Job market uncertain for CU graduates

As December quickly approaches, University of Colorado seniors are preparing to enter a sluggish job market. Companies expect to hire seven percent fewer graduates in 2010 than they did in 2009, according to a report by The National Association of Colleges and Employers.

On the national scale, employers are cutting back on hiring. For seniors at CU this means more competition as they start looking for jobs. According to a report by the National Association of Colleges and Employers, companies are expecting to hire seven percent fewer graduates in 2010 than they did in 2009.

The National Association for Business Economics released a survey Monday Oct. 12 in which 92 percent of the top economists state that they don’t expect the economy to regain the jobs it lost in the recession until at least 2012. With fewer positions to be filled, graduates face a potentially long road in there search for employment.

Harmony Noble, a senior at CU, is planning to graduate in December, but with employers cutting back and an economy still struggling she has concern about what will come next. "It’s the whole catch 22. You know, you go to college because you want the better job, but you go to school for four years and then you don’t have any job experience," says Harmony.

The university has programs in place through the office of career services to keep students competitive.

Lisa Severy, director of career services, said that one of the things setting CU students apart is their success and professionalism once employed. Severy says, "It’s the reputation of the academic programs, the reputation of the faculty and most importantly, our graduates have gone to work for those companies and done remarkably well. Graduate shave done phenomenal things, so those employers will keep coming back cause they know they can get great candidates here."

Job assistance does not stop after graduation. Career services offers help to alumni as well. The university's alumni association has also created a new program called "Ask a Buff" where alumni can turn to for career and professional advice. "Ask a Buff" also allows alums to make professional profiles for potential employment opportunities. Both Career Services and the Ask a Buff program offer guidance for current students and alumni.

For more information on programs offered through Career Services go to http://careerservices.colorado.edu/