NACE reports college hiring down, so focus on positioning

March 5, 8:14 AMEntry Level Careers ExaminerHeather Huhman

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Employers expect to hire 22 percent fewer new grads from the college Class of 2009 than they actually hired from the Class of 2008, according to a new study conducted by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE).

The new projections in NACE’s Job Outlook 2009 Spring Update report override those employers made back in the fall, when hiring projections looked flat.

“Earlier, employers indicated that they expected to keep their new college graduate hiring levels even with last year,” said Marilyn Mackes, executive director of NACE. “Our current survey shows that college hiring is as affected by the economy as other types of hiring.”

Not surprisingly, the anticipated drop off in hiring was prompted by the deteriorating economic situation. 

“More than two-thirds of employers said the economic situation forced them to reevaluate their college hiring plans, and nearly all of those said they have decreased their planned number of hires,” said  Mackes.

In the immediate future, the projected drop means a sharp decline in employer activity on campus this spring, with 66 percent of employers responding to the survey reporting plans to lower or eliminate spring hiring. 

However, Nancy Barry, a speaker, Gen Y expert and author of “When Reality Hits: What Employers Want Recent College Graduates to Know,” encourages students to look past these statistics. “Recent college graduates should not spend their mental energy focused on the downturn in the economy, but rather focus on what they can do to position themselves as the best candidate for the job.”

According to Barry, there are five things pending college graduates should be doing to avoid becoming part of the statistics.

1. Let people open some doors for you. The best way to land a job is through relationships. Let every adult in your life who loves and adores you know what you want to do when you graduate. Ask them for help. They won’t get you the job—they’ll just be opening the door for you to get the first interview.

2. Do your homework. Go into the interview prepared to discuss the mission, goals and challenges of the company. If you do your homework, it will prepare you to explain how you can impact the company if they hire you.  

3. Remember, it’s all about them. A lot of my clients tell me stories about candidates who come in for an interview with an entitlement attitude. Surprise them, and don’t have one. Don’t focus on what you want—focus on what you can do for the company. Focus on what you can do to make the manager’s life easier.

4. Be passionate. Put yourself in the shoes of the hiring manager. What do you see during the interview? Do you see someone who is passionate or desperate? Which one would you hire? Let the hiring manager see and feel your passion.

5. Be on time. You do not want to spend the first few minutes of the interview explaining why you were late. The hiring manager does not want to spend the first part of the interview listening to you whine about how you couldn’t find a place to park. Managers expect their employees to be on time. If you can’t get to an interview on time, it will leave them wondering if you’ll be able to get to work on time.