SF State experts discuss job climate for 2007 grads

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William Morris
SF State Office of Public Affairs & Publications
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Press Release published by the Office of Public Affairs & Publications

 

For additional assistance in locating an expert, call the SF State Office of Public Affairs & Publications at (415) 338-1665 or visit: www.sfsu.edu/~news/byname.htm.

Jack Brewer, director, Career Center
Brewer leads the University's Career Center, which is responsible for providing employment assistance and career counseling for SF State's nearly 30,000 students. He has 27 years of experience as a career services professional, and is currently serving as the chair for a consortium of Career Center directors from the 23-campus CSU system. He is also the recipient of a 2005 California Career Education Association Presidential Award.

Contact Brewer at:
Office Phone: (415) 338-2526
E-mail: jabrewer@sfsu.edu

"According to an updated survey of employers recruiting on college campuses, new college graduates continue to have reason to be optimistic about their job prospects. Overall, employers expect their college hiring to increase by almost 20 percent over last year," Brewer said, citing statistics from the National Association of Colleges and Employers.

According to the survey, many of the employers reported plans to put more emphasis on college hiring this year. "At SF State, we have seen more employers returning for on-campus recruiting. In fact, we had a 20 percent increase in the number of employers participating in our Spring 2007 Career Expo when compared to last year's, and had a waiting list for both the fall and spring expos.

"Given the positive hiring projections, it's not surprising that more than 90 percent of employers also reported an increase in competition for new college hires over the last year. As a result, this is helping to increase the entry-level salaries to attract the best candidates. I wouldn't be surprised if we don't start seeing candidates being offered signing bonuses soon if this continues," Brewer speculated.

"However, with the improved job market and more students graduating, competition between students for the best jobs has also increased. Students who have gained valuable transferable skills through part-time work, community service or volunteering, have completed an internship, or were active in student organizations will be very competitive in the improving job market."

Robert C. Chope, professor and chair of the counseling department
Chope is a psychologist and career counselor who specializes in the emotional aspects of the career search and new strategies for discouraged job seekers. Founder of the Career and Personal Development Institute in San Francisco, he has served as a career psychologist and consultant for more than 25 years. He is the incoming president of the National Employment Counseling Association.

Contact Chope at:
Phone: (415) 338-2005 or at (415) 982-2636, ext. 1
E-mail: rcchope@sfsu.edu

"The job market appears to be bright for all new graduates, although the economy may slow with the housing slowdown and consumer confidence will probably be influenced," Chope said.

"Still, with this generally positive outlook, new grads should consider several possibilities. First, there is some usefulness to taking a psychosocial moratorium from entering a career related job. Time spent in service to others like displaced Katrina victims and involvement with projects like San Francisco Mayor Newsom's Homeless Connect could reap strong benefits with the development of new skills and the enhancement of a network of new contacts. Most jobs continue to be found through networks even though the Internet and job search engines like Monster.com have their roles as well.

"Graduates should surround themselves with people who help them gain confidence and with whom they can bounce creative ideas around. They should consider adding to their skill set, but they should also try work that is fun. They might create a portfolio of part-time jobs that provide good contacts, good skills-based training and off-beat enjoyment. Above all, they should market themselves with candor and refrain from ever killing their best ideas."

John Sullivan, professor of management and human resources author and consultant
Sullivan is a leader in the field of human relations strategies and systems, and has consulted with more than 175 different businesses and organizations around the world, including many Fortune 200 companies. He is a prolific author in the field, has been quoted in various national and international publications, and has been listed among the 40 most influential people in HR. He has taught at SF State for more than 20 years.

Contact Sullivan at:
Phone: (415) 338-1817 or (650) 738-1922
E-mail: johns@sfsu.edu
Web site: www.drjohnsullivan.com

"This year's graduates are lucky to have a bull labor market to look forward to," he said. "Not only do employers intend to hire more, they plan on paying them between 4 and 10 percent more and expanding training opportunities to attract the best candidates. This increase demonstrates a renewed reliance on recent graduate labor (with their highly desirable technology skills and ability to innovate) that began to emerge four years ago and with it, an increased competition for the best.

"Because of the shrinking availability of experienced hires (brought on by changing demographics and a skills gap) more and more U.S. employers are investigating a labor strategy that calls for hiring in mass at entry levels and then growing that talent to meet their specific future needs. Many firms are beginning to prepare for a mass exodus of labor (that may or may not occur as Baby Boomers exit the workforce), by considering strategies that concentrate as much as 70 percent of their external hiring efforts on the college labor market.

"Combining all of the statistics together makes it clear that now is a great time to be a recent college graduate. This year's academic achievers will find employers interested, attentive, and invested not only in hiring them, but also in developing and retaining them."

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Last modified May 15, 2007, by the Office of Public Affairs & Publications