Despite frustrations,
the job market for
graduates is improving.

JENNIFER FINER STAFF WRITER

creasingly difficult, the overall
market is more promising for
this most recent
Graduate Karen
batch of grads
Gula with her
than other recent
parents.
graduating class-
es. But law schools are running
counter to the general trend, ac-
cording to Jack Crusoe, the ex-
ecutive director of Wayne State's
University Counseling and
Placement Services.
The job market for 1995 grad-
uates has improved from a year
ago. A Michigan State Univer-
sity survey of 545 businesses in-
dicates a 5.9 percent increase in
employers' hiring intentions for
new college graduates.
Medical and health-care posi-
tions, finance, accounting, engi-
neering and computer-related
jobs continue to be some of the
most viable and growing career
opportunities.
By and large, aspiring lawyers
and teachers are among the pro-
fessionals who can expect to
have a difficult time finding jobs.
"In general, the job market from
Wayne's perspective is out-
isa Stern calls law school standing," Mr. Crusoe said. "Our
"the big lie."
students have benefited fium the
"Be a doctor or a lawyer?" sustained growth in southeast-
she said. "It should be, be a ern lower Michigan. The concern
doctor or be unemployed," is, does a graduate's quality of
said the 25-year-old South- employment match his expecta-
field resident and recent tions? Some may have to take
WSU Law School graduate. a less desirable job for a while
When Ms. Stern's before securing a job that match-
generation was grow- es original expectations."
ing up, parents often
It took Wayne State Univer-
encouraged their children to pur- sity graduate Karen Gula two
sue degrees in law (and medi- weeks to find her job with Vales-
cine) where jobs and salaries sis Communications in Livonia.
were plentiful.
Ms. Gula, a marketing major
Now, Ms. Stern and others with a specialization in logistics,
are learning that guaranteed knew ahead of time her
success in the legal field is not prospects for employment were
necessarily the case.
good.
While securing a job after col-
"Based on everything I've
lege has actually become in- heard and seen. this is a grow-

W a ke

ing industry," Ms. Gula said.
Even those who have not
graduated are beginning their
job search. Brian Golding, 22,
graduates from MSU in Decem-
ber. Like an increasing number
of students, he recently began
sending out resumes, inter-
viewing and keeping his eyes
open for leads.
Ms. Stern is hoping for a lead
by Aug. 1.
"If I don't have any by Aug. 1,
then I will worry," Ms. Stern
said. "I've given myself a few
months. If I don't have a job by
the fall, I may become hysteri-
cal. By then, I will run out of
money and I'll have to get a job
as a waitress."
Still, Ms. Stern remains op-
timistic. She has sent out four
resumes and has had two inter-
views. She plans to conduct a se-
rious search after taking the bar
exam in July.
"Eventually everyone finds a
job," she said. "It just takes time."
On April 29, Erin Herold,
walked to the tune of "Pomp and
Circumstance." Now, the Uni-
versity of Michigan graduate has
a degree in elementary educa-
tion and no job. She's not sur-
prised. Just a little disheartened.
"I knew going into the field I
would have a hard time finding
a job," Ms. Herold said. "Yet, I
cannot see myself doing some-
thing else and being happy."
Ms. Herold sent out between
50 and 60 applications. She's
heard a lot of "No, we're not hir-
ing" and "It's too early to say if
we need teachers."
If she doesn't get a job, like
others in her field she has the op-
tion of substitute teaching.
"It's not my first choice," she
said. "But, I'm fortunate because
it allows me to work in my
field." ❑