The Career Center copes with economic slowdown
Ready for graduation, yet not ready for the career world.
Leslie Lopez
Issue date: 6/2/09 Section: Features
For many graduates in the current economic climate, finding a job will be difficult. With more companies going under or downsizing, less jobs are becoming available. Many students who are desperate to find a job are using various outlets such as online job searches, career fairs, and various internship opportunities. Some students are trying to break into the job market on their own, while others are pursuing help from their university Career Center.
Dr. Darryl T. Stevens, Assistant Director of the UC Riverside Career Center, explained that 22 percent-32 percent of out-of-college hiring is down and that "nationwide, overall hiring is down more than that. May through July is the biggest hiring season and most employers are hiring out of college. Therefore, although overall hiring is down, you have a better chance getting a job if you are finishing college this year."
Many students are also skeptical of what the Career Center has to offer. Darshun Shamarao, a 2008 UC Riverside graduate and former business administration major, expressed his personal frustration with the Career Center, saying that, "I just felt like they could have done more for me. I went to two career fairs and it didn't help at all. UCLA brought in Google and UCR brought in Target." Shamarao had similar luck when he visited the Career Center twice.
Due to the thinning job market, Shamarao found himself bussing tables at the Pelican Hill Resort in Newport Beach, Calif. after graduation. He has since been hired to a full-time sales and marketing position. Asked if he would ever use the Career Center's alumni services, he said "No, I have given up on them."
This frustration is not rare among students graduating without a job this year. Although, much blame can easily be placed on the Career Center, student persistence and preparation is also very important in acquiring an internship or job. Although UCLA may or may not have brought in Google in previous years, no trace of Google was present at UCLA's May 2009 career fair, but Target was. As a matter of fact, UCR and UCLA had many of the same employers, including Wells Fargo Financial, the C.I.A., Raytheon Company, Prudential, Eli Lilly and Company and Aerotek.
Dr. Darryl T. Stevens, Assistant Director of the UC Riverside Career Center, explained that 22 percent-32 percent of out-of-college hiring is down and that "nationwide, overall hiring is down more than that. May through July is the biggest hiring season and most employers are hiring out of college. Therefore, although overall hiring is down, you have a better chance getting a job if you are finishing college this year."
Many students are also skeptical of what the Career Center has to offer. Darshun Shamarao, a 2008 UC Riverside graduate and former business administration major, expressed his personal frustration with the Career Center, saying that, "I just felt like they could have done more for me. I went to two career fairs and it didn't help at all. UCLA brought in Google and UCR brought in Target." Shamarao had similar luck when he visited the Career Center twice.
Due to the thinning job market, Shamarao found himself bussing tables at the Pelican Hill Resort in Newport Beach, Calif. after graduation. He has since been hired to a full-time sales and marketing position. Asked if he would ever use the Career Center's alumni services, he said "No, I have given up on them."
This frustration is not rare among students graduating without a job this year. Although, much blame can easily be placed on the Career Center, student persistence and preparation is also very important in acquiring an internship or job. Although UCLA may or may not have brought in Google in previous years, no trace of Google was present at UCLA's May 2009 career fair, but Target was. As a matter of fact, UCR and UCLA had many of the same employers, including Wells Fargo Financial, the C.I.A., Raytheon Company, Prudential, Eli Lilly and Company and Aerotek.
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