Job Prospects Promising For 2015 College Graduates

The job outlook for recent college graduates is more promising this year than last.

A recent survey from the National Association of Colleges and Employers shows nearly 10 percent more new college graduates will be hired this year compared to 2014. 

UC Davis senior Maria Muñoz already has her job lined up.

She will work as a field engineer for a general contractor in the San Francisco Bay Area when she graduates this month with a B.S. in Civil Engineering.

Muñoz said her aggressive efforts helped paved the way.  

“I started as early as my freshman year, for me, definitely all the networking and preparing I did during college helped," said Muñoz. 

Muñoz advises students to make connections now. 

“Take advantage as early as you can and go out there, talk to professors, talk to professionals, network, join clubs,” she said. “Most of the campus clubs are connected with professional chapters, so that’s another networking opportunity.” 

Muñoz is one of many grads starting their careers in a much healthier job market. 

“Students who are graduating in 2015, they started college four years ago when the economy was not good," said Janice Morand, a career advisor at the UC Davis Internship and Career Center. “On campus now, we're seeing a real change in hiring of students, students are getting job offers earlier.” 

She also said some students are having to make choices over which job offer to take. 

“Students are coming in to meet with me to discuss multiple offers and decide what will be the best fit for them,” said Morand. “That's a real change from some previous years." 

Morand echoed Muñoz' advice for students: start marketing efforts early.