Students are being offered new prospects in their job searches by an increase in on-campus recruitment efforts by larger, more prominent corporate firms this year. Recent improvements within the Career Services Department, aided by the department's relocation to Dowling Hall, have further helped students in their quest for post-graduate career opportunities.
This year's top recruiters include Goldman Sachs, Solomon Smith Barney, and Chase - three renowned companies that often target Ivy-League schools. The rise in on-campus recruiting is a sign to many that Tufts graduates are becoming increasingly competitive in the job market, despite perennial frustration with the University's stagnant rankings in US News and World Report.
"Tufts is indeed very competitive with other schools in the area," Director of Career Services Jean Papalia said. She said that the University's focus on an international perspective sets Tufts students apart from students at other schools, and attracts an array of national and international companies.
Nearly one-fifth of the students who plan to work immediately after graduation find jobs through the campus recruiting system, which brings the program's effectiveness level up to the nation-wide average, according to Papalia. At Tufts, roughly 22 percent of seniors enter graduate schools directly after graduation, while 60 percent plan to pursue careers immediately.
While the majority of the companies that recruit on campus are from the high-tech engineering, finance, and consulting industry fields, Tufts is also a popular destination for a number of smaller research firms and non-profit organizations .
"With over 200 companies coming to recruit each year, there is a really wide range of the types of companies," Papalia said. The Peace Corps and the non-profit Hillel organization are two of the less business-oriented industries that often look to hire Tufts students.
Despite a perception that it is easier for students with computer science and other engineering degrees to land jobs than many liberal arts majors, companies who recruit on campus claim they are now looking to employ students from a variety of academic fields.
"We definitely encourage bringing in a broad spectrum of people to the table, particularly to work on business development-type projects," said Kathy Kraig, a recruiter for the Cambridge-based Exeter Group. The Exeter Group also actively recruits students from Middlebury, Cornell, Northwestern, and Brown University and is in the process of expanding in size, which increases the demand for all types of college graduates.
Many companies also come to Tufts because of alumni connections to the University, or in response to positive job performances by previous graduates currently working for their firm.
Tufts Career Services has also made several employer outreach efforts this year, which has brought large corporations such as NBC News to recruit students.
The increase in efforts to recruit Tufts students by these firms as well as the advancements Career Services' facility and technological resources has impressed many seniors. "Seeing from where we started, I think Career Services has improved its services significantly and is on its road to success," said senior Preeti Singh, who interviewed with NBC News this week.
There is currently a widespread demand for and availability of technological consulting and finance-analysis type jobs, and students are pleased with the jobs they are able to get through Career Services. "A lot of top firms are now coming to Tufts, and that's something we haven't seen as much of in the past," one senior said before an interview with Solomon Smith Barney.
Students say that the new library and online resources are helpful tools in guiding them towards future career fields. Widespread use of eRecruiting, the online resource used to coordinate the campus recruitment program, and other search engines such as JobTrak and Tufts Career Advisory Network (Tufts CAN), demonstrates the scope of Career Services offerings.
"I found eRecruiting to be particularly helpful because I'm not from the area," Emily Sporl said. She, along with fellow seniors, uses the resource to find information on interview times and submit resumes to various firms recruiting on campus.
Career Services' new facility has also enabled it to conduct several large-scale events this fall, including last month's Career Fair, which brought over 80 companies to more than 650 students on campus, mostly seniors. A number of panels where alumni and various professionals from the communications industry offer input and share their experiences with students are planned, including the Communications Networking Night, to be held next Monday.
Despite these efforts, students say there still is room for improvement. A common sentiment among many students is that there is a shortage of staff, causing a long wait for scheduled appointments.
"I've had friends who have had to wait a month and a half to meet with someone, and this shortage has relegated many students to using the web and the library, which don't offer a personal touch," said Sporl.
In an attempt to rectify this problem, the department has instigated a service called "quick questions," which enable students to make 15 to 20-minute appointments the morning of the actual meeting day. The service is available everyday, excluding Tuesdays and weekends.
Students also feel that many of the firms currently recruiting on campus are limited to investment banking and consulting and would like to see more diversity in job fields of the recruiters. "I'd like to see more asset-management and trade-related firms," Singh said.
Nonetheless, Singh is grateful for the department's improvements. "I'm just glad I'm a senior this year and that I didn't graduate in 2000 before these new developments," she said.
