Experience a plus for job seekers

May 11, 2012

The recent unemployment data released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reveals that college graduates are faring better than others in the current job market.

The April 2012 unemployment report revealed that the current jobless rate for those over the age of 25 stands at 6.8 percent. However, it is lower (4.0 percent) for individuals with a bachelor's degree or higher and higher for those with some college (7.6 percent) or only a high school diploma (7.9 percent).

In addition, the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) recently revealed that employers expect to hire 10.2 percent more new college graduates from the college Class of 2012 than they did from the Class of 2011.

"Although employers haven't revised their earlier projections significantly, this upward movement along with other positive economic indicators show that the job market for new college graduates is improving steadily," said NACE executive director Marilyn Mackes.

While having a college degree is likely to improve your job marketability, a separate NACE study found that experience is important as well.

The Job Outlook 2012 survey, which polled 244 organizations nationwide that hold NACE membership, revealed that nearly three-quarters of the employers surveyed said they prefer to hire job candidates who have pertinent experience. On the other hand, 17.5 percent said that any type of work experience (relevant or not) is important and just 4 percent said experience didn't factor into their decision when hiring new college graduates.

"For college students, relevant experience is typically gained through an internship," said Mackes. "Employers are looking for evidence that the candidate can do the job; the internship offers that evidence."

Research confirms that internships are crucial for those embarking on a job search. NACE's 2012 Internship & Co-op Survey reported that 42 percent of their 2011 college hires came from their own internship programs.

In addition to helping moms become more marketable in a difficult job market, getting a college degree can significantly increase one's earning potential. The U.S. Census Bureau reports that individuals whose highest level of education is high school made an average of $31,000 per year in 2010. For those whose highest degree is a bachelor's degree, the average was $58,000.

In addition, recent research from the Pew Research Center reveals that over the course of a 40-year career, college graduates are expected to make about $650,000 more than those without a college degree.

Moms who want to go back to school to pursue a bachelor's degree are urged to apply for various grants for parents, scholarships for mothers and other financial aid to make their education more affordable.
 

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