Several thousand degrees were conferred over the weekend at The University of Akron and Kent State University.  The next step:  Finding a job.

The job hunt after college graduation can be tough, but there are signs that graduates are finding jobs sooner than expected.

Kim Beyer, interim director of Career Center at the University of Akron, said the proof is in the numbers.

"Our indications are showing that hiring is up about 7 percent for undergraduate students, but 4 percent overall which is the average for all college hires," said Beyer.

Hiring of new college graduates is expected to increase to 10.2 percent in 2012, according to a survey done by the National Association of Colleges and Employers.

More students are lining up interviews at career fairs, according to Beyer. She says most employers are are targeting students with various skills.

"A lot of our employers don't necessarily specify a specific major," said Beyer. "They're looking for candidates that have very specific skill sets."

Deanna Dunn, director of the cooperative education program in the UA College of Engineering, said at least half of the engineering graduates have already landed full-time jobs.

"We've gotten calls from companies that we have never heard before where we are staring new relationships. It definitely has increased," said Dunn. 

On the Web: www.naceweb.org