College graduates with technical degrees are entering into what is being called a "just-in-time" employment market -- meaning high-tech companies are waiting until the last possible minute to hire grads.
As a result, new tech grads must be patient, get creative, and be willing to fill out their resumes with unique experiences should they not snatch up a job just out of school, says Tom Tarantelli, director of the Career Development Center at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
"To land one of the few jobs available, today's techies must get creative, stay competitive, and most of all be patient."
He offers a few tips for high-tech grads vying for job offers or facing the possibility of temporarily padding their resume.
* Focus on one sector at a time, but be flexible about the industry. Job-seekers who can do this significantly increase their chances of finding that perfect position. The defense sector in particular, says Tarantelli, has a wealth of jobs. Firms such as Lockheed Martin have actually ratcheted up their recruiting and hiring programs.
* Think about general contract employment or consulting jobs. Those positions open the door for graduating seniors to permanent employment at a company.
* While it may be every techie's dream to work for IBM, Microsoft, or GE, think about accepting a position at a smaller company. Often, says Tarantelli, such organizations offer valuable experience and opportunities for advancement that larger corporations do not.
* Cultivate your other talents. Tarantelli says that students who display exceptional writing or personal skills, for example, often have an edge over candidates for technical jobs.
* Don't forget the places you've already worked. Even though you may not want to return to a company where you interned in the past, re-send them your resume--it may lead to a permanent position.
* Be a substitute teacher. Schools are scooping up subs with degrees in physics, biology, computer science, and engineering. Being a sub can be a fairly lucrative and rewarding way to show companies that you have patience, a good sense of humor, and that you're motivated to stay busy.
* Accept co-ops, internships, and part-time and summer employment in your industry, even though your goal may be a full-time position. "Many companies think of these temporary positions as trial runs for the permanent spots," says Tarantelli.
Above all, says Tarantelli, "Network, network, network. You can't just sit back and passively search the Internet for a career. More and more students today are finding jobs the old-fashioned way: pounding the pavement and making face-to-face connections with prospective employers."
About RensselaerRensselaer Polytechnic Institute was founded at Troy, N.Y., in 1824. It is the nation's oldest technological university. The school offers degrees in engineering, the sciences, information technology, architecture, management, and the humanities and social sciences. Institute programs serve undergraduates, graduate students, and working professionals around the world. Rensselaer faculty are known for their pre-eminence in research conducted in a wide range of research centers that are characterized by strong industry partnerships. The Institute is especially well known for its success in the transfer of technology from the laboratory to the marketplace so that new discoveries and inventions benefit human life, protect the environment, and strengthen economic development.
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