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
College career directors are reporting record numbers of recruiters on campus. Job offers are up, and companies are saying they'll bring on nearly 20 percent more new graduates than they did last year.
This is a banner year for college hiring.
"We don't have enough students to fill the positions," said Patricia N.S. Peterson, director of career services at the University of the Sciences in West Philadelphia.
In March, Philadelphia University hosted its Design Expo, a job fair for design majors. Sixty-nine employers attended, up from 54 last year. "Now they are coming in April to do on-campus interviews. We didn't have that before," said Patricia "Trish" Shafer, director of career services.
The National Association of Colleges and Employers said its employer members intend to hire 19.2 percent more graduates this year than they did in 2006.
Five years ago, in 2002, the fallout from the Sept. 11 attacks, the bursting of the dot-com bubble, and the recession sent the numbers the other way, with firms planning to hire 20 percent less, said Andrea Koncz, employment information manager for the Bethlehem-based group.
This year, "most of them said the economy is doing better and their companies are growing and they have a lot more positions open for new college graduates," she said.
Comcast Corp., for example, is strengthening its relationships with colleges here and in Colorado to staff a growing number of engineering and technical positions, spokeswoman Jenni Moyer said.
"Our hiring is definitely up," said Megan Charlton, campus recruiter for PricewaterhouseCoopers in Philadelphia. In 2006, the accounting firm hired 175 local graduates. This year it will bring on 200, mostly business students in accounting, finance and information systems.
"The students I've met have been really motivated and they know what their long-term goals are," she said.
They are also used to selling themselves, said Lindsey Pollak, author of "Getting From College to Career," published April 10 by Harper-Collins.
This is a banner year for college hiring.
"We don't have enough students to fill the positions," said Patricia N.S. Peterson, director of career services at the University of the Sciences in West Philadelphia.
In March, Philadelphia University hosted its Design Expo, a job fair for design majors. Sixty-nine employers attended, up from 54 last year. "Now they are coming in April to do on-campus interviews. We didn't have that before," said Patricia "Trish" Shafer, director of career services.
The National Association of Colleges and Employers said its employer members intend to hire 19.2 percent more graduates this year than they did in 2006.
Five years ago, in 2002, the fallout from the Sept. 11 attacks, the bursting of the dot-com bubble, and the recession sent the numbers the other way, with firms planning to hire 20 percent less, said Andrea Koncz, employment information manager for the Bethlehem-based group.
This year, "most of them said the economy is doing better and their companies are growing and they have a lot more positions open for new college graduates," she said.
Comcast Corp., for example, is strengthening its relationships with colleges here and in Colorado to staff a growing number of engineering and technical positions, spokeswoman Jenni Moyer said.
"Our hiring is definitely up," said Megan Charlton, campus recruiter for PricewaterhouseCoopers in Philadelphia. In 2006, the accounting firm hired 175 local graduates. This year it will bring on 200, mostly business students in accounting, finance and information systems.
"The students I've met have been really motivated and they know what their long-term goals are," she said.
They are also used to selling themselves, said Lindsey Pollak, author of "Getting From College to Career," published April 10 by Harper-Collins.
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