Slideshows

Top Entry-Level Employers: 2009

Who's Hiring?

It’s not all gloom and doom in the job market. Many companies are increasing their talent pools by hiring recent college graduates. Take a look at the top 10 employers with the most entry level openings and how many new grads they expect to hire this year, as surveyed by CollegeGrad.com

It’s not all gloom and doom in the job market. Many companies are increasing their talent pools by hiring recent college graduates. Take a look at the top 10 employers with the most entry level openings and how many new grads they expect to hire this year, as surveyed by CollegeGrad.com.

Posted 7 May 2009


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10. Federal Bureau of Investigation

Projected entry-level hires: 2,950
Photo: Cliff

Projected entry-level hires: 2,950

The agency has several different career opportunities for recent grads with interests ranging from information technology to business management. One way to increase your chances of getting a position is to intern at the bureau during college.


»Story: Who's Hiring College Grads Now

9. Hertz

Projected entry-level hires: 3,000
Photo: Steven Damron

Projected entry-level hires: 3,000

Management trainees begin working in small branches around the country and then work their way up the ranks. “We’re looking for people who want a career not just a job,” said Vince Gilligan, vice president of human resources at Hertz.


»Story: Who's Hiring College Grads Now

8. Deloitte

Projected entry-level hires: 3,051
Photo: Thomas Angermann

Projected entry-level hires: 3,051

New grads can start out at one of the company’s five career tracks in the audit business, enterprise risk services sector, tax practices, financial advisory or consulting.


»Story: Who's Hiring College Grads Now

7. AT&T

Projected entry-level hires: 3,428
Photo: Bill Bradford

Projected entry-level hires: 3,428

AT&T trains recent grads for a number of careers including finance, advertising and management.


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6. Teach For America (Tied)

Projected entry-level hires: 4,000
Photo: AP

Projected entry-level hires: 4,000

This two-year program gives recent graduates the opportunity to teach in low-income neighborhoods The program includes intensive training.


»Story: Who's Hiring College Grads Now

6. DDP Holdings Diversified (Tied)

Projected entry-level hires: 4,000
Photo: Simon Shek

Projected entry-level hires: 4,000

The company’s new hires mainly work as merchandisers where they set up displays, shelves and marketing material in stores for their clients.


»Story: Who's Hiring College Grads Now

4. Progressive Insurance

Projected entry-level hires: 4,200
Photo: Progressive

Projected entry-level hires: 4,200

Recent grads usually begin their career at the auto insurance company as a claim adjuster trainee, where they learn how to investigate and settle cases.


»Story: Who's Hiring College Grads Now

3. Internal Revenue Service

Projected entry-level hires: 5,000
Photo: Cliff

Projected entry-level hires: 5,000

The IRS is looking for accounting majors to fill such entry-level jobs as compliance officer, depending on the amount of completed accounting course work.


»Story: Who's Hiring College Grads Now

2. Enterprise Rent-A-Car

Projected entry-level hires: 8,000
Photo: AP

Projected entry-level hires: 8,000

The car rental company puts most of its entry-level hires through its management-training program, learning about the business at Enterprise’s branches across the country.


»Story: Who's Hiring College Grads Now

1. Verizon Wireless

Projected entry-level hires: 13,198
Photo: AP

Projected entry-level hires: 13,198

New employees start out in a customer relations role at their call centers or retail stores. Employees starting out at those jobs can move into different career tracks like marketing or management, said Kim Allenbach, director of employee experience at Verizon Wireless.


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»Story: Who's Hiring College Grads Now
»Slideshow: Highest Paid Bachelor’s Degrees
»Slideshow: Degrees in Most Demand