Stand Out in a Crowd: Ways to Stay Ahead of Fellow College Graduates in the Job Search

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Sep 15, 2011, 11:26 ET

57% would recommend an internship to make getting a post-graduation job easier

HANOVER, Md., Sept. 15, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- As college students dive into the fall semester, they are met with conflicting news about the future job market upon graduation. Given the uncertainty of job availability facing college graduates in years to come, Aerotek, a leading staffing provider, conducted a survey of 1,000 U.S. adults ages 25 – 54 to uncover ways to better position college graduates in a competitive job market.

Fifty-seven percent of those surveyed responded they would encourage college students to participate in internship programs to make getting a job easier. The survey found that those who participated in an internship benefit from the value of networking and its affect on finding a job.

"Although the job market seems to be slightly improving for college graduates, there are still a lot of obstacles making it more difficult to secure a job offer after graduation," said Todd Gardner, VP of Marketing & Communications, Aerotek. "Based on our survey results, we believe college students can get a leg up in the job search process by taking advantage of the networking opportunities that exist in internships and through the use of social sites."

Aerotek offers the following tips for college students:

Choosing your degree – For students entering college, take note of jobs and skill sets in high demand. Engineering, business/finance, health and computer science appear to offer the most opportunities for future job growth.
Internships – Securing an internship can help a resume stand out and provide the ability to gain important professional and job-related skills. Interns also have a head start on developing a professional network. According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers, paid internships may give a job seeker a slight advantage over those who took unpaid internships, because of the type of work a paid intern might do versus the unpaid intern.
Networking – Fifty-five percent of those who held internships found their current job through networking, according to the Aerotek survey. If you don't have current contacts in your desired industry consider joining local professional groups and industry associations.
Partner with a staffing firm – The job market is always changing and can be very difficult to navigate alone. Working with a staffing firm can offer job seekers an opportunity to engage with a recruiter who specializes in locating jobs that match a person's skills and expertise.

It is never too early to set yourself up for success after graduating from college. The decisions you make now can greatly impact your long-term commitment to enhancing your career — in whatever field you choose.

About Aerotek

Aerotek, headquartered in Hanover, Md., is a leading provider of technical, professional and industrial staffing services. Established in 1983, Aerotek is an operating company of Allegis Group, the largest provider of staffing services in the U.S. Aerotek operates a network of more than 200 non-franchised offices throughout the U.S., Canada and Europe. For more information, visit http://www.aerotek.com/.

SOURCE Aerotek