COLUMBUS -- Despite what many consider a weak economy, Ohio State University’s spring graduates are in demand and most should have no problem finding a job after graduation, especially if they started the job search early.

Tom Vecchione, director of Career and Placement Services in Ohio State’s College of Education, said overall the teaching market is excellent, especially special education, the sciences, mathematics, Spanish, and vocational and technical areas.

“We had a banner year for recruiting on campus,” Vecchione said. “Many of our recruiters commented that they wished we had more teaching candidates graduating. Unfortunately, many of our teachers will leave Ohio after graduation because they are being hired away by districts across the country that are experiencing severe teacher shortages.”

Pamela Park-Curry, director of Undergraduate Career Services for the Fisher College of Business, said companies began recruiting their spring graduates last September. Employers have even begun to make reservations for recruiting next fall, she added.

Most Fisher College graduates stay in-state, Park-Curry said. “Recruiters from out-of-state actually get a bit frustrated that our students won’t leave Ohio,” she said.

Among the graduates most in demand are students who majored in transportation and logistics, information science and accounting, Park-Curry said.

Graduates most in demand from the College of Arts and Sciences are computer information science, pharmacy and chemistry majors, said Amy Thaci, director of Arts and Sciences Career Services. Although on-campus recruiting was down spring quarter, the job market for graduates looks good despite the economy, she added.

Bostwick F. Wyman, professor and vice-chair of Ohio State’s Department of Mathematics, said the job market for actuarial science is spectacular. “Many companies want to hire our graduates, and sometimes I think I have more recruiters than seniors,” he said. “Many of our graduates had two or three offers to choose from.”

Graduates have gone off to work at such companies as Nationwide, Towers Perrin, Watson Wyatt Worldwide and Lincoln National, he said.

Rosemary Hill, director of Engineering Career Services, said June engineering graduates who waited until this quarter to start their job search aren’t finding it as easy as those students who started last fall.

Compared to last year, on-campus recruiting for engineering students during fall quarter was up 16 percent, job postings increased 19 percent, resume requests increased 104 percent.

“However, circumstances began to change in February,” Hill said. “Compared to last year, on-campus recruiting declined almost 25 percent between January and May. Those students who waited until spring to start their job searches have been surprised to find that the market is so tight now; most don’t seem aware of layoffs and consolidations.

“Mostly, we see a very cautious, conservative hiring stance, not only for full-time jobs, but also for co-op and intern opportunities,” Hill said. “Employers who are hiring are much more selective. International students seeking employment in the United States have been hit hard the last two years: last year, by the limited availability of H1-B visas; this year because employers with fewer openings to fill can meet their needs with U.S. citizens. Additionally, much of the current hiring activity is driven by defense-related companies, so international students are left out.”

This year the demand has been highest for electrical engineers, computer engineers, mechanical engineers and industrial engineers, Hill said. Fifty-three percent of our graduates stay in Ohio, she added.

It is never easy to find a good career track, Park-Curry said.

“A slow down in the economy only means that students need to plan their career search more carefully,” she said. “The student who never bothered to do an internship will have the toughest time. The student who never really figured out his or her goals now will feel more lost five or ten years from now.

“If the slowdown continues, students will need to take control of their career paths,” she continued. “They can do this by working more with their career services office, getting internships and good summer jobs beginning in their sophomore year, joining student groups to develop leadership skills and becoming active in the community. Employers want to see potential employees who know more and have made an impact at work, in school or in the community.”

Park-Curry has one piece of advice for all students. “Start to prepare now, and you will be ready for any economy.”

Undergraduate Starting Salaries:

Fisher College of Business -- $33,677

Actuarial Science, College of Math and Physical Sciences -- $37,000 to $42,000

Electrical Engineering -- $49,315

Mechanical Engineering -- $48,352

Computer Science and Engineering -- $53,159

Industrial and Systems -- $49,892

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(LO)