Class of '09: Jobs harder to find

With fewer Wall Street jobs available, many of Princeton’s 2009 graduates pursued opportunities at nonprofits or in government, according to the annual Office of Career Services exit survey.  

By the end of May, 8.9 percent of the Class of 2009 (100 students) accepted jobs in the government and the nonprofit sectors, up from 6 percent (67 students) in 2008. Jobs in education are included in the nonprofit category. Yearlong internships at service organizations remained popular, drawing 11.9 percent of the graduating class (133 students).  

Two categories that traditionally have dominated the senior-year job search — financial services and other services, which includes consulting, engineering, and information technology jobs — took a significant dip, from a combined 25.7 percent of the Class of 2008 (288 students) to 17.5 percent of the Class of 2009 (196 students).

Two-thirds of Princeton’s new graduates planned to work after college, but only 29.6 percent of the class found full-time jobs before leaving campus, the lowest percentage in five years. The average starting salary was $56,138, down from last year’s peak of $58,812. Fifty-seven percent of those employed at graduation found their jobs via on-campus interviews, Career Services postings, or alumni referrals.