2008 Woodie Awards
Letter to the editor
Issue date: 3/19/08 Section: Opinion
Dear Editor:
Thank you for your recent editorial about our office, we appreciate the publicity. However, I would like to address some points that need to be clarified.
The job market runs on supply and demand ratios. The employers attending the fair were very indicative of these trends. According to the Michigan State University Annual Recruiting Trends Report, the most in-demand majors (and careers) were; Accounting, Sales, Management Training, Engineering, Business Services, Technical and Health related.
Law Enforcement continues to grow because of the impending Baby-Boom retirements, and there will always be bad guys to catch.
Employers in "popular" career fields (advertising, public-relations, sports, the arts, the media, etc.) do not need to recruit; they have more than enough candidates to choose from. Candidates that have not had an internship (or 2) may find it hard to get hired in these fields.
Employers want students to have experience in their field before they graduate. The same MSU/National survey, stated over 50% of employer's surveyed required TWO internships. 75% of all new hires had completed at least one internship. Grade point averages, employment history, campus involvement are also considered when hiring graduates.
Students must accept that there are no guarantees of employment. It is up to each individual to become qualified for their career. A university degree is just one of these qualifications.
The author stated that students should not have to pay thousands of dollars to end up working at McDonald's. Is the author saying because they have "paid" for something, they should be rewarded with a high paying career in a "glamorous" occupational field? Paying to attend any university does not even guarantee that individuals will graduate. Students have "paid" for the right to attempt to achieve a university education, it does not automatically qualify anyone for any job simply because they desire it. Students are adults capable of making adult decisions. I hope they can live with adult consequences for those decisions.
Martin Kral
Associate Director of Career Services
Thank you for your recent editorial about our office, we appreciate the publicity. However, I would like to address some points that need to be clarified.
The job market runs on supply and demand ratios. The employers attending the fair were very indicative of these trends. According to the Michigan State University Annual Recruiting Trends Report, the most in-demand majors (and careers) were; Accounting, Sales, Management Training, Engineering, Business Services, Technical and Health related.
Law Enforcement continues to grow because of the impending Baby-Boom retirements, and there will always be bad guys to catch.
Employers in "popular" career fields (advertising, public-relations, sports, the arts, the media, etc.) do not need to recruit; they have more than enough candidates to choose from. Candidates that have not had an internship (or 2) may find it hard to get hired in these fields.
Employers want students to have experience in their field before they graduate. The same MSU/National survey, stated over 50% of employer's surveyed required TWO internships. 75% of all new hires had completed at least one internship. Grade point averages, employment history, campus involvement are also considered when hiring graduates.
Students must accept that there are no guarantees of employment. It is up to each individual to become qualified for their career. A university degree is just one of these qualifications.
The author stated that students should not have to pay thousands of dollars to end up working at McDonald's. Is the author saying because they have "paid" for something, they should be rewarded with a high paying career in a "glamorous" occupational field? Paying to attend any university does not even guarantee that individuals will graduate. Students have "paid" for the right to attempt to achieve a university education, it does not automatically qualify anyone for any job simply because they desire it. Students are adults capable of making adult decisions. I hope they can live with adult consequences for those decisions.
Martin Kral
Associate Director of Career Services
Be the first to comment on this story