What are the top ten personal qualities and skills employers look for in college graduates according to NACE's Job Outlook 2004 survey?


1. Communication skills (verbal and
    written)

2. Honesty/integrity

3. Interpersonal skills (relates well to
    others)

4. Motivation/Initiative

5. Strong work ethic

6. Teamwork skills (works well
    with others)

7. Analytical skills

8. Flexibility/adaptability

9. Computer skills

10. Detail-oriented



What do college students and new graduates look for in an employer, according to students responding to NACE's 2004 Graduating Student & Alumni Survey?

1. Integrity of organization in its dealings
    with its employees (treats them with 
    Honesty and fairness)

2. Stability (provides secure future)

3. Opportunity for advancement

4. Ethical business practices (doesn't
    cut corners or break any laws)

5. Good benefits package

 

6. Job duties/responsibilities

7. Continuing education/training opportunities

8. People you will work with

9. Starting salary offer

10. Geographic location


What kind of benefits do students and new graduates look for, according to students responding to Nace's 2004 Graduating Student & Alumni Survey? (The following are listed in order of importance.)

1. Medical insurance
2. 401(k)retirement plan
3. Annual salary increases
4. Dental insurance
5. Life insurance
6. More than 2 weeks vacation
7. Tuition reimbursement
8. Pension plan
9. Bonus/commission plans
10. Family-friendly benefits

Does it pay to have a college education?
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics says, "The more you learn, the more you earn—and the less likely you are to be unemployed." They have put together this handy chart to prove the point.

What is the average starting salary for a new college graduate?
There is no single average salary for all college graduates.

What are the top jobs and how much do they pay?

According to the Fall 2006 NACE (National Association of Colleges and Employers) Salary Survey, these are the top jobs for 2005-2006 graduates. (Jobs are ranked by number of offers reported. Data are for bachelor's degree candidates.)

Employer Type                                             Average Starting Salary Offer

Management Trainee (Entry-Level Mgmt.)................................................................	$38,408
Sales....................................................................................................................	$37,622
Teaching...............................................................................................................	$31,954
Financial/Treasury Analysis.....................................................................................	$46,051
Project Engineering................................................................................................	$49,759
Consulting.............................................................................................................	$49,991
Accounting (Private)...............................................................................................	$43,987
Design/Constuction Engineering...............................................................................	$47,881
Accounting (Public).................................................................................................	$44,776
Software Design & Development..............................................................................	$53,330

Note: To access more information from the Fall 2006 NACE Salary Survey, please call the Career Services Center (907)786-4513.