Image vie Chapel Hill/Orange County Visitors Bureau

The job market is still a dismal place for college graduates. True, the unemployment rate has not risen past ten percent yet, but that is partly because many people have given up on their job hunt, causing the labor force to shrink. According to Business Week, the labor force decreased by almost 700,000 people  in December 2010. If it had not, the unemployment rate was expected to be 10.4 percent.

What can college grads do to find a job in this tough market? Part of the equation could be moving to a city that is actually hiring people and creating new jobs. What makes these cities the top cities to find a job in 2010?

There are certain locations that have advantages in terms of lower costs, improved access to talent, certain key industry resources, and other factors that help to drive things,” said Kevin Klowden, co-author of the Best-Performing Cities 2009 report.

So where should you move to up your chances of finding a job? Interestingly enough, four of the top ten are in Texas. But if slipping on your cowboy boots every day doesn’t appeal to you, check out the other six options.

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According to a recent article by The New York Times, students who are majoring in the humanities such as language arts and literature, are facing one of the toughest job markets in recent decades.

The Modern Language Association (MLA) reports that faculty positions will decline 37 percent, the biggest drop since the group began tracking its job listings 35 years ago. The MLA is the largest group of language and literature scholars and professors in the world.

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EduInReview.com, guest blogger Kristin Davie is a recent Marist College graduate.  She maintains her own blog, Cap And Gown Countdown, where she offers job search tips and tricks for college students and unemployed professionals.

In high school, students are encouraged to become well-rounded individuals in the hope of securing that coveted college acceptance letter. It’s a lesson that everyone should be sure to pack along with those photos from prom and Bob Marley poster. After all, college is a new chapter filled with blank pages, and future employers will want to know what you choose to fill them with (and no, your favorite shot glass doesn’t count). 

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The economy grew at a 3.5 percent pace in the third quarter, the best showing in two years, fueled by government-supported spending on cars and homes. It’s the strongest signal yet that the economy has entered a new, though fragile, phase of recovery and that the worst recession since the 1930s has ended, according to the Associated Press.

While the economy still has a very rocky and upward hill to climb before it reaches a more solid footing, these new statistics just released by the Commerce Department offer a beacon of hope for Americans, but for graduating college students, they may have to be a bit more patient as they begin their real-world job search in the next few months.

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The job market is quite dismal for recent college graduates. How can these students distinguish themselves from all of the other applicants in this very competitive job market? Keep the following tips in mind:

1. Flush out your resume. Use descriptive words in your resume. Instead of saying you interned with a company, describe your duties and how you benefited the company. Describe your volunteer and extracurricular activities in detail; these show that you are willing to go above and beyond the normal expectations.

2. Apply in person. So many people today rely on the Internet to apply for a job. But the same techniques that worked for decades in the past still work today. Apply in person, give a firm handshake, and let them know how interested you are in really working for their company. Read the rest of this entry »

The recession is hitting college graduates hard. Around 14 percent of recent grads aged 20-24 are currently unemployed. This makes being able to financially support themselves very difficult, if not impossible. So, how can an unemployed college graduate save a few hundred dollars every month? Move back in with mom and dad. However, many recent graduates are finding this option less and less appealing.

Brooke Chrzan, a graduate of The University of New Hampshire, says that living with her parents after being independent in college is “worse than when [she] was a teenager.” Brooke feels her parents treat her “like [she is] 14 again.” Read the rest of this entry »

Summer! It’s finally here! And I know you are looking forward to spending your days pool-side, seeing all those awesome summer movies and going out with your friends. Unfortunately, we don’t live in a barter economy and you need money to do all those fun things. So, how can you earn a few extra bucks without cramping your summer style? From personal experience, I would like to recommend the best 5 summer jobs for students!

1. Sonic Drive-In Carhop. Everyone loves going to a drive-in restaurant, ordering a burger, and sitting in their car while they eat it. And let me tell ya, they usually tip pretty well if you bring them their milk shake with a smile.  The hours are very flexible, and you will make a ton of cash in tips. It’s usually high school and college students, so you will be working with people your own age, which always makes it fun! Read the rest of this entry »

Let’s face facts; the current state of the U.S. economy is putting a damper on your college graduation. I know, I know… I just brought up the elephant in the room. I’m sorry,  but I did it because I am here to help.

Careerbuilder recently published their 2009 Annual College Job Forecast. Despite all the gloom and doom stories about the job market, this year’s crop of graduates have something to look forward to. According to the report, 43 percent of employers are planning to hire recent college graduates this year. This number is down from past years, yet it is still a high percentage given our current situation.  Now, I know what you are thinking; where can I find out which companies are hiring? I have anticipated this thought and have included THE list; THE list being 25 companies that are actively hiring recent college graduates this year. You’re welcome.  Read the rest of this entry »

All students want to choose a major and a career path that will lead to a stable, profitable future.  Unfortunately, the economy is much more complicated than it used to be, so it can be difficult to choose a path that will guarantee you a stable future.

For help in this area, one good resource to check out is Yahoo! Hotjobs. In addition to specific job listings, this site offers tips and insight into job searching in today’s market.

According to Yahoo! Hotjobs, here are eight jobs college students should consider.  These are areas that show job growth and promise to do so in the future as well.

1. Network Systems Analyst
2. Financial Analyst or Advisor
3. Veterinary Technologist or Technician (which only requires a two-year degree)
4. Counselors (Marriage and Family Counselors, Mental Health Counselors, Substance Abuse Counselors)
5. Physical Therapist Assistant (which only requires a two-year degree)
6. Forensic Science Technician
7. Teachers (yes, things are looking good for both elementary and secondary school teachers)
8. Accountants

Having a job in high school is something I believe every kid should experience. It’s a time where little jobs are available (since most places prefer not to hire under a certain age because of the reputation teenagers have gotten,) but even the simplest of jobs are a great starting point and a great way to start building a resume. What I want to discuss though is whether or not it’s a good idea to have a job during the school year.

Summer jobs are a great way to keep you busy during the long vacation. Not all jobs require 30-40 hours and 5 days a week. Most jobs will hire you on as part-time which can be anywhere from 10-25 hours (I believe, it may vary depending on where you work) or some places even have a seasonal option, allowing you to return just when you want to work. Of course, some kids may be interested in keeping their job during the school year because either they really enjoy their job or just enjoy having extra money to spend from time to time.

Keeping a job though during the school can be a very difficult thing to manage, even working only a few nights a week for a couple of hours. I had a job this last year while I was trying to raise money for myself to go to NYC over spring break, and with my course load at school and all my other activities I was involved in outside of school, it wore me out. I spread myself thin doing so much. But if you aren’t as involved at school or don’t have a heavy course load like I do, and find you can handle having a job, I would highly recommend it! You can experience a lot of things when you have a job that you won’t be able to experience anywhere else!

Having a summer job is something I would highly recommend at least one summer during your high school years, and if you can handle it, than keep a job if you love it enough during the school year! Keep in mind that if your job begins to interfere with things such as grades/performance at school, than maybe having a job is too much and school should always come before a job.