Who's afraid of a little recession?

Sluggish economy, but recruitment rolls on

Behold the latest peak of businessperson evolution: The hybrid is the sought-after commodity on the employment market. Techno, sure. But also ready with "people skills" -- good managerial savvy. Click here for a look at how much physical attributes may affect those doing the hiring.

February 26, 2001
Web posted at: 5:22 p.m. EST (2222 GMT)

In this story: Salaries still rising Preparing for life after college Employers want people skills RELATED STORIES, SITES

By Thurston Hatcher
CNN.com Writer

(CNN) -- •  At Xerox: 4,000.

•   At Dell: 1,700.

QUICK VOTE
	You in the trenches. Yeah, you. How's it look from there? Do you agree that the slowed U.S. economy isn't having too negative an effect on recruitment? Yeah, I agree. Looks to me as if everything's still moving -- it's only Wall Street that can't see that. Can't decide. I'd feel more sure of what I'm seeing if I knew where all those laid-off people are going for work. Nope, your story is wrong, wrong, wrong. (What's wrong with you media people, anyway?) Recruiting is running way behind what it was and those university grads are about to walk off the cliff. View Results

•   At Amazon: 1,300.

•   Just announced Monday by 3Com: 1,200.

And the layoff list goes on.

These are sobering stats for college students who've grown accustomed -- or at least have looked forward -- to snapping up jobs when eager corporate recruiters come calling.

But despite a slowing economy and a spate of layoffs, college officials and analysts say the job outlook still looks pretty promising for new graduates.

"What we're seeing is some nice stability in our employment relationships," says Rocki-Lee Dewitt, associate dean for professional masters' programs at Penn State University's Smeal College of Business Administration.

"Even those companies that we're hearing about doing layoffs, to date -- and I'm knocking on wood as I talk -- they haven't reneged on offers to students who held internships."

Salaries still rising

The University of the Pacific in Stockton, California, is just an 80-mile drive from the San Francisco area, scene of some highly publicized recent high-tech and dot-com struggles. But they don't seem to having much impact on job-hunting at the 4,000-student campus.

"I think from what we've experienced this year -- and we're right in the middle of on-campus recruitment right now -- we haven't seen any decrease in employer interest," says Marty Ford, director of the university's Career and Internship Center.

In fact, a recent study by the National Association of Colleges and Employers says new college graduates are getting higher starting salary offers than they did a year ago. The increases just aren't quite as great as they have been.

"It's kind of like if you're speeding at 100 miles an hour and you slow down to 80. You're still speeding, you're just not speeding as much," says Camille Luckenbaugh, employment information manager with the association based in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.

Luckenbaugh echoed the university officials' assessments of the current market.

"There have been some employers who have pulled back from campuses, but I'm hearing that for every one that pulls out, there's another one that pops back," she says.

Preparing for life after college

If there's been any change, it might be in students' efforts to get ready for the working world.

"I've been hearing a little bit here and there that some students are showing more interest now than they have in the past," Luckenbaugh says. "I think that some of the students now are becoming a little more proactive."

Colleges and universities say they're trying to stay ahead of the curve to make sure students are well equipped for the changing business world.

The Smeal College of Business Administration is updating its curriculum, focusing not only on traditional business practices but on the increasingly global economy.

"If you're looking at what companies today are looking for MBA students to bring in terms of perspective, in terms of skills, they're looking for students who understand what globalization has done, they're looking for students who understand what the Internet and related technologies have created in terms of opportunities," she says.

The college complements that with a personalized career-placement program that helps students pinpoint their career goals.

The University of the Pacific's placement program also emphasizes individual attention and encourages experiential learning to give students hands-on previews of their professions-to-come.

Employers want people skills

Experts say well-rounded applicants are in high demand in today's job market, so technical skills alone don't always cut it anymore.

Dewitt says she sees a shift in demand in the tech sector from "technologists who have some modicum of people skills" to "people who have a strong set of people-management skills coupled with an appreciation for technology."

Ford agrees.

"Those students who have skills to get along and work well in team projects along with people skills and technical skills -- those students are getting gobbled up very quickly," Ford says.

Previous work experience is another big selling point for employers.

"A lot of times the transition from campus to the corporate world can be somewhat difficult," Luckenbaugh says, "so employers like to see that candidate who has experience because they've had a taste of the real world."

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October 28, 1998
Sky-high pay for IT grads blows ceiling
June 24, 1998

National Association of Colleges and Employers
Smeal College of Business Administration, Penn State
University of the Pacific

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