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College Grads Learn the Fourth 'R': Recession

Job growth crawls to 5-year low as students prep their résumés

By Wesley Oliver,  Newser Staff

Posted May 4, 2008 7:55 PM CDT

(Newser) – If college grads are looking glum this year, it's likely because they face a tighter job market once they turn their tassels. More than one million grads will look harder to find work, the Christian Science Monitor reports, and job growth has hit a 5-year low. Companies "are just being a lot more cautious," one analyst said. "It's just starting to hit the college market."

Finance and construction are the hardest hit, but there's some good news: Average salary offers rose by 5.3% this year, and the number of grad-targeted jobs grew by 8%. To get those gigs, one expert advises writing job-specific cover letters and résumés. Another dropped this bomb: “Those who don’t connect the dots are going to be working at paper-hat-and-name-tag jobs.”

About 1.5 million college grads are expected to have a harder time finding a job this year.
About 1.5 million college grads are expected to have a harder time finding a job this year.   (Index Stock)
Wendy Barranco, a college student and Iraq war veteran  pauses for a photo outside her library at the Pasadena City College library in Pasadena, Calif. Tuesday, March 18, 2008.
Wendy Barranco, a college student and Iraq war veteran pauses for a photo outside her library at the Pasadena City College library in Pasadena, Calif. Tuesday, March 18, 2008.   (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
Growth in the job market has slowed to its lowest levels in 5 years.
Growth in the job market has slowed to its lowest levels in 5 years.   (Index Stock)
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