New college grads may face an especially tough time due to the recession. The growth in anticipated new hires, which is measured twice a year by The National Association of Colleges and Employers, has been slowing since it reached a high in spring 2007, falling almost flat in the fall. The numbers for spring 2009 show that for the first time in years, businesses actually anticipate hiring fewer college graduates this year than last--22 percent fewer, in fact. According to The Boston Globe, the business and finance sectors have an even bleaker outlook, as does the northeastern region of the United States.
With this dim hiring picture in mind, soon-to-be college graduates are looking at alternatives to the traditional workforce. Additional education, teaching fellowship programs, and volunteer work are all proving popular. If you're a college student staring graduation in the face, keep in mind the increased competition and start researching and applying sooner, rather than later.
Graduate programs, including ones offered by business schools, are seeing increased enrollment as many students choose to either delay their entry into the workforce or push up their long-term plans to attend graduate school. Graduate students can potentially land full-tuition fellowships or assistantships, as well as generous scholarship awards. Many graduate degrees can help recipients become more competitive when they do enter the workforce, even if the economy does not recover substantially.
Similarly, teacher certification programs, such as the popular Teach for America, are seeing an increase in applicants. These programs offer a stipend, as well as teacher certification, and in some cases a master's degree in education, in exchange for a commitment of one or two years teaching in a low-income school or a high-need subject. Other programs exist with similar benefits, including teaching fellowships in several major cities such as New York and Chicago. College students or recent grads who want to teach but don't want to pay for more school may want to consider these options.
Other volunteer programs, like AmeriCorps and the Peace Corps, also are seeing more applicants. Such programs often come with a stipend or living allowance, as well as student loan deferments or even loan cancelation or repayment benefits. Students can also participate in many of these programs while still in college or while pursuing graduate degrees. If you're interested in an alternative to the post-collegiate rat race, there's no time like the present to start considering your options.
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