Job Outlook: What Do Employers Look for in Candidates?

Spotlight Online for Career Services Professionals, January 6, 2010

With the state of the job market leading employers to have higher expectations for the candidates they hire, there is increased emphasis on grade point average (GPA). More employers are screening candidates for GPA than at any other time over the past five years. Currently, nearly three out of four say they screen for GPA, according to responses to the Job Outlook 2010 survey.

Approximately 95 percent of those who use GPA reported their cutoff; 63 percent of respondents cited 3.0, the same cutoff point since 2003 when NACE first collected the information.

However, a high GPA is just one component employers consider in their candidates. And if two candidates are equally qualified, what helps employers choose between them? Based on attributes provided in the survey, a student’s leadership experience has a slight edge over other factors. The top factors are as follows:

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  Has held leadership position
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  Major
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  High GPA (3.0 or above)
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  Has been involved in extracurricular activities
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  School attended
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  Has done volunteer work

Responding employers were able to add to the list of attributes likely to influence them to hire one candi­date over another, and more than one-quarter did so. In examining the other write-in attributes, it is evident that employers see a tremendous value in the experience that a candidate possesses. For example, a total of 25 respondents indicated that a candidate’s previous internship experience would influence their hiring decision.

Not only do employ­ers prefer candidates with experience, but they also prefer can­didates with relevant work experience. When asked about the preferred source of that experience, more than half cited internships and co-ops.

An Unconsidered Job: Civilian positions with the US Military

An Unconsidered Job Area That’s Taking Flight

Spotlight Online for Career Services Professionals, February 3, 2010

When it comes to college students seeking “hidden job opportunities,” the United States military is a good place to look, according to Pat Stokes, marketing specialist with the U.S. Air Force. Still, it remains largely unconsidered as a landing place for college graduates. Why?

“Most people are under the impression that to work for the Air Force you have to join the Air Force,” Stokes says. “As a civilian employee, you can serve your country without committing to military service.”

Stokes explains that the Air Force is one of the nation’s largest employers, with more than 143,000 civil service positions. And, at a time when many employers have frozen or cut their hiring, the Air Force is growing.

“In contrast to most employers, the [economy’s] impact on the Air Force has been minimal,” Stokes points out. “In fact, over the next five years, the Air Force plans to hire an additional 24,000 civilians into its work force.”

Career opportunities include positions in auditing, civil engineering, communications, contracting, education/training, financial management, intelligence, international affairs, history, logistics, medical, personnel/manpower, program management, public affairs, scientists/engineers, security, social services, and more.

Each career has its own unique requirements. To best determine what each career requires, career services practitioners should direct students to www.afpc.randolph.af.mil/afcivilianjobs and have them click on their desired career fields for specific qualifications, frequently asked questions, and directions on how to request more information. There are also instructions on how to apply for civil service jobs; information about career fields, benefits, and job searches; and other resources.

The web site includes a tab for entry-level opportunities for college graduates. Under this tab, Stokes points out, there are two Air Force internship programs for college graduates: the Palace Acquire Intern Program, for a variety of career fields, and the COPPER CAP Program, for contracting specialists only.

“These intern programs provide civilian employment opportunities for personal and professional growth in more than 20 different career fields,” Stokes says. “The intern programs offer full-time employment with a structured two- to three-year training program, putting employees on the fast track with performance-based promotions. Benefits include eligibility for $20,000 in student loan reimbursements and some locations include recruitment bonuses.”

Those students who are not interested in an intern program or who do not meet the eligibilities can click on “Search Student Jobs” to discover other educational employment opportunities, including the Student Educational Employment Program, Student Career Experience Program, apprenticeships, felowships, grants, and scholarships.

“These opportunities are available to eligible students from high school through the doctorate level,” Stokes says.