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

Do You Want “Mathemagical Superpowers?” Prepare for an Emerging Career in Data Analytics

Sharon Jones of Career Thought Leaders

The movie Moneyball showed Oakland Athletics’ use of performance data to recruit talented baseball players with good ROI. The new big thing is fanalytics, applied to a wide range of sports: basketball, hockey, motorsport, tennis, and more.

Bill Wilson (sports fan and recovering lawyer) wrote a blog about the MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference:

Geeks Seek Reap From Tweeps in Seats (brewonsouthu@yahoo.com)

Doug Henschen, executive editor of InformationWeek, wrote that analytics are used in decision-making from “ticket and merchandise sales to labor agreements to player contracts, to TV and digital media deals.”

Computer modeling enabled meteorologists to give a heads-up warning to government agencies about Hurricane Sandy. The presidential and Senate race outcomes were accurately predicted by statistician Nate Silver and neuroscientist Sam Wang, respectively.

Healthcare providers seek data scientists at all levels to lower costs, improve patient care, provide pricing transparency, and enhance treatment decisions consistent with best practices.

“Data is the new oil.” Continue Reading

Best Paying Jobs For Those With Two-Year Associate’s Degree

Brent Rasmussen of Careerbuilder

Although income is directly correlated to education with those making the most tending to have the most years of education, that doesn’t mean that those with Associate’s or two-year college degrees are doomed to a life of poverty. Far from it. Indeed, many of the most lucrative professions don’t require a Bachelor’s degree and many top-paying jobs only require an Associate’s degree.

“Nearly one in five employers (18 percent) reported that their educational requirements for jobs in their organizations have increased over the last five years,” said Brent Rasmussen, President of CareerBuilder North America. “A college education is one of the best investments you can make. Not only does it increase the amount of opportunities available to you, it also significantly boosts your earning potential.” Continue Reading

Payoff for Master’s Degree Evident in Starting Salaries

If you are looking to increase your earning potential beyond your bachelor’s degree, then consider getting a master’s degree.

Master’s degree graduates in many fields realize significantly higher starting salaries than their counterparts who hold bachelor’s degrees, according to a new report by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE).

NACE’s September 2012 Salary Survey indicates that there can be a significant “payoff” for the higher-level degree. Continue Reading

$25,000 Bachelor’s Degree Scholarship Opportunity

Are you looking for scholarship money? If so, you may want to consider the following opportunity.

Students everywhere are invited to submit a written or video essay to CollegePlus sharing how they would use a $25,000 Scholarship to help them earn their Bachelor’s degree from the college of their choice. Continue Reading

Top 15 Highest Paying Fields for College Students to Consider

Are you wondering where to find top paying careers once you graduate?

A college degree can make quite a difference in students’ future salaries, especially if they choose a high-paying field. Continue Reading

Three-Year Degrees Pros and Cons

“I could have learned all this in one semester.” That’s the groan of graduating college students as they look back on their four-year bachelor programs. Colleges load curricula with general requirement classes that don’t support students’ majors – all for the sake of “culturing” students.

And that “culture” comes at an expensive price. That’s why a lot of colleges are beginning to offer three-year degrees. They’re cheaper, quicker, and they get students into the workforce or graduate programs sooner.

In most of these programs, students take more but shorter classes in the fall and spring and some take classes over the summer. Continue Reading

How to Land Your Dream Job in Public Administration

Your public administration degree has prepared you for a variety of occupations you probably never dreamed possible. From your state’s supreme court and various charitable organizations to nursing homes and the Nuclear Regulatory commission; all of these career paths are possible with a degree in Public Administration, and plenty of hard work. If you’re a recent graduate, or interested in this highly-lucrative and rewarding field, here are a few ways to get a leg up on the competition, and maybe even land a job beyond your wildest dreams. Continue Reading