Seniors look to grad school amidst troubled economy
Potential graduates uncertain about future employment opportunities
Though the effects of the economic downturn have yet to significantly impact the rate at which Hopkins graduates secure new jobs, and in spite of recent government graduate hiring rising by double digits, the prospect of a recession has left many seniors feeling less secure about their post-graduation employment prospects.
Mark Presnell, director of the Career Center, said that between 90 to 95 percent of the class of 2009 either will be employed or enrolled in a post-graduate degree program by this time next year.
While it has always been daunting for graduating seniors to conceive of a life not centered on studies, a recent study by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) found that new hires for the class of 2009 are expected to grow by only 1.3 percent this year. According to a NACE representative, six percent growth in post-graduation recruiting has long been considered the benchmark of healthy growth.
According to the most recent data compiled by the Career Center, 27 percent of the class of 2007 who secured employment after graduation did so in banking, financial services or consulting, while only 12 percent of employed grads found work in government or non-profits.
Other industries which attracted a high percent of '07 alums were engineering and information technology as well as science research positions, both at 14 percent.
While statistics are not yet available for 2008, Presnell stated that the class of 2008 was able to secure employment similar to those who graduated in 2007.
Many of the industries which the study projects will decrease hiring are not ones which traditionally attract Hopkins graduates. These include construction, agriculture and utility companies.
The survey did, however, record a 6.2 percent drop from earlier estimates of expected new hires in financial services companies surveyed in October.
The survey also revealed that the government upped its expected new graduate hires figure by 19.8 percent from August to October.
Mark Presnell, director of the Career Center, said that between 90 to 95 percent of the class of 2009 either will be employed or enrolled in a post-graduate degree program by this time next year.
While it has always been daunting for graduating seniors to conceive of a life not centered on studies, a recent study by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) found that new hires for the class of 2009 are expected to grow by only 1.3 percent this year. According to a NACE representative, six percent growth in post-graduation recruiting has long been considered the benchmark of healthy growth.
According to the most recent data compiled by the Career Center, 27 percent of the class of 2007 who secured employment after graduation did so in banking, financial services or consulting, while only 12 percent of employed grads found work in government or non-profits.
Other industries which attracted a high percent of '07 alums were engineering and information technology as well as science research positions, both at 14 percent.
While statistics are not yet available for 2008, Presnell stated that the class of 2008 was able to secure employment similar to those who graduated in 2007.
Many of the industries which the study projects will decrease hiring are not ones which traditionally attract Hopkins graduates. These include construction, agriculture and utility companies.
The survey did, however, record a 6.2 percent drop from earlier estimates of expected new hires in financial services companies surveyed in October.
The survey also revealed that the government upped its expected new graduate hires figure by 19.8 percent from August to October.
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