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The graduating class of 2012 will find job opportunities more plentiful this summer than during the past few years, but competition to land those positions will be equally fierce.
In turn, instructors and employers are advising a new workforce to be realistic regarding expectations, accepting in taking jobs that might not match their degrees and willing to do more than what has been expected in the past to land and keep jobs.
The National Association of Colleges and Employers said last week that businesses intend to hire 10.2 percent more college graduates this year. At the same time, for every 21 jobs available, a calculated 32.6 applicants will apply for the same openings.
“I like the real estate market analogy,” Nicholls State University finance professor John Lajaunie said. “There are plenty of houses out there, but getting exactly what you want is going to be a challenge. The same can be said about jobs. They are there, but it will take more effort to be the one hired.”
Lajaunie said that both white collar and blue collar opportunities have increased during the past year, but warned that a diploma or trade certificate, although an advantage, might not be enough to become the selected individual among a crowd of applicants.
Gulf Island Fabrication is one of those companies seeking qualified workers in multiple areas. “We are looking for quality personnel,” Gulf Island COO Kirk Meche said. “The main thing here is attitude. Just because you have a degree doesn’t mean you are assured a job. We want people with a good attitude that want to work, earn a good living and help grow our company.”
“From a business perspective, employers are trying to fill positions with people who will show up,” Lajaunie said. “What I’m seeing is students have to get out there and distinguish themselves. Have a double major, work internships or work fulltime. I actually knew a student that followed an interview with a thank you note, and was hired, bam, on the spot.”
Lajaunie and Meche agreed that while skills and credentials are important, it is the “little things” that make a difference. “Those are the individuals being picked,” Lajaunie said, “because they have the attributes that businesses are looking for. Five years ago if you were breathing it was good. They are a lot more discerning now.”
Students entering the workforce hold varying thoughts about what is expected of them.
Alex Autin of Raceland is a Nicholls’ senior who has been working at Lowe’s while completing his bachelor’s degree in finance. He believes holding a job while in college has made him a more desirable candidate for employment in positions other than what he currently holds.
“This way you have a work record already,” Autin said of maintaining employment while in school. “Employers want to know that you know what you are talking about. You can’t do that by only having gone to classes.”
Autin referred to jobs population survey released by Northeastern University and noted that nationally more than 53 percent of bachelor degree holders under the age of 25 are unemployed. “Just because you have a degree does not mean you can get a job,” he said.
By contrast, Nicholls accounting major Jonathan LeBlanc of Houma, said he is not concerned about his ability to find work following graduation on May 12. ”I’m just trying to get my education done right now,” he said. “I haven’t been looking.”
“Fluff isn’t cutting it anymore,” Lajaunie said regarding applicants that in the past got selected based on impressive resumes or interview presentations alone.
“[Employers] have the opportunity to talk to a lot of people and make a decision they think is best for their company,” Lajaunie said. “I talked to a gentleman in Houston a couple of weeks ago and they are looking to hire a dozen professional pharmaceutical sales people nationwide. He said, ‘I’m looking for experience. I have the luxury of choosing right now that I didn’t have three years ago.’ That‘s the kind of environment we are in.”
Nicholls Career Services Director Kristie Tauzin Goulas said there is no specific industry that appears any more aggressive than another when it comes to hiring.
“We have a computer system that tracks the kind of major that employers are looking at based on what we offer,” Goulas said. “In March the top five majors looked at were accounting, business administration, finance, general business and general management.”
The career service director echoed advice that students should plan far before graduation to seek degree-supported jobs. “There is not time to say, ‘I’ll just wait around for the perfect job,’” Goulas said. “[Students] need to be extremely aggressive in putting their resumes out there. They need to be knocking on doors to figure out what they want to do. They might not find the perfect job right away, but they may find a company they would like to work for and get an entry at some point.”
Goulas and Lajaunie agreed that graduates need to be prepared to take jobs that might not match their majors then work for tailored positions once they are inside the door.
“I think more students are being more realistic lately,” Goulas said. “They have been bombarded with news about the economy or struggling businesses and realize that extreme expectations are not going to cut it. I don’t want to discourage anybody and say, ‘don’t shoot for your ideal job,’ but be realistic about what’s out there.”
“Today, it is about distinguishing yourself and being patient,” Lajaunie said. “There are a lot of houses on the market that take a long time to sell. We are in the same situation in the labor market. There are a lot of good jobs out there. It is just going to take more time to find the right one and get the match made.”
Nicholls State University Junior Larina Scofield of Thibodaux has worked at the Lafourche Public Library while a general studies student, and says on the job experience helps even if not in one’s major field of study.
