the unemployment rate is a low 4.4 percent, meaning there is more competition for skilled workers.
And they are also looking for jobs just as companies are beginning to plan for the retirement of baby boomers, even though the anticipated labor shortage has not yet hit, Koncz said.
"They want to build from the bottom up," she said. "Train and retain, that's what I've heard."
Last fall, in response to the pending shortage, the University of Pennsylvania organized its first job fair just for government positions, which will be particularly hard hit.
"The federal workers still get pensions, so they are ready to go," said Patricia Rose, Penn's director of career services. "Some of them can go out into the world and get another job."
Rose said that in 2006, 85 percent of the graduates who entered the work force (as opposed to entering graduate school), had accepted offers by May. Most of them had locked in positions by Jan. 1, following internships. "I'm sure the numbers will go up this year."
May's graduates are entering the job market at a time when the unemployment rate is a low 4.4 percent, meaning there is more competition for skilled workers.
And they are also looking for jobs just as companies are beginning to plan for the retirement of baby boomers, even though the anticipated labor shortage has not yet hit, Koncz said.
"They want to build from the bottom up," she said. "Train and retain, that's what I've heard."
Last fall, in response to the pending shortage, the University of Pennsylvania organized its first job fair just for government positions, which will be particularly hard hit.
"The federal workers still get pensions, so they are ready to go," said Patricia Rose, Penn's director of career services. "Some of them can go out into the world and get another job."
Rose said that in 2006, 85 percent of the graduates who entered the work force (as opposed to entering graduate school), had accepted offers by May. Most of them had locked in positions by Jan. 1, following internships. "I'm sure the numbers will go up this year."
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