College Grads Facing Slightly Brighter Job Market
MIAMI (CBSMiami) – The picture is looking a little brighter for the graduating class of 2012 who are about to hit the job market.
Employers are forecast to increase their hiring this year by about 10 percent, according to the National Association of College and Employers (NACE).
In addition to more jobs, there's more money for those hired. NACE says the median wage for first-time job seekers after college is up 4.5 percent higher than a year ago to $42,569.
Unfortunately, it won't be a 'walk in the park', according to Christian Garcia who said the job market is more competitive than ever and grads will need demonstrate their problem solving skills along with their ability to deal with conflict.'
He should know. Garcia is the executive director of the University of Miami's Toppel Career Center.
"Your Grade Point Average (G.P.A.) is important of course," said García. "but they are also looking for interpersonal skills, people who can resolve conflicts, who can work with customers or clients and who can work in teams."
Garcia adds that he's noticed a rise in employers job postings on the university's website and feels optimistic that graduates, who have engaged in internships, part-time work, travel abroad and have honed their career building skills before their senior year are better poised to get a job.
Shivani Joshi works at the Ziff Graduate Services Center at the university. She's a job placement specialist for the School of Business and says
"This year I've seen a huge increase in job opportunities and quality job opportunities here in Miami and nationally," said Joshi.
Soon-to-be MBA Graduate Ken Zucker was all smiles. He's already been hired by national investment powerhouse Goldman-Sachs.
"It's a gorgeous day in Miami, graduations is only a few days away. The possibility is of a great career. I have a lot to be Thankful for," said the New York transplant who now calls Miami home.
According to major labor market analyst Challenger and Gray, college-aged workers have already seen more than 900-thousand new job openings over the past 2 years. But at the same time, jobs for 40-50 year olds are shrinking as the U.S. job market changes.
Over the next several weeks, more than a million college grads will be hitting the job market looking for their first employment opportunities.
So who's hiring?
Marketing jobs are projected to grow as much as 29% over the next decade, along with solid gains in Management, Computers, Financial Analysis and Cost Estimators.
Some labor market analysts still caution that "better than last year" is still relative and they continue to describe the overall labor market through the fall as fiercely competitive.
