Seniors plan for next year

As the economy continues to falter, Tufts seniors and professors agree that graduates will face increased competition to find positions in the workforce. The decline in available jobs has led some seniors to consider other options they otherwise might have ignored.

Although some seniors may feel discouraged, there are still many jobs available, according to Director of Career Services Jean Papalia. "First of all, even in a robust economy, most seniors do not have jobs at this time of the year," Papalia said. "There are still jobs out there."

The slow economy has turned many students toward graduate school.

A graduate education makes someone entering the job market more attractive to potential employers, Economics Professor Daniel Richards said. "Even if the economy stays down, a worker with advanced skills will generally have a better chance at finding a job than one without such training," he said.

Some career-oriented students see graduate school as a way to avoid the job market while gaining skills that will be helpful later in life. "When it gets hard to find a job, people stop looking," Richards said. "But when people stop looking, that doesn't mean they just sit around and watch TV."

Instead of working, people participate in other activities, such as household repairs, childcare, and further education, Richards said. "Going to school is one way to pass the time when one isn't officially looking for work," he said.

But the increased number of applications to graduate schools has made the competition much stiffer, especially in business schools, according to Economics Professor Yannis Ioannides. "Flocking to business schools of course has problems of its own," Ioannides said. "Business and other professional schools are being more selective than ever."

Some Tufts seniors have not been hit too hard by the downturn, however. "I don't have any plans for next year. I'm planning on taking a year off and then going to grad school," senior Alex Schoemann. "I would take a year off even if the job market were better," he said.

But, many of Schoemann's friends aren't as lucky. "Almost everyone I know has had problems finding jobs. It seems like a lot of people are applying to grad schools because of it," he said.

For those still looking for a job, "volume and effort should be increased for improved results," Papalia said. "In other words, apply for more positions, network with more people, attend more professional meetings," she said.

Since networking is often an important factor in acquiring a job, especially during tough economic times, Career Services highly encourages it. Networking can give job seekers access to some of the best jobs, which often go unmentioned on the Internet or in classified ads. "Some 80 percent of jobs are identified through networking, so statistically, it's the most likely avenue for students to be successful," Papalia said.

The Tufts Alumni Network includes 3,700 volunteers who have "indicated their willingness to discuss industries, employers, and geographic areas," Papalia said. While the volunteers in the Network are not job sources, they are a valuable resource to graduates who wish to broaden their networking capabilities, she said.

The most important advice for seniors seeking a job is quite simple, according to Papalia. "Work hard, work smart, network. The more volume you generate in your search, the more likely your chances for success," Papalia said. "Sending out a few resumes and waiting for a response will most likely deliver disappointing results."