The countdown to commencement for University of Wisconsin seniors is less than two weeks away. While returning students will use their summer to relax, travel or work at summer jobs, many graduating seniors are looking beyond summer and planning their futures.
“I’m a little apprehensive about graduating,” UW senior Anne Lupardus said. “There are certain things you can get away with being a college student that you can’t do once you have a full-time job, like drinking all day at the Mifflin Street block party, for example.”
Lupardus is working at a part-time job this summer to gain experience.
Kate Phillips, also a graduating senior, is working at a summer job for an environmental research group in Madison, and said she will miss being a student and having “student status.”
For some seniors, graduation is a mixture of relief and stress.
“I think graduation is an exciting time but scary,” UW senior Christine Culver said. “College is more flexible than working a nine-to-five job. But I enjoy being a student.”
For seniors who have already found jobs, college can be a welcome ending. Derek Brink was recently offered a job with Epic Systems Corporation, a popular on-campus recruiter.
“I’m definitely excited to graduate ? I’m finding it a lot harder to study for exams than previous semesters. It’s kind of like you go to school to find a job, and school has pretty much served its purpose for me,” Brink said.
Fortunately for graduates, the job market is looking up. According to a survey taken last fall by the National Association of Colleges and Employers, employers say they plan to hire 12.7 percent more college graduates in 2003-4 than they hired in the 2002-3 cycle.
Greg Iaccarino, career advisor at the College Letters & Science and School of Human Ecology career services, said he has seen an influx of students seeking career advice.
“Because of the high volume of students we’re serving now, it’s indicative of the current job market, which has improved,” Iaccarino said.
Iaccarino said he has noticed a higher demand for jobs in biological sciences, health care and retailing. Popular companies that do on-campus recruiting in these fields at UW are Target, Direct Supply, AmeriCorps, the Peace Corps and Teach for America.
According to Karen Stauffacher, director of the School of Business career center, spring is a good time of the year for graduating seniors because many employers do heavier recruiting.
About half of the 360 graduating seniors from the business school have secured jobs. Iaccarino said a little less than half of the students he’s seen have jobs lined up.
For those seniors who have not secured jobs, Iaccarino and Stauffacher pointed out resources graduating seniors can still use to aid their career search.
The Wisconsin Alumni Association (www.uwalumni.com) offers networking opportunities with alumni and a career search engine. L&S and SoHE has a career center at 905 University Ave., that has advising in job search strategies, writing cover letters and resumes and interviewing tips. Iaccarino said L&S/SoHE services are available to seniors for up to one year after they graduate.
On-campus recruitment has ended for the year, but Stauffacher said students needing help with job searches should use their individual major’s career advising services.
“Students need to be really aggressive for jobs right now when positions open up,” Stauffacher said.
As a final send-off from UW, graduates will get to see Bradley Whitford of NBC’s “The West Wing” speak at commencement ceremonies Saturday, May 15 and Sunday, May 16.
