At UMBC, Optimism About Jobs, Economy

Standing in the middle of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County's Retriever Activities Center, seniors Kathleen Engelbretson and Michael Hincke were on a mission.

Hincke, who is graduating in May 2011 with a degree in information systems, and Engelbretson, who is graduating in December with a degree in media and communications, attended the student Career Fair in hopes of finding job opportunities.

Hincke was dressed casually, having just come from class. Engelbretson was dressed up. "They say people perceive you in three seconds," she said.

Across the floor of the center, roughly 1,100 students and 112 employers got acquainted, talked job openings and shared resumes. Despite the economic downturn looming as students approach graduation, most had an upbeat attitude about finding employment.

James Ruffin, who graduated in May of this year with a master's degree in information systems, has a full-time job but was looking for a change.

"I think the economy makes everyone nervous, but you have to look ahead," he said.

Ruffin said some employers had openings in what he was looking for and others didn't, but it was worthwhile to visit them to find out.

Anne Scholl-Fieldler, director of career services for UMBC, said the university has found that students who attend career fairs and networking events are more likely to get a job when they graduate.

According to a 2009-2010 report conducted by the university on student job placement, 59 percent who responded said they had full-time jobs. This number was down from 64 percent for 2008-2009, but up from 51 percent in 2007-2008.

At the fair, posters were up about the 30-second "commercial" students should use to articulate clearly and concisely to potential employers what they want to do.

"People will say, 'What do you want to do' and you have to be able to answer that question," Scholl-Fielder said.

She said it's easy to tell when recruiters are impressed by a student.

"They make little notes on the back of the resume," she said.

Kevin Gordon, a recruiter with Virginia-based Computer Sciences Corporation, said he was impressed with the caliber of students at the fair. His company still hires roughly 350 college graduates annually, so he was on the lookout for candidates.

"They're very knowledgeable," he said.

Smaller companies such as Raytheon Solipsys in Fulton have benefited from larger companies cutting back on internships. Jody Simon, a recruiter for the company, said in the past she wouldn't see as many highly qualified computer science majors stopping in at career fairs because they would be hired at companies where they interned.

While she will only hire between four and eight college graduates, Simon said she is pleased with whom she met Wednesday.

"This is a good thing for us," she said. "We're actually seeing a lot of good applicants."

All of these positive signs led Hincke and Engelbretson to rate the mood at the fair as positive, despite the sour economy.

Hincke, who came back to school after working full time for four years, said he returned to college to make himself more marketable. He said he's confident he'll be able to find a position.

Engelbretson said she is trying to be selective about the jobs for which she applies.

"Job security is a big thing for me," she said. "I think I'll find something. I have a good resume."