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The former president of Monster.com’s North American division told a University of Wisconsin student crowd Thursday night their generation will have “more

opportunities than any generation preceding it” despite the current financial crisis.

Steve Pogorzelski, a UW alumnus and former leader of the popular career website, did say the economic crisis would make finding a career difficult for students just graduating college.

“In the short term it will be a hard to secure jobs because of the economic environment in the next few years,” Pogorzelski said.

But with the baby boomer generation retiring, Pogorzelski said, young people will have the opportunity to move into a track that will lead to higher-paying jobs, and keep them due to a declining birth rate.

Another aspect of Pogorzelski’s seminar included explaining the current shift in employment trends.

“The balance has shifted between the employee to the employer in the past 10 years,” he said. “However, the pendulum is now swinging back toward the employee in this tough economic environment. People are now loyal to their careers and less loyal to companies.”

After reflecting on his years as North American President of Monster.com, Pogorzelski said one of his most important lessons was satisfying and understanding the needs of his consumers, who spanned 62 countries.

In addition, Pogorzelski also offered insight to students entering the workforce after leaving UW.

“The number of Fortune 1000 companies hiring college grads in the past two years has declined,” Pogorzelski said. “Go pursue something that you love because at the end of the day that will be second to money.”

The Wisconsin Alumni Association sponsored the event as one part in a series of lectures he will give on campus this week.

“Our overall goal is to connect alumni to the university and one way we are doing that is bringing them back to speak to current students,” said Gina Evans, WAA career and corporate relations specialist. “The student-to-alumni connection is one of our largest goals.”

Evans said as a part of WAA’s programs more alumni will be returning to UW to speak with undergraduates.

“One of the most interesting things I think about is how alumni have been able to weave in and out of jobs and how they have ended up where they are today,” Evans said. “I think it’s important to understand the different career paths that alumni take.”

Kristin Westphal, a UW sophomore majoring in engineering, attended Pogorzelski’s seminar in hopes of receiving advice regarding her future class choices and potential career path.

“I wanted to understand what types of engineering I should go into, specifically between biomedical and civil,” Westphal said.

Westphal said Pogorzelski’s experience and advice may affect her decisions as she considers job availability in the engineering field.

Pogorzelski will speak again Monday night from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. in Grainger Hall. His topic will be “Finding a Job in Today’s Tough Economic Environment.”