Advice

How Is the Job Market?

By Burt Nadler, director of the College Career Center

While at first this may appear a simple question, when pondered more deeply, we recognize challenges for those who try to answer. Let's start with a metaphorical and historical journey. In a time not so long ago, and a place close to home, we went to the butcher shop for meats, the bakery for bread and, yes, cakes and cookies, and produce store for veggies and fruit. While milk was delivered home in early morning, if needed we went to the grocery store for refills, and specialty items. For drugs and sundries (what is a sundry?) we went to the corner pharmacy (not always on the corner). And, once a week or so, we went to the supermarket for canned goods and other items bought in large quantities. Today's mega markets provide one-stop-shopping for food, drug, culinary, and, in some cases, clothing, gardening, home repair, and appliance needs. But, what of this "job market" I am constantly asked about by deans, department chairs, faculty, students, alumni, and, of course, parents?

Is there a magical mega market that contains all the jobs in the world, including those on shelves in recent college graduate or internship seeker aisles? Is it a cyber edifice built with binary code on the Internet? Can we predict or count inventories available? Should forecasts of supply and demand influence advice given your sons and daughters? Or, is the so-called job market just a series of reflective (not projective nor predictive) statistical analyses that truly only impact the jobs (possible re-election) of elected officials? What do you think? Economics students taught me prefixes that might help. From the Greek makrós, "macro" means very large in scale, scope; a combining form for "large," "long," or "great." "Micro," from mīkrós, is a combining form for "small," "very small in comparison with others of its kind," or "localized, focused in scope or area." So, for a "macro job market," we might answer the title question with analyses of national or regional unemployment figures, job creation numbers, and industry sectors that, based on opinion surveys, capital investment and loan data, and other criteria, anticipate expansion. If we had this information, what would it truly mean for University of Rochester students and soon to be alumni? By focusing on "micro job markets," we might get closer to a meaningful and inspirational answer that allows us, as we should, to address efforts of individuals actively seeking internships or postbaccalaureate options.

We at the Career and Internship Center found it strategically, behaviorally, and, yes, emotionally best to work one student at a time and, therefore, on individualized strategies. Student micro job markets, articulated as internship and job search goals, are described via fields, functions (or titles) and firm phrases. One example of a micro market is the field of medicine; the functions of research assistant or technician; and firms where opportunities exist as colleges and universities, pharmaceutical firms and national research facilities. Another would be the fields of public relations, advertising and marketing; functions of account management, marketing research, event planning, as well as web and print writing and editing; with firms including public relations and advertising agencies, market research organizations, not for profits as well as retailers, businesses, and corporate entities. And, yet another, the field could be government and policy; the functions policy researcher and analyst, legislative aid, research assistant, campaign or constituent relations assistant, and editorial assistant; with firms being Non Governmental Organizations, think tanks, lobbying groups, government agencies and offices of elected officials, as well as colleges and universities. Defining micro markets using the "three Fs" is critical to those seeking post- and pre-commencement success. What micro markets are your sons and daughters shopping in? Where are these markets? And, dare I ask, how are these markets? Are the baked goods fresh and tasty? Is the produce ripe? Do they have a clearly identified Rx for success? Or, are they following time-tested and well-tasted recipes that will yield desired outcomes?

Those seeking post-commencement positions as well as post- and pre-baccalaureate internships in specific fields and functions must identify firms within particular geographic target cities. Those seeking internships or jobs within specific fields must shop at clearly identifiable specialty markets. The inventory of products (opportunities) within each can be uncovered, or orders made, via reactive (responding to postings) and proactive (self-initiated and networking driven) efforts, using targeted resumes, cover letters, networking notes and follow up communiqués. We all should encourage our very talented yet extremely diverse and often focus-adverse students to, metaphorically, prepare lists of products sought or recipes before conducting outreach required to maximize micro market shopping strategies.

Internship and jobseekers wishing "the tastiest confections" should shop at the top bakeries in their cities of choice. And, if they are looking for the best chocolate chip cookies, cheesecake or pecan pie, they must depend upon referrals of others (networking) or rankings (hit lists) readily available through a little cyber sleuthing or assertive inquiries. Those wanting the freshest produce, poultry, fish or fowl, for a well-conceived gourmet meal, will follow detailed recipes (targeted strategies) and seek out the best purveyors of quality goods. In some cities it is clear that there are only one or two markets, and in others there are larger quantities of quality options. Internetworking, use of Internet tools, and interpersonal networking, directly contacting individuals and seeking consideration, referrals, as well as advice and support are keys to job and internship shopping success.

In the past, we also had outdoor markets, with vendors visiting town squares and enthusiastically barkering products. Prior to the advent of the Internet, transformation of recruiting practices, outsourcing, and declining economy, on-campus recruiting was, for many, a traveling marketplace and visible barometer forecasting macro job markets. When we could see this week's specials (the list of who was recruiting on campus), and how often certain positions or management training programs were promoted in varied fields, we could answer queries about this "on-campus recruiting market." Some would generalize (perhaps inappropriately) to broader "college graduate markets." Today, individual student micro markets are accessed via quality and quantity of actions, not by numbers of recruiters nor data generated by regional or national organizations. Goal focused, self-initiated and direct contact, as well as responses to postings and attendance at Career and Internship Center established events, definitely yield success. Monitoring of these efforts do yield appropriate answers to job market queries.

In reality, questions should be: How are the job shoppers? Are they able to clearly express goals? Are they well versed in reactive and proactive techniques? Are they effective users of web-based investigative and networking tools? And, do they have coaching available as they progress step by step? At Rochester, our answer to all of these inquiries is yes, if they use the Career and Internship Center and have attended the appropriate seminar sessions and had at least three appointments with a counselor.

Effective identification of and interactions with specialty micro markets do yield pre-and post-commencement internships as well as post-bac offers. Our mission is to train your shoppers well and empower them to be effective identifiers and competent customers of markets that meet stated goals. Our student actions, their effective micro-marketing strategies, do yield desired outcomes. Please encourage your students to visit with us so they successfully complete all steps required. While individual appointments can be made, attending one, two, or more of our topical seminars, and stopping by 302 Meliora Hall to discuss circumstances with a Resource Counselor, who is always available in our Career and Internship Center Library are also recommended. And, cyber interactions via www.rochester.edu/careercenter/students/internship/index.html and www.rochester.edu/careercenter/students/jobs/index.html can inspire internship and job search first steps.