Florida State University is back in session after a much-needed Spring Break. For seniors, it’s time to take care of last-minute touches for graduation like sending out invitations, studying for exams and starting on final papers and projects. “Senioritis” is understandable, but researching future employers, preparing for interviews, and shopping around on websites such as www.linkedin.com and www.careerbuilder.com is imperative. With graduation day so close, almost-grads are concerned about their future in this sluggish economy. Every year, CareerBuilder.com and Apartments.com publish a “Top 10 Best Cities for Recent College Graduates.” These lists are based on employment opportunities, starting salaries and average rent for one bedroom apartments in that city. For anyone interested, these sites also list the most popular choices recent grads gravitate toward. Forbes also creates a similar list, contributing the statistics on unemployment rates versus age group.
So, without further ado, here is Her Campus’ compound list of the Top 10 Best Cities for a Recent College Grad to Look Into:
10. Baltimore – “The City of Charm”
Average rent for one bedroom apartment: $1,235
Average starting salary: $35,500
Most Career Opportunities in: Accounting & Finance
Fun Fact: Baltimore was the first US city to have a postal service.
9. Philadelphia
Average rent for one bedroom apartment: $1,070
Average starting salary: $35,500
Most Career Opportunities in: IT & Pharmaceuticals
Fun Fact: In 1946, Philadelphia became the home to the first computer.
8. Houston
Average rent for one bedroom apartment: $910
Average starting salary: $35,500
Most Career Opportunities in: Engineering & Healthcare
Fun Fact: Houston is the largest city in the South, and the 4th largest city in the nation!
7. Chicago
Average rent for one bedroom apartment: $1,224
Average starting salary: $36,000
Most Career Opportunities in: Sales & Marketing
Fun Fact: Chicago has the largest collection of impressionist paintings outside of Paris, France.
6. Atlanta
Average rent for one bedroom apartment: $855
Average starting salary: $36,250
Most Career Opportunities in: IT, Sales, & Healthcare
Fun Fact: There are more than 65 streets within inner-city Atlanta with the name “Peachtree”! Don’t get lost!
5. Dallas
Average rent for one bedroom apartment: $912
Average starting salary: $36,000
Most Career Opportunities in: IT & Engineering
Fun Fact: We can thank Dallas for the invention of the frozen margarita machine.
4. Minneapolis
Average rent for one bedroom apartment: $974
Average starting salary: $ 38,500
Most Career Opportunities in: Corporate Retail, Healthcare, & Sales
Fun Fact: Minnesota is home to 19 of the Fortune 500 companies, and 15 of those are in Minneapolis.
3. Boston
Average rent for one bedroom apartment: $1,814
Average starting salary: $37,500
Most Career Opportunities in: IT, Healthcare, & Finance
Fun Fact: Boston is home to the first subway, police department, mail route, and public park!
2. New York
Average rent for one bedroom apartment: $1,789
Average starting salary: $40,000
Most Career Opportunities in: Finance, Entertainment, & IT
Fun Fact: There are 4,000 street vendors in Manhattan alone!
1. Washington, D.C
Average rent for one bedroom apartment: $1,696
Average starting salary: $39,000
Most Career Opportunities in: Sales, IT, Government
Fun Fact: More wine is consumed per person daily in Washington, D.C. than in any other state!
Many college students are looking for the best way to go about the job hunt. This list only serves as guidance to where recent grads have the best odds of finding a job. However, if anyone wants to stray from the cities mentioned above, they are welcome to do so. Using sites like Payscale.com to research the career you want makes it easier to see where opportunities in that field are popular and the education level needed to be successful. The site will also list job opportunities from job-hunting site indeed.com and list the benefits the job offers to employees. Though the economy is not an ideal one, a career is what you make it. Students may also visit the Florida State Career center to use resources there to find the job they want, as well as prepare them to become the ideal candidate. Good Luck!
Fun Fact Sources:
Baltimore: http://www.baltimoremagazine.net/features/2012/02/2012-best-places-to-work
Philadelphia: http://www.50states.com/facts/penn.htm#.UWDxdpNQGSo
Houston: http://www.houstontx.gov/abouthouston/houstonfacts.html
Chicago: http://www.choosechicago.com/articles/view/CHICAGO-FUN-FACTS/452/
Atlanta: http://www.atlanta.net/visitors/folklore.html
Dallas: http://www.visitdallas.com/about/stats/
Minneapolis: http://healthyteennetworkblog.org/2012/04/13/a-tale-of-twin-cities-fifteen-fun-facts-about-minneapolis/
Boston: http://www.studyboston.com/about-boston/boston-fun-facts.html
New York: http://www.scenebylaurie.com/nyc-scene/around-town/fun-facts-about-nyc/
Washington, D.C.: http://blog.sidetour.com/post/32208135023/8-interesting-facts-about-washington-dc