I was at Shear Global, RIT’s hair salon, this week and students were practically lined up out the door. There were so many walk-ins the receptionist had stopped scheduling appointments over the phone. What was going on? The answer was obvious: Job Fair.
Campus visits by employers are a rite of spring, like the opening day of fishing season and the first robin. One day, the guys show up for class in ill-fitting jackets, the young women in dark pant suits. Resumes are as polished as the new shoes, and interviewees are prepared to say where they want to be in five (or ten or fifteen) years.
So, what are the employment prospects for this year’s crop of grads? Finally, there’s some (modestly) good news.
In The Job Outlook for the College Class of 2013, the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) reports, “Employers expect to hire 13 percent more new college graduates from the Class of 2013 than they did from the Class of 2012,” according to an NACE survey. The NACE also reports that more employers this year have firm plans to recruit on campus than did the year before.
The NACE survey doesn’t place Communication among the most sought-after degrees—although the organization points out their survey represents only large to medium-size companies and “not the whole universe of employers.” However, the top Communication degrees in demand include Public Relations and Advertising.
There is some very good news for RIT Communication graduates: co-op offers a distinct advantage. According to the NACE’s survey of more than 15,000 2012 seniors, 60% of those who had completed a paid internship got at least one job offer before graduating.
So, look sharp, class of ’13. And be sure to show off your ability to communicate verbally (the top “soft” skill sought by employers—NACE).
From the desk of the DOC chairman 