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Recent Grads Finding Unfriendly Job Market

By Karleen Roy
Black College Wire

Graduation day is supposed to be filled with hopes, dreams, and most of all, job offers. But to the dismay of the Howard University spring class of 2003, commencement led to a grim reality check.

With impressive diplomas in hand, graduates are realizing that the job market these days isn't too friendly.

Stiff job choices are forcing new grads to settle for low-salary jobs without much challenge and out of their field of study. In addition, more companies are requiring experience.

According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers , 42.4 percent of surveyed employers planned to hire fewer new grads than they did last year.

So because of the job market, many students are opting to bypass the hunt for jobs and stay in school, gaining additional degrees and experience.

After months of desperately searching for a job, Howard graduate Krystle Ferbos said she has decided to take the Medical College Admission Test, known as the MCAT, and apply to medical school.

"After graduating this past May, I was certain that I would quickly pick up a job somewhere," Ferbos said. "I've been looking for a job all summer and fall with no luck. I'm going to school so that I can be better prepared to compete with my peers with a stronger degree."

Ferbos is not alone. The American Association of Medical Colleges reports that medical school applicants have increased for the first time in seven years.

The Chicago Lawyer magazine reported in September that as of July, 98,461 people had applied to attend U.S. law schools for the fall, the largest number since 1991. Late applications were still coming in, so 2003 could have set an all-time record, the Law School Admission Council, which has recorded admissions statistics since 1948, told the magazine.

Jaida Bender, a former Howard marketing major, could not find a job in the marketing field. She was planning instead to take the Law School Admission Test, or LSAT.

"Law school was always in the back of my mind, and now that I'm working at a job that doesn't challenge me, law school is looking better and better every day," Bender said.

Employers expect to hire 12.7 percent more graduates from the 2003-2004 class than they did from 2002-2003, according to the National Association of Colleges and Employers. Those in customer service, retail and restaurant services are expecting to hire 22 percent more college graduates than last year.

Rhomesha Williams, a Howard University alumna and recruiter for Goldman Sachs, a leading global investment banking, securities and investment management firm, said that communication skills matter.

"We love to higher new graduates, but we are also looking for those in the top of the class and those students who are well-rounded," Williams said.

Karleen Roy, a student at Howard University, writes for The Hilltop.

Posted Jan. 5, 2004