As the in late May, hiring of recent college graduates is up five percent from last spring鈥攅ncouraging news for in a few days鈥� time. that this trend is followed in Washington State as well, with the unemployment rate falling from 9.2 percent in April to 9.1 percent in May. Seniors seem more confident and optimistic as local companies like and announce their intent to hire more professionals, particularly in the science and technology fields.
Unfortunately, the impact of the recession is still felt by many looking for jobs. Less than a third of college graduates have jobs lined up before graduation, and only 70 percent find one within six months. Some college graduates are forced to take jobs unrelated to their degree, and many鈥�鈥攖ake jobs that do not require degrees at all, which edges out high school graduates and teenagers looking for work. Finally, median salaries for college graduates have decreased from $30,000 in 2006/7 to $27,000 in 2009/10.
According to graduates the New York Times and the Seattle Times interviewed, the best way to land a job in tough economic times is networking鈥攎ost seniors with jobs lined up after graduation had found the position through an acquaintance or college job fair. Many students indicated they wished their schools had done more to prepare them for job hunting.
To see what the 91探花is doing to help students find jobs in the current economy, check out the website, which offers a wealth of job-related information and services, including r茅sum茅 building, networking opportunities, career fairs, and mock interviews. For more detailed information on official unemployment statistics, visit the website.