Though they are still being compiled, the University’s postgraduate statistics for 2010 continue to point in the school’s favor. The job market, following severe repercussions from the recent recession, has begun to recover significantly.

According to school officials, conditions will continue to improve as the country’s economy heals and as the University persists in marketing itself to achieve more recognition among employers.

An increased awareness of Wash. U. has already begun to show through more job recruitment on campus.

The business school, in particular, has seen a drastic increase in recruiting, hosting more than 85 major employers in the past month alone, compared to 35 during the same period in 2009. Mark Brostoff, director of the Weston Career Center at Olin Business School, considers this an indication of a recovering market.

“The economy is showing signs of improving, therefore hiring is improving,” Brostoff said. “Confidence is slowly returning to companies seeking employment.”

New postgraduate surveys from the Class of 2010 reveal that conditions are once again favorable for graduates. Ninety-seven percent of BSBA students were either employed or enrolled in graduate or professional schools within 90 days of graduation. Placement for MBA students was 94 percent, and placement for specialized-degree students was over 90 percent.

Although the University’s overall postgraduate statistics are not yet finalized, current figures are purportedly favorable.

According to Mark Smith, assistant vice chancellor and director of the Career Center, Wash. U. students have no difficulty locating employment, especially if they use the center and plan ahead.

“Everyone who wants to find a job finds a job,” Smith said. “They may not find it by graduation, but they’ll find it.”

A major portion of each respective graduating class, however, chooses alternate postgraduate routes. Anywhere from 30 to 40 percent of each year’s students will choose to go directly to either graduate or professional school.

Approximately another third of the class will spend between one and five years in “transitional programs,” traveling or working for programs such as Teach For America before attending graduate school.

Senior Andrew Bingaman, who is studying romance languages and literatures, notes that such options are beneficial, especially for students with majors in the humanities. He hopes to find an internship in New York City before capping his education with an MBA and finding a job.

“Graduating with a liberal arts degree, [finding a job] will be a bit more difficult than for someone with a business degree,” Bingaman said.

The Career Center, however, firmly believes in its potential to provide every student with a job, should students seek it out. Its recent campaign included heavy advertising and a newly remodeled website. Additionally, the center hopes to develop an online system for scheduling appointments. Through these changes, the Career Center seeks to eliminate the portion of the class that gets lost in the communication gap.

The two-hour event took place in the Knight Center and consisted of a lecture followed by a question-and-answer session. A one-hour reception afterward completed the program.

Per the policy of professor Chuck Knight, Student Life and other media outlets were not given access to the event.

While Major spoke to students in one of the main classrooms at the Knight Center, simulcasts were projected into two neighboring rooms, where guests including students, alumni and friends watched.

Major discussed a variety of issues ranging from climate change and population control to the free-market system and the role of government.

“It was better than what I expected,” said Prasanna Ayer, a local alumnus who obtained his MBA from Olin. “It was very insightful, not just from a political perspective but from [a global economic] perspective. [It was] not something you expect to hear from politicians. He [was] very straightforward with his feelings.”

Like others, Ayer was surprised by the quality of questions coming from the classroom.

Often lengthy questions were asked on many topics including how to unite world leaders, the media’s role in politics, leadership in the face of adversity, universal healthcare, and the debate between capitalism and a centralized free-market system.

Major answered each question, with the exception of a question directed toward criticizing president Obama’s health care plan, often adding anecdotes from his experience as prime minister.

Emphasis was placed on the enormous change that has taken place in the world, as well as the even greater change that can be anticipated of the future. Major expressed the need to adapt to these changes and for politicians to “look at the world with an honest and critical eye”.

When speaking about the debate between capitalism and a free-market system, Major explained that there was a trade-off between speedy decision-making and the benefits of a completely free-market system without government intervention.

Additionally, Major spoke about the difference between leadership and power, explaining that leadership means doing the right thing, even in the face of opposition. He recalled the health care changes he had implemented as prime minister, stating that there was great opposition, but “a degree of stubbornness and consistency” gave him strength in carrying out his policies, which he believes have been vindicated by history.

While many enjoyed the talk, some of the audience felt that more could have been discussed at a deeper level, such as issues of terrorism and reducing the deficit.

“I think we talked about a lot of difficult and critical problems in the world,” said Raj Talwar, an attendee of the event. “I do understand he’s not a magician, but I wish he had gone into a little bit more depth.”

The audience was very receptive, and appreciated that Major spoke candidly.

“[He was] very different from what you would see from current American politicians,” Ayer said.

This year, BusinessWeek Magazine ranked the MBA program at Olin as second in the country for career placement within three months of graduation, behind only Yale University’s School of Management.

Joe Fox, associate dean and director of MBA programs at Washington University, said MBA students are pursuing alternate career paths as a result of the economy.

“It is probably suitable under the current circumstances to say that students are being put in the position to explore alternate routes,” Fox said. “The financial services industry has a chill on it. Clearly the students need to think about a plan B.”

Joon Park, a second-year MBA finance student, agreed. He had a difficult time finding a finance internship last year and considered some marketing ones instead. He said that it is necessary to change strategies but, at the same time, to find a balance.

“I was thinking about changing my concentration,” Park said. “But I realized that if I do that, I am throwing away something that I like.”

But while the rankings reflect well on career placement, other students think that rankings do not tell the full story. Bhavik Asher is a first-year MBA student. He said that while the rankings were a morale booster, he was also curious to know about details such as job satisfaction and job placement.

“I would want to see how these placements have fared,” Asher said. “For the people that have been placed, how satisfied are they with the placement they got? Yeah, they got placed. But was it more about, ‘No choice—let’s take what we have’? It could also be that better schools—the top schools—either prefer very good companies or would prefer waiting. But the 92 percent and rank of second is a very positive trend, even if there might be some ‘ifs’ and ‘buts.’”

Students in the business school have the option of using the Weston Career Center (WCC), a separate career center designated for the Olin Business School. Park said he has noticed the WCC bringing in many more companies this year.

Josh Stumacher, a first-year students in the Olin MBA program, said that the WCC has been very helpful in his search for internships and a job.

“They have been unbelievably helpful,” said Stumacher, who speaks with a career counselor almost every day. “They’ll help you as much as you want them to help you.”

The WCC has been supportive of Stumacher’s career goals and has also made alternative options clear to him and his peers. Asher agreed with Stumacher, saying that the WCC was “very committed” to getting Olin students placed.

Despite the grim state of the economy, Stumacher is pleased with his decision to continue his business education.

“It is going to give me the flexibility to go where I want,” Stumacher said.

Meanwhile, University undergraduates agree that the state of the economy makes it more likely for them to enroll in an MBA program.

Martin Pawlik, a sophomore in the business school, is considering the five-year joint undergrad and MBA program.

“You want to make sure that you’re as prepared as possible, so now is a good time to settle down and be as educated as possible,” Pawlik said.

Pawlik hopes to work in finance eventually, but he recognizes that it is not realistic to hope to get his ideal job immediately. If he can’t get a job in finance, Pawlik would be open to considering a job in accounting or with a political campaign.

“I would be flexible. I realize that in my early years I am not going to find my dream job,” Pawlik said. “If the economy is tough, it might be difficult, but eventually I will get to the place I want to get.”

Asher agreed with Pawlik’s sentiment.

“I believe I have to diversify. I have to keep backup plans,” Asher said. He added, “We’re getting skill sets which we can take to any industry.”

Missouri House Budget Committee Chairman Allen Icet, R-Wildwood, who earned an MBA from Olin Business School in 1987, formally kicked off his campaign Thursday at an event in South St. Louis County. He told roughly 200 people that his experience and fiscally conservative record as chairman and knowledge of the state budget and political system make him the best candidate.

“I know where the money comes from. It comes from you and you and you,” Icet said in regard to the budget. “It does not come from Washington, D.C., and it does not fall from the sky.”

Thomas Schweich, visiting professor of law at the University, announced his campaign July 7 after backing out of a potential U.S. Senate run. It’s his first run for elected office. He previously served in appointed posts in the Bush State Department and the United Nations.

Schweich has emphasized his experience as a federal investigator in the Waco incident, an ambassador to Afghanistan who cracked down on drugs and corruption and an international law enforcer who frequently served abroad. He identifies as a fiscal conservative and said he would be an “independent” auditor.

“I’m not a politician. I came into this because people asked me to,” Schweich said in an interview. “All I care about, if I win the auditor’s race, is making sure taxpayer dollars are spent correctly.”

Schweich has taught courses in the School of Law on the United Nations and international law.

The winner of the primary will face Democratic incumbent Susan Montee.

The state auditor’s office conducts performance and financial audits for hundreds of Missouri agencies and commissions, the court system and counties without auditors. The auditor’s purpose is to ensure Missouri taxpayer money is spent without waste or fraud.

Both candidates say they would emphasize high accountability and fiscal responsibility as auditor and have expressed concerns about the stimulus.

The two have largely avoided criticizing each other. But state Republicans are divided on the two candidates.

Four GOP state senators and 80 out of 88 GOP state representatives endorsed Icet just hours before Schweich announced his campaign. Icet supporters said he will have an advantage in grassroots efforts because he has lawmakers across the state who can stump for him in their districts.

Schweich has fewer but bigger names. Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder, de facto leader of the state GOP, endorsed him on July 15. Former Sen. John Danforth, R-Mo., an elder statesman of the Missouri GOP and a mentor of Schweich, also endorsed him.

Schweich said Kinder endorsed him after meeting him and weighing both candidates, but said state lawmakers did not meet him before endorsing Icet.

State Rep. Rick Stream, R-Kirkwood, an Icet supporter, said he has never met Schweich but is “certain that he’s a very good guy, a good person.”

“I just feel for this particular race that Allen Icet is a better candidate,” said Stream, who has worked with Icet as the House Budget Committee’s vice chairman. “He is a rock-solid, fiscally responsible person. He’s got the experience, the knowledge of state government to do an exceptionally good job.”

After talking to some Icet supporters since they declared their endorsements, Schweich said he thinks some are “soft” in their support for Icet because they felt obligated to back their House colleague.

“It’s 80 representatives who have to get all of their stuff through the Budget Committee in order to get anything passed,” Schweich said. “I think some of them really do support him, don’t get me wrong, but I think some of them felt they had to do it. I know some of them felt they had to do it.”

State Sen. Jim Lembke, R-Lemay, an Icet supporter, called Schweich’s claim “unfounded,” saying lawmakers not on the Budget Committee have little influence on what goes into the budget.

Missouri expects to receive $4.5 billion in stimulus money. But with the economic recession continuing, the candidates have raised concerns that the state might cut corners to spend the money as quickly as possible, leading to waste.

Schweich said it was “very disturbing” that Gov. Jay Nixon vetoed legislation in mid-July that would have created a stimulus spending oversight committee.

Making sure Missouri spends its stimulus funds correctly, Schweich said, would be his “priority number one” as auditor. Icet has also pledged strong  stimulus oversight.

Icet used his speech mostly to criticize the Obama administration’s “liberal policies,”  including the stimulus, cap-and-trade legislation and health-care reform, which he said would “bankrupt the nation” and destroy the country’s future. He also criticized Montee for campaigning for Obama in 2008.

Icet also pointed to how other states, especially Illinois, have suffered major budget crises, while Missouri has suffered less “because of the difficult decisions that I and my colleagues made just a few years ago, because we believe in fiscal responsibility.”

Lembke said Icet also brings a bipartisan track record, including on the budget.

Schweich said he oversaw numerous types of audits at the State Department and for private companies.

Although neither candidate has a CPA, Schweich said his law-enforcement and investigative experience give him some characteristics of a CPA.

Check studlife.com regularly for continuing coverage of the state auditor’s race.