Who's Hiring the Class of 2009?

As college graduates hang up their caps and gowns, put away their college books, and step out into the ''real world,'' they are faced with some tough career paths. While the universities are still churning out competent, talented graduates, the economy is still in a slump and companies just aren't hiring like they used to. In some areas, it seems that there are more people than there are jobs. To a recent college graduate, this can be discouraging. However, there are companies out there that are specifically targeting or recruiting recent graduates.

Matt Stimmel, a recent graduate of the Union University in Jackson, TN, has a Bachelor of Science degree in computer science and theatre. He was recently hired by Belvedere Trading in Chicago, Illinois, as a developer. He recounts what he learned from his recent job search, ''In my search, I found that, while most companies aren't hiring right now, there are jobs available. Most larger companies want 3-5 years experience right now, however some (such as Epic Systems, Madison, WI) have different hiring practices which dictate that they hire new grads almost exclusively.''

Stimmel also mused that he wouldn't be surprised if recent graduates accepted short-term contract positions in an effort to ride out the economy. Contract jobs are still fairly popular and headhunters typically recruit for these positions. In the interim between graduation and securing that dream job, contract positions may be a viable option.



The Illinois Student Assistance Commission recently hired more than 50 recent graduates for the Illinois Student Assistance Corps. The Corps provides ''near-peer'' mentoring to high school students to encourage them to go to college after graduation. Members of the Corps serve at various districts throughout Illinois for two years. They begin with a two-week ''boot camp'' and then are deployed throughout the state.

Dan Tipton, CEO and President of Tipton Communications, a Newark, Delaware, and Philadelphia based public relations agency, has a heart for students and graduates. This is evident in the words of a recent graduate and recent new hire of Tipton, Alison Parsells. She graduated from the University of Delaware with Bachelors in Communication. After an internship at Tipton Communications, she worked part time for the agency and when she graduated was offered a full time position. Parsells says, ''My experience has been great and without Dan (Tipton), I wouldn't have found a job so quickly...My experience with Tipton Communications has been exciting and rewarding.''

As the future of journalism remains uncertain, one man is paving the way for recent graduates to find journalism jobs, explore business ownership opportunities, and gain exposure as journalists. Paul Baron of HometownTimes.com has more than 520 online community newspapers. Baron specifically seeks out and recruits recent college grads.

SpinSix Strategic Marketing Design, based in Scottsdale, Arizona, also has a heart for recent graduates. While they regularly hire new graduates, they also ran a ''Dream Job'' contest that was geared towards 2009 graduates. They also plan to continue hiring recent graduates as they grow and expand.

So, who is hiring the class of 2009? Here are 25 employers who are reaching out to graduates.

1. Rite Aide Corporation
2. Tipton Communications
3. Allstate Insurance
4. Ryder System, Inc
5. The Kroger Company
6. Belvedere Trading, Chicago, IL
7. Robert Bosch, LLC
8. Kaplan Higher Education
9. Perot Systems
10. GMAC
11. Sodexo
12. HometownTimes.com
13. DISH Network
14. Sabre Holdings
15. Epic Systems, Madison, WI
16. Maxim Healthcare
17. Whirlpool Corporation
18. Harris Corporation
19. Sherwin Williams Company
20. GEICO
21. Sun Micro Systems
22. Illinois Student Assistance Corps
23. Quest Diagnostics
24. Tyson Foods Incorporated
25. SpinSix Strategic Marketing Design, Scottsdale, AZ