http://www.njit.edu/cds/ Job outlook up for new college grads as NJIT launches largest-ever job fair http://www.nj.com/education/2014/03/job_outlook_up_for_new_college_graduates_as_njit_launches_largest-ever_job_fair.html NJIT students are in high demand once again during the Spring 2014 Career Fair. The Spring Career Fair is the largest ever, with 180 employers and 350 recruiters coming to recruit students for full-time jobs, summer internships and co-ops. It's the largest career fair also in terms of attendance, with 2,400 students and alumni registered for the fair, scheduled for Wednesday, March 5, from 12:30 to 5 p.m. To accommodate the 350 recruiters, the fair will be held in two locations: the Fleisher Athletic Center and the Naimoli Athletic Center. Among the 180 organizations registered to attend the fair is Seattle-based Amazon Corp., a first-time attendee. Other industry leaders that will attend include AT&T;, Johnson &Johnson;, Prudential and Verizon. NJIT has the majors most in demand by employers, according to statistics compiled by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and the New Jersey Division of Labor and Workforce Development. This spring, employers are especially interested in hiring students who major in information technology, computer science and engineering, says Gregory Mass, executive director of Career Development Services, which hosts the fair. There's also a dramatic rise in the demand for architecture students, he says. During the fair, employers will interview May graduates for full-time jobs but also interview underclassmen for internships and co-op jobs (co-ops are longer internships where students receive academic credit and compensation). "Perhaps the most significant hiring trend this year is the increasing demand for interns and co-op students," says Mass. "In addition to recruiting near graduates, close to 70 percent of the employers coming to the fair are seeking students for summer and fall internships." Employers have also expressed a keen interest in connecting with student leaders. Therefore, the Career Center will once again host its pre-career brunch for company representatives and students who belong to professional associations. Among the student groups participating will be The Society of Women Engineers, The Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers, The National Society of Black Engineers and The Association for Computing Machinery. Career fairs are an effective way for students to find jobs. Last year, 15 percent of NJIT's May 2013 graduates reported finding jobs through the career fairs. Hundreds of underclassmen, moreover, found internships and co-ops at the fairs. Internships, moreover, often lead to the coveted prize: a full-time job offer. "I often speak with parents of students about career planning and they inevitably ask me if NJIT will help their children get internships," says Mass. "The answer is yes, and I might add that unlike students from some other universities our students are well paid for their internships, which helps keep them out of debt. Employers value the technological skills our students possess.

• published: 20 Mar 2014
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