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The welcoming of March marks the countdown to spring break for many students. For seniors, it means that the weeks until graduation are dwindling and the search for a job in the "real world" is well underway.
Though this thought may cause some seniors to break out in a cold sweat, the Augustana Career Center is confident in its students' job placement success, as recent graduating classes have managed to find jobs amidst a struggling market.
A recent survey of Augustana's 2009 graduates revealed that 93 percent of Augustana's newest alumni accepted a job position related to their major or career field. Sixty-four percent of those graduates accepting employment remained in South Dakota, with a vast majority staying in Sioux Falls.
"I am very pleased with the results," said Sandi Vietor, director of the Augustana Career Center. "We have an eight-month window for reporting job placement of our most recent graduates. Many of those students had jobs upon graduation; however, this year it took some [graduates] until the end of the year to find placement."
With the healthcare field in demand of employees nationwide, all 2009 nursing program graduates found job placement, even if it was filling a temporary position. Those entering the business, computer science and human service fields saw similar job placement success.
Graduates of the education department found difficultly finding positions within the Sioux Falls school district, but those willing to leave the Augustana area secured jobs in their field.
Students of the art, math, communications and journalism fields faced harder times finding jobs upon graduation, with some graduates still on the search for a career in their field.
With an unpredictable economy and job market, many Augustana students chose to pursue further education with 27 percent of the 2009 graduates attending graduate or professional school, an increase from the usual 20-24 percent.
2009 graduate Andrew Brynjulson left Augustana with a communication/business and art double major, seeking employment as a graphic designer in the advertising industry. After a designing internship and spending time doing freelance work, Brynjulson accepted a position as a graphic designer in Nov. 2009 for Astronaut, a Sioux Falls agency focusing on clients in sustainable business.
"The creative community is very competitive and very small," Brynjulson said. "Marketing budgets are notoriously the first things cut by companies trying to survive economic trials. Since creative communities directly depend on those marketing dollars, jobs were being cut daily. I worked harder than I've ever worked to separate myself from the rest of the pack."
Regardless if students graduate mid-year or in May, Vietor says graduates will face the same obstacles and opportunities when looking for a job.
Karrie Morgan, who graduated in December with communication/business and Spanish majors, did not feel she was at a disadvantage as a result of graduating early.
"I started applying early and received several interviews, but was up against a lot of people who had work experience," Morgan said. By the middle of February, two months after graduating, Morgan accepted a position at Wells Fargo utilizing her background in Spanish.
Vietor feels that students who start utilizing the Career Center's services early are more prepared and equipped to start the job search come senior year.
"Students who are more inclined to start writing a resume, look for an internship or develop a networking circle should visit us around their sophomore or junior year," Vietor said.
"These students feel more prepared to look for jobs after graduation, and are in turn more inclined to receive job offers."
Brynjulson also feels that preparation and motivation are the best keys to a successful job search. "Settling for the status quo only helps you blend in," he said. "Do things that will set you apart, things that would be interesting to talk about with a potential employer. You'll always be your own toughest client, so work hard for yourself and transcend what is expected of you."
As for this year's seniors, Vietor feels confident.
"I feel comfortable that we're going to have another good year," Vietor said. "We have a history of positive placement. Opportunities are out there, and flexible, hard-working students will find success in attaining them."
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