2024 College Graduates, how’s the job market?

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:The CS majors I know from Columbia snd Stanford have great tech jobs starting this summer/fall.

The humanities majors I know from Yale, Georgetown and Dartmouth have finance gigs or consulting.

The kids from Wisconsin, Denison and Miami-Ohio - also all graduating shortly - are still looking.

Yeah, how connected are the students?

All of them from the same private high school. MC/UMC families. Think the school name helps in this part of cycle.

at least you're honest, a DCUM rarity.

The college name is what matters. Not the HS.

HS name can matter if you go to a sub-par college.
But if you are at an Ivy or 15-20, you are fine.

No. I know a half dozen DCPS Ivy grads (SWW or JR) who are now tutoring or working part time at non-profits. most are living at home.

Even coming out if an Ivy it's SO much who you know.

Were they on financial aid?

No, the kids of white federal workers and similar.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Ok, so what does DCUM recommend for a kid who has good stats? DC does not have a particular passion for anything and is pretty much open to studying anything except the humanities (is decent but still hate writing). Seems every careers is up in the air with AI. I don't think he can handle plumbing (not very handy and probably does not have the strength to lift anything too heavy)

What are favorite subjects and topics?

Lots of anthropology majors at Dartmouth and Yale end up in consulting or finance…

Yeah but that’s Dartmouth and Yale. There are maybe 10-15 schools where Anthropology majors can go into lucrative fields. Even at good school schools like Michigan and UVA, Anthropology majors are not going to be getting into consulting or finance unless they’re very connected or a varsity athlete.

My dd is getting an anthropology degree at UVA and has had great internships each year, all in nonprofit though. I suspect she will graduate next year with a great job though she is not gonna be doing soulless consulting work for sure.

lol. Anthropology. She will not be getting a job that doesn't have a uniform with a paper hat.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've noticed that how attractive/put together someone also is leading to job offers more so than 5-10 years ago

the whole adorkable/hipster/"i'm too cool for being presentable" phase is out

Yes. We toured a university ranked 20-30 last week and the tour guide was a girl who was dynamic, meticulously dressed, put together. One of those humans who just radiates cool.

She was a senior and said she had a top consulting job lined up which she said was "crazy cause I'm a religion major and what the heck do I know about tech?" but she credited the college's career center.

My husband and I came away thinking-"not sure it's a reflection on the college or their counseling-that girl could have majored in studio art and would have be hired"

I really don't think you can underestimate looks, charisma, dress, soft skills.

[Anonymous]

Heee is the gift/free link to The NY Times piece today;

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/29/opinion/college-graduates-job-market.html?unlocked_article_code=1.oE0.0CC_.gaYa0MGKRddj&smid=url-share

[Anonymous]

We know two econ/math majors graduating from Yale and Princeton, both have landed jobs in investment banking and at hedge funds.

My husband’s niece will be graduating from Penn State and has real estate marketing job lined up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ok, so what does DCUM recommend for a kid who has good stats? DC does not have a particular passion for anything and is pretty much open to studying anything except the humanities (is decent but still hate writing). Seems every careers is up in the air with AI. I don't think he can handle plumbing (not very handy and probably does not have the strength to lift anything too heavy)

Civil engineering. It's not DCUM money but it's stable, and jobs are not easily off-shored or affected by AI. Your physical infrastructure is local, and you have to do a lot community outreach and engagement (which works best with people, not AI).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ok, so what does DCUM recommend for a kid who has good stats? DC does not have a particular passion for anything and is pretty much open to studying anything except the humanities (is decent but still hate writing). Seems every careers is up in the air with AI. I don't think he can handle plumbing (not very handy and probably does not have the strength to lift anything too heavy)

Civil engineering. It's not DCUM money but it's stable, and jobs are not easily off-shored or affected by AI. Your physical infrastructure is local, and you have to do a lot community outreach and engagement (which works best with people, not AI).

it's a good job, isn't affected by prestige degrees.

Nice rec.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ok, so what does DCUM recommend for a kid who has good stats? DC does not have a particular passion for anything and is pretty much open to studying anything except the humanities (is decent but still hate writing). Seems every careers is up in the air with AI. I don't think he can handle plumbing (not very handy and probably does not have the strength to lift anything too heavy)

Civil engineering. It's not DCUM money but it's stable, and jobs are not easily off-shored or affected by AI. Your physical infrastructure is local, and you have to do a lot community outreach and engagement (which works best with people, not AI).

it's a good job, isn't affected by prestige degrees.

Nice rec.

+1. My degree is in civil engineering, and I've used that skill set to build an atypical career path. But there is always a stable, local job available for a civil engineer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ok, so what does DCUM recommend for a kid who has good stats? DC does not have a particular passion for anything and is pretty much open to studying anything except the humanities (is decent but still hate writing). Seems every careers is up in the air with AI. I don't think he can handle plumbing (not very handy and probably does not have the strength to lift anything too heavy)

Civil engineering. It's not DCUM money but it's stable, and jobs are not easily off-shored or affected by AI. Your physical infrastructure is local, and you have to do a lot community outreach and engagement (which works best with people, not AI).

it's a good job, isn't affected by prestige degrees.

Nice rec.

+1. My degree is in civil engineering, and I've used that skill set to build an atypical career path. But there is always a stable, local job available for a civil engineer.

What about accounting? I've read there is a shortage but not sure if AI will affect its prospect

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ok, so what does DCUM recommend for a kid who has good stats? DC does not have a particular passion for anything and is pretty much open to studying anything except the humanities (is decent but still hate writing). Seems every careers is up in the air with AI. I don't think he can handle plumbing (not very handy and probably does not have the strength to lift anything too heavy)

Civil engineering. It's not DCUM money but it's stable, and jobs are not easily off-shored or affected by AI. Your physical infrastructure is local, and you have to do a lot community outreach and engagement (which works best with people, not AI).

I understand physically building what the civil engineer designs is not easily lost to AI…but wouldn’t AI make an experienced civil engineer significantly more productive in terms of what they do?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ok, so what does DCUM recommend for a kid who has good stats? DC does not have a particular passion for anything and is pretty much open to studying anything except the humanities (is decent but still hate writing). Seems every careers is up in the air with AI. I don't think he can handle plumbing (not very handy and probably does not have the strength to lift anything too heavy)

Civil engineering. It's not DCUM money but it's stable, and jobs are not easily off-shored or affected by AI. Your physical infrastructure is local, and you have to do a lot community outreach and engagement (which works best with people, not AI).

it's a good job, isn't affected by prestige degrees.

Nice rec.

+1. My degree is in civil engineering, and I've used that skill set to build an atypical career path. But there is always a stable, local job available for a civil engineer.

What about accounting? I've read there is a shortage but not sure if AI will affect its prospect

Audit work is ripe for AI displacement. Tax work is a safer path.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've noticed that how attractive/put together someone also is leading to job offers more so than 5-10 years ago

the whole adorkable/hipster/"i'm too cool for being presentable" phase is out

Yes. We toured a university ranked 20-30 last week and the tour guide was a girl who was dynamic, meticulously dressed, put together. One of those humans who just radiates cool.

She was a senior and said she had a top consulting job lined up which she said was "crazy cause I'm a religion major and what the heck do I know about tech?" but she credited the college's career center.

My husband and I came away thinking-"not sure it's a reflection on the college or their counseling-that girl could have majored in studio art and would have be hired"

I really don't think you can underestimate looks, charisma, dress, soft skills.

these things also shift with the times - after the financial crisis till i think about 2022...so a good 10-14 years, you had the whole adorkable/body positivity/tech dudes wearing whatever vibe --

-- but in 2023/2024, there's been a vibe shift. it's also partly why there's been a shift of a-/b+ students who are good looking, looking to go south/west for school.

sabrina carpenter, sydney sweeney...these wouldn't have gotten the same traction in 2015.

[Anonymous]

My daughter is a 2022 grad - she still has her initial job but more than 60% of friend group have been laid off from a variety of firms - most from finance or consulting positions that were remote. When she complained about going to the office and long hours while her consultant friends "hardly worked" from home, I told her that would not last for long - and it didn't. Most get severance packages for a few months - but McKinsey, PWC, Deloitte and other smaller firms have all down sized recently.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've noticed that how attractive/put together someone also is leading to job offers more so than 5-10 years ago

the whole adorkable/hipster/"i'm too cool for being presentable" phase is out

Yes. We toured a university ranked 20-30 last week and the tour guide was a girl who was dynamic, meticulously dressed, put together. One of those humans who just radiates cool.

She was a senior and said she had a top consulting job lined up which she said was "crazy cause I'm a religion major and what the heck do I know about tech?" but she credited the college's career center.

My husband and I came away thinking-"not sure it's a reflection on the college or their counseling-that girl could have majored in studio art and would have be hired"

I really don't think you can underestimate looks, charisma, dress, soft skills.

It's well known that the big consulting firms hire the lookers who may or may not be all that smart to be the customer facing reps.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Heee is the gift/free link to The NY Times piece today;

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/29/opinion/college-graduates-job-market.html?unlocked_article_code=1.oE0.0CC_.gaYa0MGKRddj&smid=url-share

thanks for the gift.

Pick a major that's in demand; CS majors are still in demand as are accounting majors.

In the here and now, you’re in pretty good shape if you studied computer science, engineering, mathematics or math-intensive business fields such as finance and accounting, according to Burning Glass’s research. Education and health majors are also sought after.

Not so in demand: graduates in public safety and security, recreation and wellness studies and general business fields such as marketing.

Employers are desperate to hire accounting majors, Michael Steinitz, the senior executive director of professional talent solutions at Robert Half International, a human resources consulting firm, told me.

And if you fear AI will take over your job:

The most successful grads have a combination of technical skills and what might be broadly called people skills, including the ability to communicate in print and in person, motivate and work in teams. Examples from Sigelman: data scientists who are good at writing and humanities majors in marketing who learn structured query language.