Good News for College Grads: Companies that Pay Well Are Hiring!

Over a million college seniors are “getting real,” real soon. That is, graduates from our nation's colleges are set to enter the “real world,” with many getting their first full-time jobs and setting out on their own in the next several weeks. And things are looking up, so nervous grads can relax, even those who have not started looking for their first real gig yet.

“For the fourth year in a row, the job market for graduating seniors is on the upswing. A survey from the National Association of Colleges and Employers found that employers nationwide were planning to hire 20 percent more new college graduates this year than they did last year, and that salaries were increasing in 26 of the 29 majors included in the survey” This is according to the May 5, 2007 article by Anya Sostek of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette entitled, “Job outlook best in years for graduates” found online at www.salemnews.com.

More Jobs, Higher Pay Make Senior Sally a Happy Girl

So, employers are looking to hire more students this year, and to pay them more as well. A few months ago I stumbled across an article that posted “entry-level” salaries for specific fields such as engineering and was shocked to find that they were in the $47,000 to $54,000 range. Originally, I thought these numbers were high, even though they were for the north east part of the United States. Now I am not so sure.

One individual interviewed for the piece, a Jeff Gershen who accepted an offer for an accounting position in Washington D.C. confirmed that such high entry-level salaries are possible as reported in the article:

“It was much easier than I expected,' said Jeff, who will be making in the mid-$50,000 range. I got a lot of offers, and I could do what I wanted where I wanted to move. All of our friends in accounting, they all have jobs, and they've had them for a long time”

Encouraging News Inspires Confidence in Search Campaigns

This should be encouraging news for grads, that they can be making such good bank right out of school. In addition, as with Jeff Gershen who received multiple job offers in different part of the country, it appears that candidates can expect more of the same. If you are a soon-to-be college graduate, you are probably thinking it is a pretty great time to be a grad. Your prospects are good, with the potential of multiple well-paying offers for positions in the best part of the country — it seems that you just can not miss.

By all means, thank your lucky stars that that is the case. Just a few short years ago around 2001, the job market was a totally different animal, with many hundred students competing for a single position that paid a considerably lower entry-level salary.

Prudent Action Key to Success

A piece of advice, though: do not just sit around thinking that just because things are looking up that you will somehow magically land a job without putting in the effort and time required. Instead, finish finals and then give yourself a little breathing room, relax for a bit. Set a date for when you will begin your search if you have not already, then put everything you have into it and watch your future unfold.

The Education Finance Advisors at NextStudent can help you figure in all your college expenses so that you get the student loan that best suits your needs. Don't get caught short. Go to nextstudent.com. for all your student loan needs.

Check back here next Friday for my next blog on Campus Life.

By Student Loan Girl

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