Hiring of college grads expected to jump by 10%, report says

Hiring of college grads expected to jump by 10%, report says

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SALT LAKE CITY — The hiring of college graduates is expected to increase by an estimated 10 percent in 2015, according to a study by the National Association of Colleges & Employers.

That could bode well for grads looking for work in Utah, said Damian Garcia, regional vice president for employment firm Robert Half International in Salt Lake City.

“In Utah, we have seen an increase in our client’s appetite for newer grads,” he said. Most of the positions are in entry level and some mid-level roles of companies.

But another study shows that just 14 percent of college seniors and 13 percent of graduate students have jobs lined up after graduation. The findings were released by AfterCollege — a career network for college students and recent graduates — in their annual Career Insight Survey of 1,200 students.

That study showed that 84 percent of college seniors and 74 percent of graduate students are actively looking for jobs. However, the largest majority of impending and recent college graduates only began their job search during the spring semester, which may help explain why many remain without job offers today, explained AfterCollege CEO Robert Angulo.

“Overwhelmingly, this year’s graduating class is relying on job sites, along with leaning on their colleges, their parents and social media channels to address the job search challenges of today,” he said. “There are jobs out there, but matching the candidate with the opportunity is still a long way from being perfected.”


There are jobs out there, but matching the candidate with the opportunity is still a long way from being perfected.

–Robert Angula, AfterCollege


Recent graduate Danielle Quintana, of Sandy, double majored in communications and theater at the College of St. Benedict in Minnesota. Prior to completing her studies, she had begun searching for a job in hopes of finding something she could start soon after graduation.

Fortunately, she was able to land a part-time position with the Boys & Girls Clubs of South Valley — something she hopes will provide valuable on-the-job experience.

“I know that I want to work with kids some day,” she said. “(My) dream would be to open up my own children’s theater some day, so I figured this would be a good way to get my feet wet.”

Quintana is also hopeful that her new part-time position could eventually lead to a full-time job at some point. But for now, she is grateful to have something that gives her income and useful experience.

Garcia said the types of openings available this year spread across a wide range of disciplines, particularly in business and technology.

“In the Utah market, (clients) are willing to, and sometimes prefer to have candidates come right out of school,” he said.

Employers cite the graduates' ability to adapt to any new work environment without the issue of having to break “old habits” developed during their previous experience. Garcia also noted that recent graduates often have proficiency in the latest technology, which can smooth their transition.

“They have been learning for the last four years and are able to come in and be (trained and groomed) sometimes faster than someone who comes with many years of experience,” he said.

New grads should research information on starting salaries and benefits to be able to negotiate a fair pay package in their new position, he advised.

Recent graduate Dan Mosman, 25, a dual major in finance and economics from Utah State University, was able to secure an internship with Koch Industries as a financial analyst. Upon completion of the program, he hopes for a full-time job offer, but would also consider graduate school as an option if things don’t pan out immediately employment-wise.

He is confident in his ability to find a job with the current credentials, but said there is still more he could learn educationally as well.

“It’s a good time to continue my education if a really exciting job hasn’t jumped out at me yet,” Mosman said.

New grads are willing to consider a range of employer types, including government agencies and nonprofit organizations, according to the AfterCollege report. In fact, more college students would consider a job in the federal or state government or at a nonprofit than at startup, Angulo said.

When asked why government work is so appealing, the top three factors are stable secure employment, good compensation, and the desire to make a difference, he added.

“Our data shows that the majority of students would rather have stability than the uncertainty of starting their own business,” Angulo said. “Students are looking at base pay and work-life balance, and if you are starting a company, you’re definitely not going to have good pay initially (or) work-life balance.” E-mail: jlee@deseretnews.com Twitter: JasenLee1

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