VCU students struggle for jobs, internships
SAMANTHA DOWNING AND KELSEY RADCLIFFE - Contributing Writers
Issue date: 3/16/09 Section: News
re common, students have a harder time finding jobs. Even VCU business students face a more competitive job market in light of the economic crisis.
According to Mike Eisenman, director of the Business and Engineering Career Center at VCU, companies are cutting back on the amount of internships offered.
"Companies that used to do 20 internships are doing five," Eisenman said. "Companies that used to do four internships are doing one."
Now that there are fewer internships and companies are doing layoffs, Eisenman said the job market is becoming increasingly difficult to enter.
"Not only are there fewer jobs, but there are more people looking for them," Eisenman said.
Dean Banton, an accounting student in the VCU post-graduate certificate program, is struggling to find a job.
"I'm looking for an accounting position," Banton said. "A lot of accounting firms have stopped hiring and I can't find a job."
Banton faces a challenge unique to non-traditional students.
"I have no accounting experience," Banton said. "I can't do an internship because most of those are unpaid and I have a wife and two kids."
VCU accounting professor James Holland said the hardships business students face are very common.
"The economy is very difficult right now," Holland said. "It can be quite depressing."
Even with the uncertain economic situation, there are more business students who plan to graduate this year than in years past.
"We're seeing a trend toward business … and specifically we've seen a significant trend toward accounting," Holland said.
Despite the current recession, Eisenman believes that a business degree helps students to be treated as professionals and gives them an advantage.
"I think that students in this school have chosen a track that's going to stand them well in whatever economy we're in," Eisenman said. "Right now, it's not a good economy."
Accounting major Monica Sok said she would have done things differently if she had known what the economy would be like.
"I think I would have tried to look for an internship earlier and I guess start my job search earlier," accounting major Monica Sok said.
VCU finance major Mihir Patel said the biggest challenge is getting into the industry.
According to Holland, now is the best time to focus on developing skills.
"In a global economy you're going to need the financial skills to be able to navigate through the difficulties we're facing," Holland said.
Holland expects a turnaround in a few years. Students also maintain a similar perspective.
"I do believe it's going to get better within probably two or three years," Patel said. "In the long run I'm not concerned about it."
Banton said he hopes things will change.
According to Mike Eisenman, director of the Business and Engineering Career Center at VCU, companies are cutting back on the amount of internships offered.
"Companies that used to do 20 internships are doing five," Eisenman said. "Companies that used to do four internships are doing one."
Now that there are fewer internships and companies are doing layoffs, Eisenman said the job market is becoming increasingly difficult to enter.
"Not only are there fewer jobs, but there are more people looking for them," Eisenman said.
Dean Banton, an accounting student in the VCU post-graduate certificate program, is struggling to find a job.
"I'm looking for an accounting position," Banton said. "A lot of accounting firms have stopped hiring and I can't find a job."
Banton faces a challenge unique to non-traditional students.
"I have no accounting experience," Banton said. "I can't do an internship because most of those are unpaid and I have a wife and two kids."
VCU accounting professor James Holland said the hardships business students face are very common.
"The economy is very difficult right now," Holland said. "It can be quite depressing."
Even with the uncertain economic situation, there are more business students who plan to graduate this year than in years past.
"We're seeing a trend toward business … and specifically we've seen a significant trend toward accounting," Holland said.
Despite the current recession, Eisenman believes that a business degree helps students to be treated as professionals and gives them an advantage.
"I think that students in this school have chosen a track that's going to stand them well in whatever economy we're in," Eisenman said. "Right now, it's not a good economy."
Accounting major Monica Sok said she would have done things differently if she had known what the economy would be like.
"I think I would have tried to look for an internship earlier and I guess start my job search earlier," accounting major Monica Sok said.
VCU finance major Mihir Patel said the biggest challenge is getting into the industry.
According to Holland, now is the best time to focus on developing skills.
"In a global economy you're going to need the financial skills to be able to navigate through the difficulties we're facing," Holland said.
Holland expects a turnaround in a few years. Students also maintain a similar perspective.
"I do believe it's going to get better within probably two or three years," Patel said. "In the long run I'm not concerned about it."
Banton said he hopes things will change.
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