1.8 Million 2013 Four-Year College Grads Entering Improving Job Market

John Challenger of Challenger, Gray & Christmas

With college seniors around the nation returning to their respective campuses following spring break recess, many will undoubtedly turn their attention to their impending graduation and the search for their first post-collegiate job.  A new analysis of the entry-level job market estimates that while the job market continues to strengthen for college graduates, the environment remains highly competitive, which may force some to pursue unexpected career paths.

In its annual college graduate job-market outlook, global outplacement consultancy Challenger, Gray & Christmas, Inc. says this year’s crop of 1.8 million bachelor’s degree recipients will be able to take advantage of the 36 consecutive months of private-sector employment growth that has occurred since the jobs recovery began in earnest in March 2010.

“Job creation has been slow, but it has been steady.  Over the past 14 months, private payrolls have grown by an average of 190,000 new workers per month.  There are a growing number of opportunities for job seekers, but the search definitely requires an aggressive approach.  This is especially true for new graduates, who are likely to have less real-world experience to point to in job interviews,” said John A. Challenger, chief executive officer of Challenger, Gray & Christmas. Continue Reading

Accounting Scholarships Available Totaling More than $350,000

Students looking for an accounting scholarship may be interested in the following post.

The American Institute of CPAs has announced that undergraduate and graduate level accounting students may now apply online for scholarships for the 2013-2014 academic year.

With recent reports showing that the average student loan debt for a graduating senior is almost $27,000, any help defraying the costs of college is welcome for students – and their parents. Continue Reading

Employees Rank Effectiveness of Employee Training Programs

Where do industries rank on the effectiveness of their employee training programs?  Learn more in the following post.

Earlier this year, ON24 announced the findings of its 2013 Employee Training Survey of over 500 American workers, aged 18 and older, conducted online by uSamp.  The survey, which was aimed at revealing how employees regard on-the-job training, found that fully 100% of the respondents say that employee training is important – but that not all industries train their staffs successfully. Continue Reading

12.2% Hiring Increase Projected for 2013 Grads

The job market for college graduates continues to improve according to preliminary results from the NACE’s Job Outlook 2013 survey.

The 12.2 percent projected increase in hiring of recent college graduates comes on top of the 9.5 increase seen in 2012. Part of the strength in the 2013 numbers is due to only eight percent of employers planning to hire fewer graduates, the lowest number seen since 2007.

The degrees most in demand are: Continue Reading

54% of Employers Plan to Hire Recent College Grads

The college graduating class of 2012 is heading into a better job market than alumni of the previous three years, according to a new study. More than half of employers (54 percent) reported they plan to hire recent college graduates in 2012, up from 46 percent in 2011, 44 percent in 2010 and 43 percent in 2009. The national survey, which was conducted by Harris Interactive from February 9 to March 2, 2012, included more than 2,000 hiring managers across industries and company sizes.

“This is the first time since the recession that we’re seeing a majority of employers planning to add recent college graduates to their employee roster,” said Brent Rasmussen, President of CareerBuilder North America. “Companies across industries are placing a strong emphasis on recruiting fresh talent for technology-related roles and positions designed to drive revenue – and they’re willing to pay more for high-skill, educated labor.”

How much will college grads likely earn?

Of those who plan to hire recent college graduates, 29 percent expect to offer higher starting salaries than they did in 2011. While employers were most likely to report that they would pay between $30,000 and $40,000, a significant portion will extend offers exceeding $50,000. Continue Reading

Degrees to Watch Out For: Seven Fields that Are Hiring Now

Whether you’re graduating from high school or you’re an adult returning to school to improve your job prospects, you want to choose a program of study that will ensure you find a job after graduation. Let’s face it: majoring in art history or philosophy might be fascinating, but the chances of those programs leading to a lucrative and stable career are slim.

There are some majors that have excellent prospects for the next few years and are projected to be in high demand. That means that choosing one of these fields is more likely to get you a great job upon graduating and who doesn’t want that? Continue Reading

13 Best Jobs for College Graduates

As college graduates prepare to enter the real world, they are hoping for a better job market to search for potential opportunities.  Hopefully, graduates will find positions in their respective fields.  According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, some areas are expected to flourish, leading to more jobs in this decade.  If you are a graduate who plans to work in one of the following fields, then your chances of getting a job look pretty good. Continue Reading

Best Fields for 2012 Grads Are Accounting, Finance, Engineering, and Computer Science

As the economy continues to slowly improve, so do the prospects for entry-level job candidates who are expected to benefit from companies’ need to rebuild “bench strength” after cutting millions of workers during the recession. However, while this year’s crop of 1.7 million college graduates should fare slightly better than last year’s, the job market will remain fiercely competitive, according to a new outlook from global outplacement consultancy Challenger, Gray & Christmas, Inc.

The college graduates who are likely to have the most success are those with the flexibility to go wherever the jobs are and those seeking positions in the occupations expected to see the most growth over the next decade. Among the top fields are accounting and finance, engineering, computer science, sales and marketing, elementary education, and health care and social services. Continue Reading

10 Best Accounting Firms to Work For: 2013 Rankings

Are you a college student or recent graduate looking for an accounting job and wondering which companies are among the best?  If so, you might be interested in Vault.com’s list of the 10 best accounting firms to work for, ranked for 2013.  The results are based on a survey done earlier this year. Continue Reading

Interview with an Accountant

I was an accounts payable clerk working for a domestic paper producing plant for three years before I became a CPA and moved into the public accounting field in 2008. I have been working as a tax accountant for the last four years at a mid-sized firm dealing with other mid-sized firms as clients.

The description of my job entails so many items. Continue Reading