The Triangle

Issue date: 3/13/09 Section: News

Media Credit: Aaron Walizer

Employers expect to hire 22 percent fewer graduates from this year's class than they hired from the Class of 2008, according to a survey conducted by the National Association of Colleges and Employers.

Because of this, the Steinbright Career Development Center sent an e-mail to all graduating seniors in order to let them know about the On Campus Recruiting portal in which graduating seniors can apply directly to hiring employers.

With many employers on a hiring freeze, many Drexel seniors used the portal. For the 864 job postings, a little more than 4,500 applications from graduating seniors were submitted. There were jobs for every major and for all over the world. The jobs were taken up so fast that some students couldn't even look for jobs.

"Though I looked, when I did, all it says was 'There are currently no jobs available to searching,'" Chelsea Meyer, a graphic design senior, said.

The spring OCR process finished at the end of February and because of the limited number of jobs the OCR portal had to offer, many graduating seniors did receive the benefits of the portal. Andrew Duffy, Career Services Manager said that he is not nervous for the seniors.

"We can't guarantee you a job, but we can provide you with the tools to help you," Duffy said.

One of the tools that graduating seniors can use is the Employer Directed Resume Search (EDRS) database. By putting their resume on the database, employers can directly access student's contact information and resume if they are interested in employing the students.

In addition, seniors can also look for full-time, part-time, freelance, volunteer or research opportunities on the SCDC's Direct Apply Job Board. This tool can be used by all students including alumni who graduated either one or two years prior.

"Call to make an appointment [at the SCDC] and we can review your resume, review your cover letter and do a mock interview," Duffy said.

Students can also look to Career Services Library Assistant, Daisy Larios, at Drexel's Hagerty Library. Larios helps students with independent searches and is now in charge of Independent Job Search Resource Workshops.

"We believe that employers' recruitment methods are to promote from within … and then indentify candidates through contacts, business associates and professional organizations. So students' main job searching strategy should be networking," Duffy said.

Drexel will host "SCDC Dragon Career Fest," April 8 in which Drexel students can discuss future career opportunities with approximately 250 employers of their choice to help students network

"Seniors should take advantage of every opportunity. It's difficult," Duffy said, "but not impossible."

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