College seniors: Take a broad view when job-hunting
After a couple of rough years, things are looking up for college graduates, says John Challenger, who heads the Chicago outplacement firm of Challenger, Gray & Christmas. To take advantage of the growing job market, seniors should take a broader look at career possibilities.
College seniors: Take a broad view when job-hunting
Jane M. Von Bergen, Inquirer Staff Writer
After a couple of rough years, things are looking up for college graduates, says John Challenger, who heads the Chicago outplacement firm of Challenger, Gray & Christmas.
To take advantage of the growing job market, seniors should take a broader look at career possibilities.
"Graduates should not confine their searches to a specific industry or occupation," he wrote in a statement. "The job market is not robust enough to provide the ideal job situation for every individual. It seldom is. So, someone may come out of college with the plan to find a marketing position with a consumer products company. There’s nothing wrong with having a specific goal like that, but don’t make the mistake of adhering to it so closely that you overlook opportunities in marketing for a chemical company or health care provider, for example.”
That kind of broad perspective is necessary given the tough competition in the job market.
"In this economy, it is likely that they will be vying for entry-level job opportunities with those who have been in the workforce for one to five years. They may even be competing with [older workers] looking for any opportunity to continue working even it means taking a dramatic cut in pay, title and responsibility,” he wrote.
One advantage the young have is their relative lack of ties to any geographic area. So, says Challenger, don't be afraid to move to where the jobs are. In Lincoln, Nebraska, for example, the unemployment rate was 4.2 percent in January, about half of the unemployment rate in this region.
Very well, thanks. The stock market is at an all time high. The unemployment rate is at its lowest level since Obama took office. The real estate market is recovering. Which economy are you talking about?— bfg11- We were in a depression when he started because of GWB, who had a budget surplus when he took office, then started an unnecessary war to line his oil cronies and Haliburton. its getting better now. HOWEVER, the biggest problem with these graduates is their sense of entitlement. They want to walk right into high paying upper level jobs and refuse to tke anything that isn't exactly what they want. I have a friend whose daughter graduated 2 years ago, and took a job at a financial institution, which she hated. But she took it, and worked hard. 2 years later, she has moved into a field she likes within the corporation, they are paying for her grad school, and she is making close to $90k with great benefits. She is also looking for her dream job, in her field, with a great looking resume— intelliwoman
