Students walking across the stage Saturday to receive degrees from The University of Toledo have strong job prospects upon graduation.
Employers expect to hire 8.6 percent more Class of 2014 graduates than they hired from last year’s graduating class, according to the National Association of Colleges and Employers’ 2014 Spring Update survey.
“University of Toledo students increasingly have full-time jobs lined up before they get their degrees both locally in northwest Ohio and with employers across the country,” said Pete Thomas, director of experiential learning and career development. “The economy is stabilizing, and many companies are in a growth stage where they are looking to hire talented college graduates to expand their teams.”
The average starting salary for new college graduates earning a bachelor’s degree also is up 1.2 percent over last year, according to the National Association of Colleges and Employers’ Salary Survey. The average starting salary for 2014 college graduates stands at $45,473, up from the 2013 average salary of $44,928.
Soon-to-be graduates looking to start their post-college careers can receive assistance through the Career Services Office with resumé review, mock interviews, and etiquette tips such as what to wear and suggestions for a lunch meeting with a potential employer.
“If you don’t have a job lined up, there is no need to panic,” Thomas said. “There are plenty of employers with positions to fill now and plenty of ways to get your foot in the door at a company you want to work with.”
Post-graduation internships are increasingly common and a great avenue to get more experience on your resumé and an introduction to a company, Thomas said.
Intern in Ohio, presented by UT, matches college students with internship opportunities using classroom to career technology that connects employers and internship-seekers based on skills, interests and the requirements for the position. Since the launch of the program in March 2013, more than 2,500 new internship opportunities have been posted with more than 400 companies to provide important experiential learning opportunities to assist students with their future careers.
The top three skills employers are looking for are the ability to work in a team, to make decisions on your own with strong problem-solving skills, and to plan, organize and prioritize your work, Thomas said.
For more information about Career Development, visit utoledo.edu/success/career.
