December 12, 2005

Strong job market awaits graduates

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Career Center officials at Sacramento State say there’s a continuing solid job market for Sacramento State graduates who will receive their diplomas at Winter Commencement ceremonies Friday, Dec. 16 and Saturday, Dec. 17 at Arco Arena.

“We are seeing more and more employers come to campus and more offers being made to graduating students,” said Marilyn Albert, director of the Career Center. “In some cases, students may even get multiple job offers.”

According to a survey by the National Association of Colleges and Employers, businesses are expected to hire 14.5 percent more new college graduates in 2005-06 than they hired in 2004-05.

“It is great timing to have graduates who are very well-prepared enter such a strong job market,” said Eva Gabbe, manager of the Career Center’s recruitment program. “Employers have openings to fill and more are coming to Sacramento State to find future employees.” She said more than 200 employers visited campus to interview students for job openings during the past semester.

Gabbe said graduates in some fields are experiencing exceptionally strong demand. Graduates in accounting, civil engineering and construction management may be receiving more than one job offer in many cases, said Gabbe, adding that she believes that Sacramento State’s comprehensive programs in those areas give graduates a competitive edge. “Employers look to Sacramento State because of strong programs in accounting and engineering,” she said.

Students in other majors are finding jobs as well. “In sales, employers are looking at any major if the student has good communication skills, has leadership skills, is well- organized and is customer-service oriented,” Gabbe said.

Homebuilders have been recruiting at Sacramento State for all majors, too. Gabbe said the companies train graduates in all majors for jobs related to the homebuilding industry. “We have had students studying interior design who are hired to help design the inside of model homes or other students going into construction management and engineering who are in demand,” said Gabbe.

She also said she has noticed a slight pick-up in hiring in the technology industry for graduates in computer science and management information systems, but hiring is still far below the dot-com days.

But there is other evidence of a stronger economy, said Albert, the center’s director. “Employers are not only offering full-time employment to our graduating students, but they are also offering more internships and cooperative education arrangements,” Albert said. “We are pleased to see this influx of employers with multiple opportunities to our students.”

The schedule for Sacramento State Winter Commencement at Arco Arena is:

Friday, Dec. 16

1 p.m. College of Education

3:30 p.m. College of Social Sciences and Interdisciplinary Studies

6:30 p.m. College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics

Saturday, Dec. 17

8:30 a.m. College of Health and Human Services

11:30 a.m. College of Business Administration

3 p.m. College of Arts and Letters

6 p.m. College of Engineering and Computer Science.

Media assistance is available by contacting the Sacramento State public affairs office at (916) 278-6156.

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