College Grad Hiring Up 12.8% for 2004

MILWAUKEE, WI--May 10, 2004--As college students around the country prepare for graduation, CollegeGrad.com, the #1 Entry Level Job Site, announces 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 12.8% increase in hiring versus 2003.

ìEntry level hiring is taking a very positive turn for the Class of 2004,î said Brian Krueger, President of CollegeGrad.com. ìWe are seeing a strong 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.î

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 college graduate hires. ìWe are looking forward to talking with the many talented individuals about opportunities with Cap Gemini,î said Angie Gowan, Americaís Recruiting Director at Cap Gemini Ernst & Young. ìI am excited to see the increased needs for entry-level talent again!î

Other employers also note the value of new college hires. ìWe consider graduating students to be a wealth of talent and energy who are dynamic and in-touch with current events and trends,î said Steven Jungman, National Recruiter at Mattress Firm, Inc. Stacey Leigh Hoffner, Manager of University Relations with Red Lobster agreed. ìOur recent grads bring a unique passion, drive and energy to our restaurants. College recruitment continues to be a very successful sourcing strategy for Red Lobster.

The upward hiring trend has not gone unnoticed on college campuses. ìWe 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. ìOur 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.î

At Notre Dame, we have experienced an increase in recruiting activity in the ëjust in timeí job market,î said Lee Svete, Career Center Director at the University of Notre Dame. ìA number of employers who indicated a lack of hiring capability in the fall season, have now come forward to post jobs and even internships during our final exam week. Students are much more optimistic about their future compared to last year.

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. ìAs 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,î said Marie Artim, Corporate HR Manager for Enterprise. ìThe so-called ëjobless recoveryí is not an issue at Enterprise. Weíre not just creating great jobs, but great careers.î

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, Coca-Cola, and Geico Direct, there are also many lesser known employers such as Convergys, Farmers Insurance Group and KidsPeace. 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. ìThe 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. ìView the CollegeGrad.com Top Entry Level Employer List as a slam-dunk way to network yourself into a job in your field.î

The best employers have maintained their commitment to hiring at the entry level. During the past few years, the best employers didnít desert the colleges they recruited at during the economic ëboomí of the late 90ís,î said Roger Young, Director of Career Services at Southwestern University. ìThey 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.î

This all spells good news for the Class of 2004. ìWhen 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,î said Krueger. ìJust do the research.î