Hiring Trends Favor Business, Technical Degree Holders|Southern Education Desk

As graduation nears, a national organization that tracks hiring trends of recent university graduates is ranking commercial and technological occupations as the top jobs for 2012.

The National Association of Colleges and Employers lists business majors, engineers and computer science technicians as being in the highest demand. That works well for those in disciplines at the top of the hiring spectrum, but graduates with other degrees may discover finding a job is a struggle.

 

ULM Computer Science Students Gear Up for an Exam

Kayla Laney is giving her notes a last-minute perusal before she and her classmates take a computer science exam. Her hard work is paying off. She will graduate from the University of Louisiana at Monroe’s computer science program in August. And she’s already found a job.

 

“I’m employed with Century Link corporate as a software developer on the BSS Ensemble team. I started out as an intern in my junior year and they hired me on as a temporary employee and, upon graduation, will actually hire me full time.”

 

 

The National Association of Colleges and Employers puts computer science graduates in third place behind business and engineering as most likely to find work right out of college.

Jose Cordova is the chair of the computer science program at the University of Louisiana at Monroe’s computer science program. He says graduates from his department are looking at rosy job prospects.

 

“I have been in this position for the past six or seven years. And I have noticed as of late a marked increase in demand for computer science majors. And it’s not just a local demand, it’s a nationwide trend.”

 

Employers in this field agree that the need for software technicians is high.

 

Steve Miller is the Vice President of Software and Services – a company in Shreveport that designs computer programs for municipal governments. He’s just hired two ULM graduates. Miller says they stand to make good money.

 

“I would imagine probably in the thirty-five to forty range is what I would guess. It’s kind of a reasonable entry-level for our types of positions that we’re talking about.”

 

Of course not every graduating student is looking at similar employment opportunities.

The National Association of Colleges and Employers study ranks holders of liberal arts degrees as being less than half as likely to find work as those who have computer science degrees. 

 

Hope Myers is getting set to graduate with a master’s degree in English. She’s unsure about job prospects.

 

“They’re a little iffy. Originally, going into a master’s program I wanted to teach college. And with all the budget cuts, of course, to education in all states it’s looking a little dim.”

 

But Myers is working at the process.

 

“I have sent in resumes out a couple of places but the problem is, is most people won’t hire us directly. I may have the prospect of getting an adjunct position, but that may or may not pay maybe two thousand dollars per semester per class. And that’s very dismal when you have student loans to pay and a family to support.”  

 

She says her job search might force her to move – far away.  

 

“It almost looks like the only sure-fire way to get a position is if I teach abroad – an ESL program maybe in South Korea.”

 

But job seekers from all disciplines should take heart. 

 

ULM’s Director for Career Connections, Roslynn Pogue says that if students carry forward the work ethic they brought to their studies to their employment search and stay the course, they’ll eventually find work.

 

“For those of you that are still looking, do not give up. Be persistent, never give up, stay focused because that job’s out there. You may not find it immediately, but that job is out there.”

 

And some liberal arts graduates have better prospects than others. The Colleges and Employers study says those graduating with liberal arts degrees - in political science and psychology – are more likely to be hired than their peers.