Slideshows

Top Entry-Level Employers

Who's Hiring?

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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.com

Posted June 16, 2010

10. General Electric

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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.

9. Target

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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.

8. KPMG

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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."

7. Ernst & Young

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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.

6. Hertz

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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.

5. Peace Corps

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Projected entry-level hires: 4,140

Volunteers 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.

4. Teach For America

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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.

3. Hewlett Packard

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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.

2. Enterprise Rent-A-Car

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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.

1. Verizon Wireless

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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.