Some extremely qualified people are seeing their dreams hurt. At Alfred University in Alfred, N.Y., several engineering firms at a job fair had canceled all entry-level hiring. Some also canceled recruiting dates because of cutbacks. For some employers, the decreasing tug of war over students is a boon. Chevron is finding it doesn't have to offer as many non-salary benefits.
Students also are less likely to negotiate over salary.
We went in thinking it would be a very, very competitive year. But we've seen a change in the last few months. Some of our competition has dropped away. Nevertheless, many students remain undeterred. Employers want us because we're trainable and young and freshly educated.