Despite a clouded economy, there are a few bright spots for May 2009 graduates.<\/p>\n
While job searching can be a daunting task, there are ways to increase the chance of finding a job after graduation.<\/p>\n
The tips below were compiled from\u00a0Tracy Haney<\/strong>, director of the career development office in The W.A. Franke College of Business; Rich McPherson, a 2008 NAU graduate in construction management; and\u00a0David Allen<\/strong>, associate professor of finance.<\/p>\n Start job searching early<\/strong> Apply creativity<\/strong> Flexibility and creativity are a plus. For example, a finance major may need to consider government or non-profit work instead of the private sector. Students may still work in their field, but possibly work for a different kind of company than what they originally planned.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen I graduated in 1982 it was a similarly bad recession, the worst since the Great Depression,\u201d Allen said. \u201cA lot of students didn\u2019t find jobs right away so they had to become creative and do whatever they could until things got better.\u201d<\/p>\n A National Association of Colleges and Employers survey found that while 70 percent of graduates want a job, only 40 percent start looking before April. NAU\u2019s own survey found that while many individuals found jobs, those who spent one to six months looking had a much better chance of finding a job in their field.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n Persistence, persistence, persistence\u00a0<\/strong> \u201cIt\u2019s worth bugging employers in a nice way.\u201d McPherson said. \u201cAt first I was embarrassed, but you have nothing to lose. Some employers told me I was ahead of the game because I called back and took that initiative.\u201d<\/p>\n Find a special niche<\/strong> \u201cIf you can, take time to get experience in areas people in your field don\u2019t have,\u201d McPherson said. \u201cGet a certification for something specific that would look better on a resume.\u201d<\/p>\n Weigh other options<\/strong> Going back to school is another option, especially if earning the highest credential is important in the student\u2019s field. But for some career paths it helps to have work experience first, so students need to research what employers want. Haney said students should not go back to school as a last resort, but for a specific reason and if it will really benefit them in their field.<\/p>\n \u201cStudents should keep all their options open,\u201d Haney said. \u201cRemember, if everyone else is going back to school, then you will be looking for a job with everyone else in a few years.\u201d<\/p>\n Take advantage of the Gateway Student Success Center\u2019s services<\/strong> Students and alumni can post their r\u00e9sum\u00e9s to the database and make a profile that includes their major and the type of positions they are seeking. Students can then search through Gateway\u2019s database for employers in their major and find links to employers\u2019 web sites.<\/p>\n
\nThe first step students should take, Haney said, is to start looking for jobs earlier. It is taking employers longer to make their decisions, and it often takes at least two to three months for students to find a job. Student should start their job search before they graduate.<\/p>\n
\n\u201cCompanies are hiring, you just have to be a little more creative and proactive than a year ago in finding those positions,\u201d Haney said. \u201cThere are jobs out there.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n
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\n Optimistic Statistics<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n The National Association of Colleges and Employers information shows that last year new college graduates constituted 44 percent of entry level-positions vs. 33 percent in the past five years.According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the unemployment rate rises much more slowly for college graduates than for non-graduates. In December the high school graduate unemployment rate was 7.7, while for college graduates it was only 3.7.<\/p>\n
\nPersistence pays off and shows the employer initiative.<\/p>\n
\nMcPherson suggests trying to find a special niche that won\u2019t be as affected by a recession.<\/p>\n
\n\u201cIf you can\u2019t find a job, see if there\u2019s an intern position you\u2019d like, and go into it with the idea you could prove yourself and get a full-time job,\u201d Haney said.<\/p>\n
\nGateway offers r\u00e9sum\u00e9 critiques and workshops, mock interviews and job seeking and interviewing workshops for free as well as an extensive online database with 3,630 active employers.<\/p>\n