This year's crop of college graduates is heading out into a welcoming employment market. But those who think good grades will be enough to land them a decent job should think again.
"Relevant work experience is my first priority," said Molly MacDermot, editor in chief of M and Twist, teen-oriented magazines published by Bauer Publishing in Englewood Cliffs, N.J.
MacDermot's view was echoed by a range of industry recruiters and human resource executives who annually scour North Jersey colleges for potential employees.
In a highly competitive field like publishing, internships "are crucial" for candidates just out of college and seeking entry-level positions, said MacDermot.
Proven leadership ability, solid verbal and written skills and computer aptitude over an array of software programs are qualities also frequently cited, in addition to the specific technical skills required for the job being sought.
And make no mistake - specific technical skills are definitely being sought.
Candidates with degrees in software design and development, engineering and finance can expect to land the highest starting salaries this year, according to the National Association of Colleges and Employees, a Bethlehem, Pa.-based research group.
Moreover, salaries in each of those sectors are rising year to year, according to an NACE survey of several hundred employers.
Qualified graduates should have no problem finding job opportunities, said Andrea Koncz, NACE's employment information manager. Indeed, the NACE survey showed U.S. employers expect to hire 19 percent more college graduates in 2007 than a year ago.
Koncz said the growing number of retiring baby boomers is good news for the class of 2007. Employers are increasingly looking to fill positions left vacant by retirees with recent college graduates, whom they hope to groom for long-term careers, she said.
"These companies are losing people with a lot of experience, so they are looking to replace them with new talent who bring with them new ideas and new energy," Koncz observed.
The companies will also save money by hiring entry-level workers.
Creativity, teamwork skills and an ability to get results are other traits cited universally by human resource executives and college recruiters.But nothing beats work-related experience.
"That I would have to say is first and foremost today. I find that all of the employers are looking for that," said Sharon Rosengart, director of the career development and advisement center at William Paterson.
Rachel Anevski, human resources director at Smolin, Lupin & Co., an accounting firm with New Jersey offices in Fairfield and Red Bank, said her company believes past work experience in the field is vital as an indicator of a candidate's commitment to the profession.
Working while gaining a degree not only shows discipline and intent, she said, but also an ability to multi-task and organize.
Since recruiters expect a certain level of proficiency from graduates in the field in which they majored, candidates should strive to demonstrate other qualities if they hope to stand out.
Anevski mentioned curiosity.
"We're looking for accounting majors, but we're not necessarily looking for the highest grade point average," she said.
Monice Sanders, Verizon's director for college recruiting, said the largest U.S. phone company has stepped up its intern programs at colleges nationwide to develop relationships with students as early as possible.
"These programs have become the feeder pool for the company," she said. "We're really trying to recruit our employees earlier than we had in the past."
While interested in a broad range of technologies, Verizon, whose operational headquarters is in Basking Ridge, N.J., is especially interested in students schooled in the technology of fiber optics. "Anyone with that type of knowledge is a real plus for us," Sanders said.
And a 3.0 grade point average or higher doesn't hurt. "Your grades really do count," she said.
Sanders said Verizon also looks for "evidence of demonstrated leadership skills in peoples' resumes."
Leadership is also important at Prudential Financial, the diverse financial services company headquartered in Newark.
Thus an accounting or finance major seeking a job at Prudential might find a more receptive audience if his resume also includes a year or two as a resident assistant in a dormitory, said Marietta Cozzi, Prudential's vice president of human resources.
Accepting such a position shows an ability to take on a leadership role, as well as a desire to coach and work with others, she said.
And if a student belonged to a fraternity or a sorority, Prudential wants to know whether the student held a position of leadership within that organization, said Cozzi. In addition, students who tout volunteer work in college might fare better during an interview if they can cite a fund-raising effort they led, Cozzi added.
Hoffmann-LaRoche Inc., the Nutley-based prescription drug unit of Roche Pharmaceuticals, is typical of most drug companies in that most employees are not hired right out of college.
Diversity was cited as an important component at Wachovia banks. Consequently, bilingual candidates might find themselves with a leg up during the interview process, said Steven Sbarra, Wachovia's vice president of recruiting solutions.
Reaching diverse populations is an important part of Wachovia's growth strategy, said Sbarra. "We're looking to hire employees who speak the languages of the clientele living in the areas they are serving," he said.
---
© 2007, North Jersey Media Group Inc.
Visit The Record Online at http://www.northjersey.com/
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.
