Job hunting has been like a game of musical chairs for this year's graduating seniors. Unlike last year, when students waited until they had several choices before picking the right employer, this year's layoffs and sour economy have students jumping at job offers, according to Patricia Rose, director of career services at the University of Pennsylvania. Some firms, particularly in the technology and consulting industries, are even rescinding offers and canceling campus visits.

"The majority of [recruiters] want experienced people," said Arif Hajee, a computer science major who's graduating this week from the University of Texas at Austin. Hajee expected to begin working at Web consulting firm Sapient Corp., but the Cambridge, Mass.-based firm rescinded its offer two months ago and gave him two weeks' salary as compensation.

Top Firms, Grads Affected

Other companies that have taken back offers to students include Dell Computer Corp. and Cisco Systems Inc. Dell wouldn't specify how many offers it had rescinded. A Cisco official said the company withdrew offers to about seven or eight students within the past few weeks.

Even at some of the nation's top technology schools, fewer firms are recruiting students. This spring, 76 companies canceled on-campus visits to Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, according to Judy Mancuso, associate director at the school's career center. And recently, about a dozen students had offers rescinded.

"We have some of the most talented students in the world," she said, adding that companies need to be aware that rescinding offers can harm their long-term relationships with the school.

Entry-level salaries for seniors with business and technology degrees average about $40,000 to $50,000, according to a salary survey from the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) in Bethlehem, Pa. But that figure represents data culled in the fall, when the economy was stronger, said Camille Luckenbaugh, employment information manager at NACE. The association won't have spring salary figures until the fall.

But even college seniors with good job offers and generous starting salaries are worried, given the state of the economy.

Carnegie Mellon senior and computer science major Jessey Paul received assurances from a human resources representative at Morgan Stanley Dean Witter & Co. in New York that the offer she received in the fall is safe despite a recent layoff at the Wall Street investment banking firm. But after seeing recent graduates receive pink slips from their first jobs, Paul said she doesn't believe there are any guarantees.

"I need to live in New York and pay $1,000 in rent, and the possibility of not having any income is frightening," she said.

Some students unhappy with their job offers have decided to remain in school. Regina Clewlow, a computer science major and president of the engineering club at Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y., will stay on campus next year to get a master's in management in engineering, which she hopes will help her land a job in business strategy consulting.

"It's not as easy as it has been for students in the past," claimed Luckenbaugh. "Students have to sell themselves more, and employers are more selective."

» posted by ITworld staff

Computerworld

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