UGA Today states that the recent graduates in the Class of ’15 “will enter the best job market for new college graduates since the Great Recession.” But why is it that everyone is always spreading a more gloomy message about how competitive the job market is for college graduates? As college students, we’re told that we need to maintain the highest GPA possible, do research with faculty, and write and publish papers–all to be as competitive as we possibly can when we finally reach graduation time. We’re not hearing the good parts. We’re not hearing the parts that will give us hope and retain the optimistic spirits we entered our degree programs with. However, a story originally posted in UGA Today cites five big reasons that UGA graduates can expect strong job prospects. We’ll take you through how these apply to online grads just as well. 

1. Number of employers at the fall job fair has nearly doubled since the recession.

Although there are over a dozen career fairs hosted at UGA throughout the school year, the campus-wide Fall Career Fair brings in the largest amount of employers and students every year. In 2014, this Fall Career Fair brought in 250 employers looking for UGA grads. Many of these companies are Fortune 500 and many are offering full-time jobs. Over the course of the year, over 800 unique employers make their appearance on campus to recruit. 

You, as an online student or grad, are 100% a part of this. The Career Fairs are completely open to you. The special events catered towards hiring students are supposed to be part of your college experience as well. An online degree from UGA carries just as much weight as a traditional one, so if you have the capacity to, come into Athens for the Career Fairs and utilize the opportunity that being a UGA student gives you. 

2. There is an upward trend of UGA graduates getting full-time jobs.

In 2010, the Career Center reported that 52% of the graduating class of UGA were employed. This has shifted upwards quite a bit in 2014, when the report showed 63% of the graduating class that year being employed. As the job market improves and UGA’s academic standing continues to rise, so too does the value of your degree. Many of our online grads already hold full-time positions, but this trend projects that your UGA degree can get you further and progress your career. 

3. Recruiters are posting thousands of opportunities on UGA job sites. 

On www.hireUGA.com, a total of 5,410 internships and full-time jobs were posted from the fall to the spring, directed specifically towards UGA students and grads. This late in the recruiting season, there are still around 1,300 postings on DAWGlink, the job search site for UGA students and alumni. Michelle Carter, a career consultant for the Terry College of Business asserts that this is a high number at this time in the year. 

4. Career counselors report more students are getting multiple job offers. 

Anecdotally, career counselors like Laura Garcia, a career consultant for the Terry College, say they are receiving more cases of students contacting them and asking for help in making the decision between taking multiple jobs. This was definitely not happening a few years earlier, signaling the increasing allure of UGA students. Yes, the economy is better, and yes, UGA admission more competitive, but it’s leading to all of UGA’s students, online included, looking much more attractive to the recruiters. 

5. The Career Center is reaching thousands of students.

UGA currently boasts a total of around 35,200 graduate and undergraduate students. Of those, the Career Center reached 10,000 this past year, with over 40,000 contacts with students through the various services they provide. A big thing that many graduate students and alumni don’t know is that there are resources designed specifically for them, here at the Resources for Current Graduate Students page and Alumni Career Resources page. There’s even a specific Career Consultant for alumni, Bethany Mills. If you have questions or concerns, the Career Center is not just for undergraduate students. It’s designed and equipped to assist all UGA students, traditional or non-traditional. 

 

This article was modified from UGA Today’s original post, published on April 28, 2015.