The GW Career Center - The George Washington University

GW Class of 2009: Job Search Questions & Answers

A Conversation with Marva Gumbs Jennings
Executive Director, GW Career Center
May 2009

The Current Picture

Employment hiring is alive for college graduates despite the current economic downturn in the US marketplace. However, hiring is very different for this class than for the Class of 2008. Many of the traditional organizations have changed and hiring practices are not as clear cut.

While the current unemployment rate is 8.9% and climbing, the overall unemployment rate for college graduates comes in at 4%. Keep in mind also that certain areas in the country are not as hard hit and some industries are in a growth mode and continue to need staff to support their business operations.

College graduates must be diligent in looking for and networking consistently to find where the opportunities are within the job market. The following responses should serve as a launch point to get started:

With the economy so bad isn't it better to just go on to graduate school?

While graduate school is one option to consider, the decision to pursue an advanced degree should not be made lightly or quickly. If you are unclear about which academic program you are interested in or how it would benefit you professionally, it might be best to focus on a comprehensive job search and consider graduate school at a later time. The professional experience you gain (along with other considerations) will assist in determining the best graduate program focus for you.

I have not received any responses after sending out fifty resumes, so does this mean employers are not hiring?

Remember, you are competing in a market not only with other college grads but with seasoned professionals as well. Employers may be hiring using internal references or other strategies, so don’t give up. Instead, narrow your search to the organizations in which you are truly interested and do your research. Is that company hiring? Are there any company related subcontractors with whom you can get in on the ground floor? Are they accepting temporary employees? Is volunteering an option?

How can I find out about positions that may not be publicized?

Join a professional association which represents the field you’d like to enter and take advantage of their networking events, job postings system (only sent to people in that field) and professional activities. There might even be a mentoring program for new members with seasoned members.

Everyone seems to be reducing their staff, so are there industries that are hiring?

Research shows that a large percentage of college grads go to work for organizations with over 600 staff and a third work for companies with fewer than 100 staff. Industries including insurance, professional services, agriculture, some types of engineering and IT, computer science.

I've sent out a lot of resumes, gone to some job fairs and I still don't have any offers so what else can I do?

Consider taking someone in the field you admire for coffee and talking to them about hiring trends in their field. Ask for referrals to their colleagues and conduct an informational interview. http://gwired.gwu.edu/career/students/ExploreCareers/#connect

I know the unemployment rate is lower in the DC area than other parts of the country but, if I don't want to stay here, where else should I look for opportunities?

The Midwest, particularly the Chicago area is starting to attract small companies. Along with the Washington, DC metropolitan area, Boston, Minneapolis and North Carolina are also considered growth areas.

Anything else?

Take advantage of the resources found at your Career Center: http://gwired.gwu.edu/career/allcenters

GW Career Center Links and Resources:

Job Search Preparation
http://gwired.gwu.edu/career/students/jobsearchprep/
Explore Careers
http://gwired.gwu.edu/career/students/ExploreCareers/
Find a Full-time Job
http://gwired.gwu.edu/career/students/fulltimejobs/
GW Alumni Career Services
http://alumni.gwu.edu/benefits/career/