Career Services notes increase in job postings

Olivia Medovich
Staff writer

The Career Services office has received an abundance of job postings on their website since the decline in the U.S. unemployment rate.

With an uncertain economy it is hard to predict the number of employers looking to hire in the near future, but the job market does continue to grow slowly.

On the Career Services website there are numerous postings for internships and jobs in a variety of career fields.

Ross Meloan, director of Career Services, said the office is optimistic about prospective graduates finding employment.

“Companies are calling us more and more for resumes to fill their vacancies and staff,” Meloan said.

Daniel McGinth, sophomore from O’Fallon, Ill., said Career Services helped him apply and be selected for a Disney internship this summer.

“I’m thrilled about it,” McGinth said. “I think it is going to be a great experience.”

He said without Career Services he would not have been notified of the internship opportunity.

Meloan said indicators like the decline in unemployment and increase in the stock market help the office predict future job openings.

“Back in October we started seeing signs of the stock market getting better,” Meloan said. “There is some of that consumer confidence going on. You can take a look at the consumer confidence index nationally. It is something that drives the market and drives an awful lot of people to spend their money.”

Tuesday the Dow Jones industrial average crossed the 13,000 mark for the first time in nearly four years.

In January the unemployment rate declined by 0.2 to 8.3 percent. The rate has fallen by 0.8 point since August.

According to the National Associate of Colleges and Employers website employers responding to the Job Outlook 2012 survey plan to hire 9.5 percent more new graduates in 2011-12 than they did in 2010-11.

Meloan said in order for students to find employment before or after graduation, they must be willing to relocate and broaden their aspirations.

“You’re going have to pick and choose and go where the jobs are,” he said. “It depends on what you want, where you want to live, what you are willing to work for and who is it that you want to work for.”

Meloan said while the decline in the unemployment rate is good, there can still be negative prospects to look out for.

The financial crisis in Europe could indirectly affect the job postings, he said.

Iran has cut off its oil supplies to France and England making the price of gas increase.

The country has made threats to cut off oil supplies to other European countries as well.

It is suspected, gas prices in the U.S. could rise to more than $5 a gallon as a repercussion of this.

Meloan said the increase in gas prices could lead to employers having to spend less money on hiring new employees.

He said in order to stay competitive in the job market, students must continue to build their resumes and improve their communication and leadership skills.

“It is through that resume that you are developing experience you have acquired at Murray State,” Meloan said. “You will find a job, but you have to start early and you have to do these things often.”

Career Services Offices will host its Career Fair on March 7.

Prospective employers and internships seeking to hire students will be present at the fair.

All students are encouraged to attend.

Professional dress is required and students are encouraged to bring copies of their resumes.

 

Scroll to Top