Applied learning opportunities prepare St. Cloud State students to enter the workforce. File photo
College graduates will see more opportunities for employment in 2013, according to the ninth annual MN College Job Outlook survey.
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View the MN College Job Outlook summary.
Half the employers surveyed plan to increase their hiring, which is up from 36.4 percent in 2012 and is the highest since 2007. Industries most likely to increase hiring are financial services, retail and business services.
Conducted by St. Cloud State’s Career Services Center, the MN College Job Outlook surveys employers recruiting new college graduates in Minnesota. This year, 111 employers who attended job fairs in 2012 participated.
“The recurring themes throughout the survey is the need for students to utilize their campus career services office, seek out internships and network with employers at events like career fairs,” said Andrew Ditlevson, associate director of the Career Services Center.
For employers who attend job fairs, it is their most effective recruiting method, the survey says. A record number of employers also are using social media to recruit employees. Other effective recruiting methods include employee referrals and hiring from intern programs. The percentage of employers offering internships is at an all-time high at 83.5 percent.
Employers said the three most important skills for students to possess are honesty and integrity, written and verbal communication and strong work ethic. Students need the most improvement in the areas of realistic job expectations, losing sense of entitlement and communication.The Career Services Center provides resources and opportunities through partnerships with faculty, staff, employers and the community to engage students in their life long career transitions. Career Services also is available to assist St. Cloud State’s more than 100,000 alumni.
