The Trident

Issue date: 11/17/04 Section: News

More and more seniors this year are hearing those two little words contestants on "The Apprentice" wish they would hear: "You're hired." A survey just recently published in Job Outlook 2005 by the National Association of College Employers (NACE) revealed that employers expect to hire 13.1 percent more new college graduates this year than last year.

This good news for the class of 2005 means even better news for those majoring in the Williams School of Commerce, Economics, and Politics. Three of the top five majors in demand include: accounting, business administration/management, and economics/finance.

The survey broke down hiring by sectors including, service, manufacturing and government/nonprofit. The government/nonprofit sector expects to hire the most new college graduates, nearly 20 percent more than last year. The top majors that government/nonprofit employers are seeking include accounting, business administration, electrical engineering, and computer science.

According to senior accounting major Chad Lewis, in past years students were lucky to receive one or two job offers, this year students have the luxury (or anguish) of deciding between several offers. Lewis cites a conversation he had while being interviewed by a 2002 graduate who now works for Bank of America.

"He told me he took this job because it was the first offer he received and he knew he may not get another one," said Lewis. "Now, some students are having a tough time deciding which job to accept. Other students are turning down job offers from their intern positions last summer to pursue other opportunities."

Many accounting majors at W&L either work for accounting firms or go into investment banking.

Senior Ginny Helms knew before she became an accounting major that she would have "no trouble finding a job," but chose accounting because of her interest in the field.

"I've always enjoyed math and I'm prone to a logical way of thinking, so it just sort of fit," said Helms. "At the time I was not aware of a difference in getting a job as a c-school major as opposed to something else."

For the next two years Helms will be working as an investment banking analyst at a firm in Charlotte, N.C.

Senior accounting major Brittany Smith said that she believes the job market is always good for public accounting as it is always seeking new hires.

"If anything, public accounting cannot hire enough people," said Smith. "It is a great profession to be in because of the demand."

Continued...

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