New Center Helps MBA Grads Find Jobs

Due to the slow economy, The Red Wall Center at Nelson Hall is helping graduates with an MBA find a job.

N.C. State MBA student Gene Farrelly worked for five years in the technology field, but recently decided he wanted to begin a career in management.

"Good people are always going to be needed in industry, no matter what is going on," said Farrelly.

According to the National Association of College and Employers, the number of MBA graduates hired has dropped more than 36 percent from 2000 to 2001.

"Even if there is kind of a downturn in the economy, if that's still around when I graduate, hopefully, there will still be an opportunity for me," Farrelly said.

Career counselor Ellen Baker is the director of MBA Career Services at the university. The center has been open five weeks and is expected to help MBA graduates compete in a slow economy.

"The number of opportunities has been reduced so drastically that there needs to be some other technique that you use to find opportunities," said Baker.

Baker said job research, resume development and networking is part of the center's help.

"As long as they stay persistent and they stay connected, they will find something," explained Baker.

Despite the discouraging statistics, Baker said 78 percent of the 2002 class secured a job three months after graduation.