College graduates across the nation are enjoying a somewhat better job market this year, with both job offers and salaries on the rise for most majors.
The report -- released by the National Association of Colleges and Employers -- showed that engineering majors were receiving the highest salary proposals while accounting majors have been receiving the most job offers.
NACE's Winter 2004 Salary Survey looked at which majors were in highest demand among employers this year.
Though it is still early in the recruiting cycle, Andrea Carr, employment information manager at NACE, said the increases indicate an improving job market and an economy that is "making a full recovery."
"I would describe it as cautious optimism," Carr said.
"We feel that this is definitely a better year than the last couple," said Patricia Rose, director of Career Services at Penn, adding that following the economic recession in 2001, fewer recruiters came to campus.
Rose said that in addition to a small increase in recruiters this year, campus interviews seem to be yielding more job offers.
It "seems as if students are having more success, and [it is coming] earlier this year" than last year,she added.
Across the nation, seniors in most disciplines have seen a salary increase, including a significant increase for computer science majors.
However, salaries for psychology, civil engineering and electrical engineering majors have decreased. Carr, however, attributed the data for psychology majors to the fact that few offers have been reported because it is still early in the year.
As for the civil and electrical engineering majors, decreases were less than 2 percent and "could be attributed to anything."
Rose emphasized that "finding jobs quickly has to do with the kind of job you're looking for."
As a result, students regardless of their major who are looking for jobs in investment banking are likely to receive job offers earlier in the year than students who may be looking to work on Capitol Hill, Rose said.
"The mantra of our office is, 'your major is not your career,'" she said.
Still, "in general, the more applied majors have a somewhat easier time" finding jobs, she added.
Rose said that ultimately, a graduate's job offers and starting salary are "a matter of what skills you have and how you present them."
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