The search for a post-graduate job is almost always a stressful time for a college senior. In Northeast Wisconsin however, some students have lined up jobs before graduation thanks to an improving job market for recent grads.
At St. Norbert College, students who have already secured jobs had majors ranging from accounting to secondary education.
"For me, it actually stemmed our of my student teaching experience in the fall," said Megan Griffith, who will teach at Notre Dame Academy in Green Bay next year.
Others got their jobs through internships, like Allison Parra. She said getting a job before graduation was fairly common this year.
"Many of my friends are graduating with a job that they will be able to start right out of college," Parra said.
Statistics explain why.
"Employers expect to hire 8.3% more recent college graduates, which is good news for grads," said MaryEllen Olson, Director of Career and Professional Development at St. Norbert College.
Many who already have jobs said they started the process early.
"I just applied wherever I could and went to the campus career fairs," said Adam Laluzerne, an accounting major who was hired by Acuity insurance.
That's a sentiment echoed by UW-Oshkosh student Kathryn Boyea.
"It was a lot of work," said Boyea, a marketing major already working for AIA Corporation in Neenah. "You really have to be flexible in what positions you're willing to take."
Students who study business, engineering, and computer science and information are in especially high demand, according to experts.
Recent college grads also have an advantage because employers are looking for those with "soft skills," according to Olson. This includes interpersonal skills and adaptability.
