College Grad Hiring Up 12.9% for 2004

CollegeGrad.com, the #1 Entry Level Job Site, today announced the Top 500 Entry Level Employers for 2004. The list represents more than 120,000 jobs for the graduating class of 2004, with a substantial 12.9% increase in hiring versus 2003.

’Entry level hiring is taking a very positive turn in 2004,’ said Brian Krueger, President of CollegeGrad.com. ’We are seeing a large increase in the number of entry level jobs available in nearly every discipline. While the market is still very competitive, the jobs are there to be found for those who take the time to do the research.’

Employers listed in the survey results, which are posted at www.CollegeGrad.com/topemployers, are hiring as many as 6500 new grads and as few as 10. But large or small, respondents have expressed their commitment to hiring entry level college grads.

For the first time in four years, the tide has truly turned as employers are again singing the praises of entry level college grad hires. ’College recruiting is a priority for us,’ said Jyoti Cox, Director of Recruitment at GEICO. ’Given the current economy, we are fortunate to be in a position to hire a large number of college graduates into various career paths. Through the CollegeGrad.com recognition as a Top Entry Level Employer, we will continue to get the message out that we are an employer of choice.’

Other employers also note the value of new college hires. ’We consider graduating students to be a wealth of talent and energy who are dynamic and in-touch with current events and trends,’ said Steven Jungman, National Recruiter at Mattress Firm, Inc.

The upward hiring trend has not gone unnoticed on college campuses. ’We are definitely seeing signs of recovery for the new college hire job market, said Melanie Parker, Director of the Career Resource Center at the University of Central Florida. ’Our recent career fair had a 21% increase in employer participation and we have a busier recruiting season this semester than at the same period last year.’

’In terms of the technology and engineering sectors, we have been anticipating a marketplace rebound given this yearís increased hiring of co-op students,’ said Maureen Crawford Hentz, Director of Career Services at Wentworth Institute of Technology. ’We are experiencing a very busy spring recruiting on campus for this cohort of technologically-savvy students.’

The CollegeGrad.com survey results names Enterprise Rent-A-Car as the #1 Entry Level Employer for 2004 with 6,500 projected entry level hires. ’As we continue to grow, we will be seeking to hire motivated, college-educated employees who will be trained to provide exceptional customer service at the front line of our companyís local operations,’ said Marie Artim, Corporate HR Manager for Enterprise. ’The so-called ëjobless recoveryí is not an issue at Enterprise. Weíre not just creating great jobs, but great careers.’

The publicly posted survey results at CollegeGrad.com include the hiring plans for more than 500 top entry level employers. While many on the list are household name employers such as Microsoft, Procter & Gamble, the FBI and General Electric, there are also many lesser known employers such as Cintas, Chancellor Beacon Academies and Alcatel. The common link is that they are all actively hiring entry level college grads.

The 2004 Top Entry Level Employer list will aid college graduates who face the highly competitive entry level job market. ’The latest CollegeGrad.com list and research will be an invaluable resource to students, said Marguerite Armas-Busetti, Director-Career Planning and Placement at Mercy College. ’View the CollegeGrad.com Top Entry Level Employer List as a slam-dunk way to network yourself into a job in your field.’

The best employers have maintained their commitment to hiring at the entry level. During the past few years, the best employers didn’t desert the colleges they recruited at during the economic ëboomí of the late 90’s,’ said Roger Young, Director of Career Services at Southwestern University. ’They maintained strong relationships and a presence on campus through volunteering at, or sponsorship of, career related programs. They kept in touch and were there when needed. Those are the organizations that will have a head start in recruiting as the economy gets back on track.’

This all spells good news for the Class of 2004. ’When grad school is not an option and moving back in with the parents is definitely not an option, the good news is that there are still many entry level positions available,’ said Krueger. ’Just do the research.’