Job opportunities may hinge on 'major' concern

April 4, 2002 - As if the job search for graduating seniors was not already complicated enough, the results of a new survey released by Collegegrad.com may leave many job seekers in a state of confusion and concern.According to a study released by the Internet based entry-level job search company, employers ranked the candidate's major in college as the most important criteria they consider when looking for new employees.

In a survey that included more than 5,000 companies nationwide, the candidate's major earned 38 percent of the vote for the most important criteria considered.

Communication skills came in second, securing 24 percent of the vote, followed by internships/experience, which received 15 percent.

The candidate's personal appearance, computer skills, grade point average, alma mater and other miscellaneous qualifications made up the rest of the vote, each earning 6 percent or less.

"I was surprised by the results. Experience and communication skills are certainly important, but often times without having the right major, you won't even get to first base," said Brian Krueger, president of Collegegrad.com. "The end result of being hired is a combination of many or most of these criteria, but the major is considered to be the first and most important."

Peggy Ferguson, assistant director of Career Services at the University of Rhode Island, was also surprised to hear the results and labeled them "questionable."

"I would gather that their methodology was targeted at employers recruiting in a specific major," she said and referred to fields such as nursing, education, or accounting, which require specific training and have seen a rise in the number of opportunities recently.

According to Kim McCormack, also of Collegegrad.com, the survey included a variety of employers ranging from Enterprise Rent-A-Car to Disney to NASA.

Even still, the new data have not successfully convinced some seniors, who report they have always been told and still believe their experience and communications skills would be the keys to landing a job after graduation.

"I don't think it is true," said Michelle Stengart, a senior majoring in nutrition and food science. She said she has been using the Internet to job hunt.

"From experience with my past employers, they have looked at written and oral communication skills, experience and knowledge of the position more than at the major," Stengart said.

Krueger believes the new data reveals that times may be changing, though.

"We have found employers to be more selective than in the past- in the past they may have been more willing to train for what the graduate lacked in educational training. Now they are more likely to demand a specific major, background, skill set and experience," he said. "The market has shifted from supply-dominated to demand-dominated. Until that basic formula changes, employers will continue to dictate their needs."

Julie Bassin, also a senior, said she was surprised by the results but did not necessarily feel concerned because is determined to work in her major, textile merchandising and design.

"I think that they would look for internships or experience first. Personally, I have five internships, so I am hoping that will give me an advantage over people in the same major without experience," Bassin said. "I think this may be something for people going into college to think about."