Published: Sept. 27, 2011

For the second year in a row, the University of Colorado Boulder saw an increase in companies seeking to hire CU-Boulder graduates with full-time job postings on campus jumping 23 percent for the 2010-11 school year, compared with 2009-10.

The number of interviews companies conducted on campus also saw an uptick, increasing 9.6 percent during the same period, a testament to the quality of a CU degree even in a weak job market, according to Lisa Severy, director of CU-Boulder's Career Services office.

"Our recent graduates are having a lot of success in the job search, especially people who are prepared and engaged in their job search," Severy said. "The best ways to be engaged while you are a student is to take advantage of campus career fairs and information sessions, use the campus job posting tools and network outside of school."

In terms of sheer volume of job listings, technical skills are in high demand, Severy said. For example, graduates with degrees in computer science and electrical engineering are always in high demand. A relatively new trend in the job market is companies seeking social media specialists, she said.

"This is a niche many graduates can fill, because companies don't have this expertise yet," Severy said. "Graduates of any major who are knowledgeable about social media and enjoy working with it should have a lot of opportunities right now."

With so many applicants for every job, one would think it would make recruiters' jobs easier, but that is not necessarily the case, according to Severy.

"We hear from recruiters that they are avoiding the mass marketing of jobs because they get way too many applicants," Severy said. "Instead, they target small, quality pools of candidates that they can trust, which includes our system that is open only to CU-Boulder students and graduates."

Since 2009, CU-Boulder has offered job search assistance to alumni, free of charge. Services such as the university's online job-posting tool can be a real benefit because only alumni can access the system, she said.

The increase in recruiting activities also is impacting the upcoming fall career and internship fair on campus. While the event usually is held in the University Memorial Center's Glenn Miller Ballroom, this year more space was required, Severy said.

"We're sticking employers everywhere we can find space to provide as many opportunities to our students and graduates as possible," she said.

The fall career and internship fair for CU-Boulder students and alumni will be held Oct. 5 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the UMC. The fair is open only to CU-Boulder students and alumni.

For more information about Career Services and the fall career and internship fair visit careerservices.colorado.edu/public/.