HOT CAREERS
For Graves School Graduates

Unemployment figures are down, the economy is growing at a healthy pace, and companies are adding to their workforce.

What does this all mean for the class of 1999?

Plenty.

For one, the class of 1999 has plenty of job choices. The choices are even broader for business school graduates.

"A variety of companies and public sector organizations actively recruit our business graduates," says Kenneth Westary, director of corporate relations. "I don't remember having as many choices when I graduated."

Graves School graduates are not only enjoying a variety of job choices, but are also entering professions where African Americans historically have been under-represented. Professions like consulting and securities trading are opening up to Graves School graduates.

Companies such as American Management Systems, PriceWaterhouseCoopers and Booz-Allen Hamilton are finding Morgan to be a prime resource for budding consultants. Junior consultants with undergraduate degrees can earn starting salaries between $40,000-$50,000. Those with MBAs can hit six figures.

"Consulting is a high-paying, high-profile field that offers you the opportunity to take on a large degree of responsibility right out of school," says Pamela White, a `96 MBA graduate and consultant with EDS Government Consulting Services. "I decided to pursue a career in consulting because I wanted to stay on a fast-paced learning curve after I finished business school. My goal is to use the tools and methodologies that I have learned as a consultant to one-day start my own business."

On Sept. 7, 1996, Willie E. Lanier `67, Sr. Vice President Capital Markets Liaison with Wheat First Butcher Singer, banged the gavel to officially mark the day's closing of the New York Stock Exchange, as Richard Grasso, Chairman of the NYSE looked on.

Mr. Lanier is among a growing population of African Americans succeeding in the highly competitive field of financial services.

The Graves School is happy to report that its students are getting in on the action. Spear, Leeds & Kellogg, the largest specialist firm on the trading floors of the New York and American Stock Exchanges, recruits at Morgan for their Trader Training Program, and recently hired Nicholl Aldridge`99. Damon Hall `99 was recently offered a position in Oppenheimer's Trader Training Program. Successful traders can earn well into the mid six figures.

"The financial services profession offers rewards and personal income far exceeding most other professions," says Mr. Lanier. "There are many opportunities in all areas of finance, and students should take advantage of them."

Students interested in sales and marketing careers are probably among the most highly recruited group of business graduates. And rightfully so, because good professional salespeople are not only expensive to train and develop, but they also greatly determine a firm's level of success or failure.

Graves School students are discovering the tremendous sales and marketing opportunities available in companies like Pfizer Pharmaceuticals, Black & Decker, Hormel Foods, and Gillette. After attending an information session with Hormel Foods, Richard Bell, an accounting major, decided to interview with Hormel. After graduation this May, Richard is moving to San Francisco to start a sales career with Hormel.

"I'm an accounting major who chose to use my skills in sales. This way, I can utilize my creativeness, analytical skills, and strategic planning skills," says Richard. "There are only a few careers that allow one to maintain their individuality and still have a promising career."

"Professional selling is quite the opposite of what many students believe it to be," says Westary. "Not only is it a highly professional career, but also the earning potential is much better than most other careers." Starting salaries, with annual bonuses range from $35,000-$45,000 plus, not including the company car.

Graves graduates are also finding a wealth of opportunities in areas such as commercial and consumer banking, retail management, personnel services (recruiting), information technology, hospitality management, public accounting, and government services.

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