Penn State IST students score well in the job market

Penn State IST students score well in the job market

University Park, Pa. -- Early placement figures indicate the Class of 2005 in the Penn State School of Information Sciences and Technology (IST) is in demand by financial, consulting and manufacturing companies like Merrill Lynch, Deloitte Consulting, IBM, and General Electric.

The current placement rate, as reported by students who have completed IST's internal survey, is 46 percent -- similar to what 2004 graduates reported in mid-November last year, said Shaun Knight, coordinator of professional placement services. The placement rate to date for the Class of 2004 is 90 percent.

While the average salary for students who will graduate in May 2005 has increased to $55,000, signing bonuses have skyrocketed to $8,000 -- a 400-percent jump from previous year’s bonuses, Knight said.

"These are preliminary numbers as a lot of students have offers with deadlines in December," said Knight who will survey students again in February. "And we have heard from a lot of companies -- some new and some who have established relationships with IST -- still looking to hire IST graduates."

The number of companies recruiting IST students this fall has risen 60 percent from 97 to 161, said Ruth Donahue, corporate relations specialist. This includes more than two dozen new corporate faces.

In addition, 118 full-time positions and internship opportunities have been posted on ISTechTRAK this fall--a 300-percent gain over September to November 2003.

"That increase reflects placement efforts of the Office of Career Solutions, and it also demonstrates organizations' growing interest in hiring IST students as companies and government agencies begin to understand who and what IST is," Donahue said.