Georgia Southern University Office of Career Services Offers Assistance to Graduates Entering Job Market

May 7, 2009

With the largest graduating class in its history this spring (2,580 graduates), Georgia Southern University reflects a trend across the country.

An all-time record high number of young adults are graduating college this spring  1.6 million according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Despite the high number of job seekers competing for positions, recent graduates are still finding work.

‘Firms are hiring – they’re just being more selective,” said Warren Riles, director of Georgia Southern University’s Office of Career Services. ‘If you have gotten some experience (three to 12 months) in your desired field and you have done your networking over the past four years, you’re in good shape for being selected for a professional job.”

For graduates who have a degree in hand and are having a tough time finding a job, the Office of Career Services offers this advice:

• Treat your job search as your job. ‘You have to get up every day and have a positive attitude about the job-search process,” Riles said.

• Get additional experience by working for a non-profit organization or doing volunteer work. ‘That will help you network and develop the skills employers look for,” said Dorsey Baldwin, Career Services’ assistant director for employment.

• Be willing to relocate. For example, Riles said that beginning teachers often want to work for a specific school system, but nowadays need to be more flexible and consider working in another district or state.

• Don’t limit yourself to working for only a large company. ‘Students often focus so heavily on big companies that they may not think of a smaller company where they have a better chance to get involved and develop professionally,” Baldwin said.

While graduates are being hired in a wide range of fields, Riles said that more jobs are available in professions such as computer science, information systems, logistics, nursing and teaching. Of course, he added, jobs will always be available in sales.

All Georgia Southern alumni are welcome to work with the Office of Career Services, free of charge, on developing a job-finding strategy. For more information, call 912-478-5197 or visithttp://students.georgiasouthern.edu/career.

‘Most schools’ career services offices charge alumni for assistance, but we don’t. It doesn’t matter how long ago you graduated � one year, five years or 20 years,” Baldwin said.

Georgia Southern University, a Carnegie Doctoral/Research University, offers 115 degree programs serving nearly 18,000 students. Through eight colleges, the University offers bachelors, masters and doctoral degree programs built on more than a century of academic achievement. The University, one of Georgia’s largest, is a top choice of Georgia’s HOPE scholars and is recognized for its student-centered approach to education. Visit:www.georgiasouthern.edu.