3 On Your Side: Job Outlook For 2015 Graduates
By Jim Donovan
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The class of 2015 seems more optimistic about their job prospects than graduates in recent years. 3 On Your Side Consumer Reporter Jim Donovan takes a look at how that optimism is translating into actual opportunities.
Corinne Buckwalter's communications degree is the culmination of four years of hard work. While in school she completed six internships, and she now starts a full time job in a few weeks. She says, "I started looking seriously at jobs and applying in January when I got back from winter break. I started talking to everyone I knew."
Buckwalter's strategy is typical among members of the class of 2015. A recent Accenture survey finds eight in ten students considered the job market in their intended field before selecting their major. David Smith with Accenture Strategy says, "This year's grads I would say are optimistic, they're pragmatic and maybe most importantly, they're prepared. Preparedness was something they thought about a long time ago, and have really been thinking about and using to their advantage."
But that doesn't necessarily mean it's going to be easy. It still comes down to what the student and an employer are really looking for. Kelley Bishop is a Career Center Director at the University of Maryland. He says, "I think most students are not so much concerned about getting a job, but about being underemployed or having to take a job that's not with their preferred employer or not in their preferred field. So they're aware that to get the best jobs it's still competitive. You're going to have to compete for it."
With the nationwide unemployment rate at a seven-year low, the class of 2015 seems willing to compete for more than just a paycheck. The Accenture survey found young people are also looking closely at development opportunities, work-life balance and company culture.
