Features on the Outlook and Options for the Class of '09

It's a high anxiety time for seniors on college campuses across America. With the U.S. Department of Labor reporting that the unemployment rate has spiked to 7.6 percent, or a 16-year high, economic analysts continue to project a bleak employment outlook for the class of 2009.

Dr. Phil Gardner, director of the Collegiate Employment Research Institute at Michigan State University, writes in the current edition of THE BLACK COLLEGIAN Magazine, recruitment of new college graduates was already cooling off in the fall.

"Companies [were] still seeking to fill a number of positions and [had] a busy fall on many campuses," Dr. Gardner reported in his feature The Outlook for the Class of '09. But, he went on to warn, "Do not expect the same level of intensity during the second semester, however, as employers will be more likely to be very cautious as they monitor economic conditions."

This semester, the recruitment situation seems downright chilly in many corners of the stumbling economy.

So, what are concerned students to do? This is the question we take up in a couple of interrelated feature articles recently posted on THE BLACK COLLEGIAN Online.

As Walter Vertreace argues in How to Find Your Dream Job In a Nightmare Economy, "The process you would use to target your job search and evaluate opportunities in a stronger economy will still work today."

Researching companies, reviewing company websites and government sources, noting "top companies" lists, networking with knowledgeable professors, alumni and company employees in your network -- the same rules and tools still apply. Finding a job in today's market requires the same diligence, smarts and legwork as in better times, only augmented.

It's not always easy for jobseekers to meet and nail down knowledgeable employees of potential hiring organizations to ask their advice. In an extended online feature, Job Outlook for the Class of '09: Recruiters' Messages, we invited several recruiters from major employer organizations to share their frank advice for those seeking to enter the job market amidst today's harsh economic realities. An online-only companion to Dr. Gardner's feature, the real-world advice column will be updated on a rolling basis this semester with new contributions, many of which are being contributed by representatives of companies participating in our second semester Virtual Diversity Career Fair, an event for companies still actively hiring entry-level candidates up until graduation.

For other soon-to-be-grads, the difficulty of finding a job and the desire to be more strongly positioned for career with an advanced degree, making a direct move to apply to graduate schools is an increasingly attractive option.

As Catherine Cannon reports in a video piece for VoA News this month (Video: College Graduate Job Outlook (in streaming Windows Media Format), directors of college career offices are anticipating seeing more of their newly minted graduates head straight for graduate programs rather than get their feet wet in an entry-level employment opportunity. The current edition of THE BLACK COLLEGIAN features a special section for prospective Graduate and Professional school students -- what we're calling "a bit of an appetizer" introducing a new publication, "Diversifying Graduate and Professional Schools" to launch later this year.

For college seniors especially who have not yet found employment, we encourage you to review these features in our magazine at your campus career center, or on our website. You may preregister now for our career fair, which will be co-presented this year by the IMDiversity.com Career Center and Black College Wire, as well as post a searchable resume.