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noticed that recruiters are fewer than
usual this year, even though recruiting
and interviewing are progressing as usual.
“The recruiters who did not participate
mentioned they will not have job openings
this year,” she says. “For example, one
firm scheduled a visit and then canceled
due to a major restructuring.”
At Columbia, 12 recruiters signed up this
year, compared with an average of 19 in previous
years. Lamia attributes the changes
she sees to the economy, which affects the
number of available jobs, and low turnover,
which further limits the number of job
openings.
At the University of North Carolina,
Chapel Hill, Michael T. Crimmins, chairman
of the chemistry department, reports
that campus recruiting seems “about normal”
but that the number of jobs is lower
and more are available in smaller, start-up
companies.
The changes, he says, are a result of the
“entire pharmaceutical industry in a period
of major reorganization and general
downsizing. A significant amount of their
functions have been outsourced to China
and India, creating many new jobs in those
developing countries but reducing the opportunities
in the U.S. and Europe.”
IN CONTRAST, Timothy B. Luzader of
Purdue University offers some better
news. Luzader, director of the Center for
Career Opportunities, reports that campus
interviewing appears “as robust as it was
this time last year. Our interview space is
booked solid through late October. Early
job fairs on campus were sold out,” and
there were waiting lists of companies that
wanted to participate.
In 2007–08, the number of employers
recruiting on campus was steady compared
with the previous year, whereas the
number of interviews was slightly down,
Luzader says. He attributes the decrease in
interviews more to student selectivity than
economic softening. “Many students feel
that accepting a full-time offer from a company
where they interned is a reasonable
option, so they’re likely to restrict their
interviews only to companies that most
strongly interest them,” he says.
In a May 2007 survey of all of Purdue’s
bachelor’s degree recipients, Luzader
reports that 94% had confirmed postgraduate
plans for employment, further study,
or other plans such as the Peace Corps.
Among chemical engineering graduates,
96% had confirmed postgraduate plans.
For now, “campus recruiting belies
concerns in the economy,” he says. “But
history has shown on-campus recruitment
does not taper off until six to nine
months after an economic downturn. If
that trend holds true, then the outlook
will be a bit gloomier than it has been in
the recent past.”
In any job market—down markets
included—the advice to graduates never
changes. Be more flexible in the job search.
Use resources and contacts that are available
on campus. Employers are still hiring,
even if they aren’t coming on campus, so
networking and direct contact are important.
Know yourself well enough to find a
company that is aligned with your goals
and values. ■
CORPORATION
WWW.CEN-ONLINE.ORG 49 NOVEMBER 3, 2008