By CLIFF EDWARDS
Associated Press
CHICAGO - At a recent recruiting conference, Northwestern University
placement director William Banis casually mentioned a college freshman he
had hired to maintain his office computer network. He was astonished when
dozens of companies asked for the student's name.
For college students, this is hottest hiring market in almost three decades.
With the economy booming, employers expect a whopping 27.5 percent increase
in job openings for 1998 college graduates, according to an annual survey
by Michigan State University.
Employers competing for an unusually small pool of graduates this year are
offering stock options, tuition reimbursement and, for some top law and
business graduates, starting salaries of more than $100,000. One company
offered a chance at door prizes such as a TV set just to get students to
fill out job applications.
"This year is really a very fine year to be graduating," said
Patrick Scheetz, author of the Michigan State study.
The prizes in this cutthroat competition are young men and women who have
grown up with their hands on a computer, giving them an edge in the increasingly
technology-based corporate workplace.
"We've seen much more aggressiveness on the part of employers that
has led to the class of '98 doing very well and doing very well a lot earlier,
with large salary increases and bonuses," Banis said.
Average starting salaries jumped 4 percent to 5 percent, the biggest increase
in 10 years, according to the survey, which contacted 497 companies this
year. Starting salaries are up for a fifth consecutive year and will rise
as much as 15 percent in some undergraduate fields.
Last year, the number of job openings rose about 6 percent. This year's
increase represents the biggest in the survey's 27-year history. The previous
biggest increase in openings was 9.2 percent for the class of 1985.
The recruiting competition is fierce in part because the number of college
graduates this year and next is expected to be lower than in previous years
because of a drop in the number of U.S. births years ago.
Rebecca Ingis, a University of Pennsylvania psychology major, chose a marketing
job with Chicago-based Quaker Oats Co. over three other offers, all promising
salaries in the middle five figures. Location determined her choice.
"I know people who've gotten six offers, eight offers," she said.
"It's been pretty difficult to decide."
College placement directors say recruiters are pressing to come to campus
as early as October instead of January, and are working to secure new hires
through junior-year internships. Recruiters are also increasingly pressing
students to accept an offer quickly or lose it.
"We've found an unusual amount of job stress and job-search burnout,"
Banis said, "not because of an inability to find jobs but because there
are so many opportunities out there and because of employers' push to fill
their labor needs early."
Employers are stressing perks and resorting to gimmicks to get recruits.
GE Capital Auto Financial Services, trying to hire 250 new employees for
a new installation in Barrington, Ill., said those submitting applications
would earn a chance at door prizes, including a television, Chicago White
Sox tickets and a $100 Ticketmaster gift certificate. The company also touted
its large cafe and health club, and complete dental and eye package.
While corporations still are making thousands of layoffs, graduating students
are highly prized, said John Challenger, general manager of job outplacement
firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas.
"Technology is a part of the way companies operate today, everywhere
and in every field," he said. "Older people have a hard time adapting
to it, but these kids have been doing it since they were 10. That's a very
powerful force."
Top average starting salaries include $44,557 for chemical engineering,
up from $42,758. For electrical engineering, it was $41,167, up from $39,811,
according to the Michigan State survey. But in many cases, students were
being offered far more, plus signing bonuses of up to $30,000.
For graduate students, the picture is even better. MBA's in investment banking
and consulting are receiving offers of more than $100,000, up from $88,000
last year. And law school graduates in major cities for the first time are
seeing their salaries top $100,000.
We'd like to tell you about Edgewood sophomore Hanna Kang,
but we're afraid we can't get a word in edgewise (or in Edgewood.)
Kang plays violin and piano and is an Edgewood Soundsation. When she's not
singing, she's talking, her friends report.
Sociable, talkative, flirty and friendly are among the adjectives used to
describe Kang, so consider yourself warned: if you start a conversation
with Hanna, be prepared to smile and nod a lot.
So you are babysitting and the kid starts crying really loud. Do you:
Put the kid in the cellar where you can't hear him or her.
Go to a movie, making sure it's over before the parents get back.
Give the kid a chocolate cake to play with.
If you answered "yes" to any of these possibilities, you may make
a good babysitter.
So check out the classes at UHHS Brown Memorial Hospital in Conneaut, June
17 at 1 p.m.
It's open to kids 12 and up. Learn how to feed and dress kids and child
development.
First aid will also be discussed, in case you left a burning candle in that
cake you gave the kid. Preregistration is required. Contact the Patient
Care Services Office at the hospital.
If you are a senior, chances are you will be graduating in the next few
weeks.
We were going to list when graduations are, but we figure you probably already
know about your school.
So all we can say is show up at the correct day and time, graduate and good
luck.