November 3, 2014

By Dr. Roy Carriker

Since the 2008 global financial crisis, the unrelenting pressure to constantly improve productivity and maintain financial performance has caused companies to substantially reduce entry-level jobs with attendant new employee training programs and seek experienced new hires.

According to a paper by Harvard University and the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston recently cited in the Wall Street Journal, the number of recruiters requiring two or more years of work experience for some middle-skill occupations rose 30 percent between 2007 and 2010.

Further, an article on internships in the Sept. 6, 2014 issue of The Economist pointed to the rising importance of internships in securing quality entry-level positions.

Why this matters:

Drexel has a lengthy, highly successful tradition of co-op experience for students. The recent entry-level job placement evolution creates an incredible advantage for Drexel students.

Even if an internship is unpaid, if it is in your industry of choice it is now more important than ever to give it serious consideration. Taking tradition a step further, Drexel’s recent creation of the Close School of Entrepreneurship even broadens experiential learning opportunities within Drexel itself.