Class of 2008: You ARE Finding a Job

Yesterday, I wrote about the difficulty that 2008 graduates are experiencing in their job search.

Today, I report that not everyone agrees with that truth. JobWeb gives students hope. In a recent study, they determined that 2008 is the healthiest job market in three years. A survey, performed by Job Outlook 2008, found that employers plan to hire 16% more graduates than they did in the previous year.

Why now? What about the financial sector? (The answer: don’t go there until things improve.)

The answer: talent. The future leaders of tomorrow are graduating college today. Furthermore, as more and more individuals consider retirement, the gaps are opened and are waiting to be filled by students just like you.

Some statistics may be helpful:

• The Midwest plans to see the biggest growth in hiring this year.
• Computer science is still in heavy demand. Programmers rock!
• If you have a bachelor degree, your starting salary will probably be better than a BA or BS graduate from previous class years.
• Best majors for the task include accounting, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, computer science (what did I say?), business administration, communication, liberal arts, psychology, English, sociology, and political science/government. Some firms are explicitly looking for computer science majors with some business know-how.
• If you’re an international student with academic achievement in the aforementioned areas, you may fare better than your American peers.

It still pays to work hard to find a job. While employers are hiring, an early start is crucial, especially if you’re looking and you’re in the class of ‘09. Or even ‘10. The experience you can gain in the meantime is invaluable and the benefits (401K, medical and dental insurance, life insurance, social activities, tuition reimbursement, bonuses) are awesome.

Start looking for your job if you haven’t already. And if you found the right one, share your success story in the comments.