There is no arguing that first-time job hunters have faced especially tough challenges over the past year because of the economic downturn, though surprisingly, many campus advisers are optimistic about the job prospects for current students.
Career advisers from the College of Letters and Science and the School of Business said although they have seen new trends arise since the economic collapse, they remain hopeful.
Steve Schroeder, director of the Business Career Center, said graduates of the business program should not be too worried.
""Our students have done fairly well, all things considered, in terms of securing employment after graduation,"" he said.
Schroeder said he has seen the most change regarding the number of job offers a student may receive. In the past, he said, business students have often had multiple opportunities to choose from, but that is no longer the case.
""We tell students if you get one job offer, that's great. But you can't expect to get five job offers in this economy,"" he said.
Robert Schwoch, an adviser in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication, said despite the economy he still sees students getting jobs, just not as quickly as they have in the past.
According to Schwoch, many students accept a ""survival job"" or move back home for a period of weeks or months as they wait for the economy to improve.
Although the job hunt is brutal right now, he cautions against making hasty decisions that could impact a student's entire career path.
""I'm encouraging students to take an unrelated job rather than taking a job within communications that might put them on a path that they don't want to be on,"" he said.
Leslie Kohlberg, Letters and Science Career Services director, said she is also optimistic about the job outlook for liberal arts students, but has noticed similar trends to that of other university departments.
""Typically, even in the best of times, it's usually three to nine months after graduation that a lot of students land their first-time professional employment,"" she said.
Kohlberg added, however, that she believes students with liberal arts degrees actually have an edge in today's job market.
""It's very good for liberal arts students right now because employers are looking for very versatile people,"" Kohlberg said. ""They also don't know what's happening in their industries, and they don't want to hire real specialists.""
New Trends Emerge
Aside from students having difficulty finding employment quickly, other patterns are emerging on campus that advisers link to the economic situation.
""One of the trends we're seeing is students who are postponing graduation,"" Schroeder said. ""They're taking additional classes—maybe they're adding an additional major—to postpone entering the job market.""
Kohlberg said she has seen more students finding alternatives to traditional careers, like Teach for America or the Peace Corps.
""Some of them are just hanging on to their survival jobs and maybe taking them up on their offer to become an assistant manager at a café,"" she said.
For students who have already begun their job search, campus career advisers agree that patience and persistence is the key, and current students can benefit from many resources on campus.
Schroeder said he stresses the importance of students tailoring their undergraduate experience to benefit their future career.
""Students should start their job search, their internship process their freshman year. It's not something that you start two weeks before you graduate,"" he said. ""The competition is fierce, and students have to be able to differentiate themselves.""
Use Campus Resources
Kohlberg said she encourages students to make use of their career services office.
""Interestingly, students are not seeking a lot of help,"" she said. ""We can help them get a focus and a goal, help them connect with employers, alumni, professionals in the field who can give them advice and suggestions that lead to real possibilities.""
According to Kohlberg, networking and improving interpersonal communication skills are key to finding the right job as well.
Although students at UW-Madison have generally had difficulties finding jobs, the message is not all doom and gloom. Kohlberg and her colleagues agree that many students are too anxious, which could end up being an asset for students who are patient and focused.
""The fact that a lot of students are discouraged means the ones who are showing a lot of oomph really stand out,"" she said.
A degree from UW-Madison is still highly sought-after in today's job market, and university advisers agree that students should have no doubts that the financial and time investment involved in obtaining a degree will repay itself when they land that perfect job.
