The National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE- an organization that connects college career services professionals and employers of new college grads) recently surveyed more than 200 of its member employers and found that on average companies expect to hire 4% more grads from the Class of 2018 than they did from the Class of 2017. Employers who do plan to increase hiring were asked what drove that decision. Company growth, current employees retiring and “the need for entry-level talent” were listed as primary factors. While the job market for new grads remains ultra- competitive, data shows that opportunities are out there. As I have written in the past, new graduates need to know the “soft skills” employers seek in entry level hires.
Your candidacy is not about 10 years of job-related experience. Rather its about the skillset and energy you bring to a company (see my blog post of 12/14/’17 “What Employers Seek On A Resume”). Per USA Today: Companies – especially small and mid-sized enterprises – are beginning to see the value in hiring recent college graduates to fill key entry-level roles, regardless of degree, specialty or work experience. New grads are highly adaptable, eager to prove their worth, and exceptionally well-prepared to make an immediate impact for a company that accurately matches the true skills needed for these roles with those offered by the graduates.