As graduation looms, seniors have more to worry about than which graduation caps and gown package to buy. The unstable economy plus the increasing competition for the best jobs may be a source of anxiety for job seekers. However, students can draw encouragement from the relative success of last year’s graduating class in navigating the job market.
According to Amy Adams, director of the Career Center, 40 percent of last year’s graduating class had jobs on graduation day compared to only 24 percent of graduates nationally. At least 57 percent of Pepperdine graduates had a job six months after graduation.
“Now it takes more work searching and strategizing and more time, three to six months, to find a job. It is the joint combo of applying and networking. Finding jobs is hard, but there are still jobs out there,” Adams said.
Pepperdine 2011 graduate Derek Haacker has found that his experiences at Pepperdine gave him broad preparation to enter the job market. “My background of International Business and Applied Mathematics certainly provides me the solid foundation that landed me my position, but it’s all those other intangibles picked up along the way that surprise those I work with,” Haacker wrote in an email.
“The experiences you’ve already had as a Pepperdine student or graduate make you diverse from all the other applicants and new hires, and knowing this is the confidence that will push you to success in any interview or situation in your new job. Because frankly, exceeding expectations in a new job is pretty simple compared to giving directions in a taxi in your first week in Shanghai.”
The best way to work with the tough economy is to “be prepared,” according to Adams. Haacker began looking and interviewing for jobs in October and November of his senior year, though he did not land his current job as a business systems analyst in the IT department of Underwriters Laboratories in Chicago until second semester.
“By the time my current job presented itself, I was very comfortable with the recruitment process, and confident that this position was the right opportunity,” Haacker wrote.
Adams emphasized the benefits that come from real-world experiences offered at Pepperdine. The strong international programs make student resumes more appealing to employers because of a student’s global experience. The experience also extends to the strong internship connections. Eighty percent of Pepperdine students do internships during their years here.
Adams added that one of the most important assets that each Pepperdine graduate has is the religious background. Graduates are often considered more hardworking, trustworthy and ethical, according to Adams.
This week’s Career Week has offered student resources for their job searches. Money 101 tomorrow will conclude Career Week, and the Spring Career Fair will take place on Feb. 16, from noon to 3 p.m. in Joslyn Plaza. This will be a chance for students to look for employment, internships or understand more about companies they are interested in working for in the near future.
Though the career fair may be geared towards students ready for the working world, curious students are strongly advised to attend as well for personal contact and practice. They can get acquainted with the company and start building relationships. “Sixty percent of jobs come through networking,” Adams said.
Adams further advised students that most employers want at least two to three work experiences on a resume before considering a potential employee capable of a job.
Though jobs and internships have been difficult to find, the Career Center strongly encourages students to take advantage of the programs Pepperdine offers and to use Careerspace to search for jobs and internships specifically targeted to Pepperdine students. “There are more than 90,000 alumni. Take advantage of these assets,” Adams said.
Lastly, Haacker advised students to take their new roles seriously once they have been hired. “Recognize and meet what you are responsible and accountable for,” he said. “Don’t be afraid to contribute and integrate yourself right into the mix of it all. Once you’ve been hired by a company, they have already identified you as someone they value significantly — don’t forget that.”
