Top Entry-Level Employers

Photo credit: Michael Hitoshi|Taxi Japan|Getty Images Recent college grads are facing a tough job market again this year, but some companies and organizations plan to hire a good amount of entry-level workers in 2010, which many consider a stepping stone to management. Click ahead to take a look at which firms are expected to hire the most workers, according to entry-level job website CollegeGrad.com, and what types of positions are being offered. Source: CollegeGrad.comPosted June 16, 2010

Photo credit: Getty Images Projected entry-level hires: 1,600 The best way to get hired at the conglomerate (also the parent company of CNBC.com) is through an internship, since much of the recruiting for full time jobs is done from that pool of candidates, as well as from about 40 colleges, says Steven Canale, manager of global recruiting at GE. Some entry-level hires are placed into leadership programs in the information technology, engineering, operations and finance fields.

Photo credit: New York Daily News Archive|Getty Images Projected entry-level hires: 1,700 The retailer hires recent grads for a number of different positions on both the corporate and store level. "Every team member—from their first day with Target—is empowered and encouraged to innovate, contribute ideas, and discover solutions. We look for college graduates who can collaboratively lead teams and deliver results in our fast-paced, performance-driven Target culture," says Tim Curoe, vice president of talent acquisition at Target in a statement.

Photo credit: uggboy Projected entry-level hires: 1,750 New hires at the accounting firm “will help provide critical support for our audit, tax and advisory businesses," says Stacy Sturgeon of KPMG in a statement. "At KPMG, hiring and retaining high caliber people committed to serving our clients and communities is a strategic imperative."

Photo credit: Mary Knox Merrill|Christian Science Monitor|Getty Images Projected entry-level hires: 1,977 The accounting firm has a “long term view” in terms of recruiting, hiring entry-level employees—mostly accounting majors—and training them to be the next generation of leaders, says Dan Black, director of campus recruiting at Ernst & Young. “They are getting exposure to our clients right when they first come in,” says Black.

Photo credit: Getty Images Projected entry-level hires: 3,500 Trainees in the car rental company’s management program start out working branches around the country and then work their way up the ranks to management positions.

Photo credit: AP Projected entry-level hires: 4,140Volunteers enter a 27-month program that sends them to developing countries, where they are assigned to projects ranging from education to agriculture to health. Volunteers receive a small allowance as well as paid living and medical expenses.

Photo credit: Tim Sloan|AFP|Getty Images Projected entry-level hires: 4,500 Recent grads can join a two-year teaching program at this non-profit that places them in inner city and rural underprivileged schools. Those in the program are paid by the school district they work in with salary ranging from $27,000 to $47,500. The majority of those leaving the program say they will continue working in education, even though they hadn’t considered it before, says Elissa Clapp, senior vice president of recruitment.

Photo credit: Getty Images Projected entry-level hires: 5,067 The computer giant doesn’t comment on its hiring practices but its careers website says that HP does have a training program for new grads.

Photo credit: Getty Images Projected entry-level hires: 8,000 A majority of the entry-level hires at the car rental company are put through its management-training program at Enterprise’s branches across the country.

Photo credit: Getty Images Projected entry-level hires: 10,500 New employees start out in a customer relations role at the company’s call centers or retail stores and then can move into a number of different career tracks such as marketing or management.

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