Thursday, June 04, 2009
If you've picked up a newspaper or watched the news lately, you know that the job market is really tough right now. One of the groups most acutely feeling the pain is the group of young adults trying to enter the workforce after receiving their college diploma. Although a bit depressing, some of the information in a recent CareerBuilder article is a must read for the Class of 2009. For instance, on the subject of salary:
Of employers who intend to hire recent college graduates in 2009, 21 percent will offer lower starting salaries than in 2008... Thirty-six percent of employers will offer starting salaries less than $30,000. Similarly, 33 percent will pay salaries in the $30,000 to $40,000 range. Few job seekers should expect higher salaries, as only 17 percent of employers plan to offer salaries between $40,000 and $50,000, and 14 percent will offer $50,000 or more.
The article also warns that landing an interview is only the beginning -- employers are seeing interview behavior that is ruining new grads' chances:
The biggest interview mistake recent graduates make is acting bored or cocky, according to 63 percent of employers. A lack of enthusiasm or overall interest suggests you aren't invested in the position, which is not the message you want to send to a future boss. Almost as many employers (61 percent) cite dressing inappropriately as the most significant offense they witness, as it's another clue you're not taking the opportunity to work for the company seriously.
Common etiquette continues to hamper job opportunities, with 50 percent of employers naming cell phones and other electronic devices being left on as other missteps. Even 12 percent consider not sending a post-interview thank-you note a damaging move.
If you're a student, you need to check out the full article for all the details on how you can get ahead of your classmates in the rat race.
Posted by Brad Karsh on June 04, 2009 at 03:37 PM
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