Trends in the job field are turning toward the services, including financial and health, consulting, data processing and special education.

Jean Callary, Career Planning and Placement recruiting coordinator, said, “Companies that send representatives to NIU campus recruiting are primarily looking for business and accounting majors, but certain companies are looking for all majors.”

Many jobs exist for students, but sometimes recruiting companies do not return to NIU because graduates do not want to relocate, Callary said.

“The most competitive field among NIU grads is accounting. They (students) all want jobs with the large CPA (Certified Public Accounting) firms or industrial firms, but there are always enough jobs to go around,” Callary said.

She added, “A field that is opening up now for liberal arts and science majors that was not popular before is management training. Also, many businesses are looking for college grads to fill jobs requiring good communication skills,” she said.

Early childhood teachers are in high demand, especially if they are cross-categorically certified, said George Kubat, assistant director for the center.

Kubat said, “There also seems to be an increase in demand for upper-level science and foreign language teachers. It really depends upon what (geographic) area you plan on teaching in.”

Center director Gary Scott said the business department’s reputation increases each year. “Basically, all NIU business students participate in the campus recruiting program or in the referral services,” he said.

“NIU’s accounting program was ranked by Newsweek as being the number three program in the nation,” Scott said.

“We also offer a review course specifically concentrating on taking the CPA exam,” said Scott.

Scott also said, “One of the things that is not always appreciated by NIU students is the quality of the education that they recieve. They usually do not realize what a great opportunity they have earned until they are out job hunting.”

Callary said, “Recruiting companies like NIU grads. They continue to return looking for future employees because they are very satisfied with their previously hired NIU workers. NIU has a reputation of graduating hard workers,” she said.