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Get a Job July 4, 2003 @ 8:30 PM on WVIZ In today's knowledge-driven economy, a skilled workforce is fundamental to growth. Yet a recent survey shows that 70% of our region's science and technology graduates are leaving Northeast Ohio for greener economic pastures. Ironically, some of these high-tech grads say they'd rather stay put. The trouble is they can't find jobs here. That's why local universities and business groups are teaming up to find innovative ways to link local talent with local industry. 
Cynthia Barnes Jennifer Knauf thought she was doing everything right. The Medina County resident had heard that high-tech jobs were the wave of the future. So she prepared herself to help lead Northeast Ohio into the New Economy by earning two engineering degrees from Case Western Reserve University. The trouble is… after months of interviewing… Jennifer can’t find a job.  Jennifer
KnaufRecent Graduate I had one job offer as of three weeks ago and unfortunately it was rescinded ah, due to the economy. Well, it’s just really frustrating. I spent the last six years in school getting my bachelor’s in Mechanical Engineering and my masters in Engineering Management. And I’m raring and ready to go at this point. And there’s just nothing out there. Whereas two years ago, I would have had three or four offers. And now there’s nothing. CB She says she wants to stay here in Northeast Ohio. But with student loans to pay off, at this point, she’ll go anywhere she can find a job. Jennifer Knauf is part of a growing number of students who earn high-tech degrees in Northeast Ohio… but end up leaving the area because they can’t find jobs here to support them. It’s a phenomenon known as Brain Drain.  Just
how many high-tech graduates are we losing? A study conducted by the
The Center for Regional Economic Issues at Case Western Reserve University
shows that in the 1990s, 70% of the Northeast Ohio’s Science and Technology
left the region to work elsewhere.During that same period, the state of Ohio ranked 22nd out of 51 in retaining its Science and Technology graduates. How do we plug this Brain Drain? Well, colleges and universities are beginning to team up with business and industry groups to find new ways of connecting local graduates with local employers. CB Programs like the Digital Mixer are aimed at helping the area retain graduates. The event mixes representatives from universities and businesses, and students. Jim Cookinham President, Northeast Ohio Software Association (NEOSA) This is an opportunity for them to meet the companies, hear about some of the cool stuff that’s going on and maybe start making some connections so they don’t have to leave the region. CB Another effort to link local companies with local students is clevelandintern.net. It’s a project of an association called the Northcoast Consortium for Career Advancement. Paul Klein is one of the program’s founding members. Paul Klein Dir., Career Service Center, ClevelandState ClevelandIntern.net Founding Member When we started it off, we had less than 20 interns, internships on the sight in November and we’ve had over 14-hundred posted as of the beginning of May. CB The idea for clevelandintern.net began in 2000. The website started in November 2002. The Northcoast Consortium for Career Advancement is made up of six colleges and universities. They are Cleveland State, John Carroll, Case Western Reserve, Baldwin-Wallace, Tri-C and Ursuline. More colleges and universities are expected to join the network. Local educators say there are advantages to combining resources. Students and employers can go to one website. PK This way they can go on the website. They can post their internships and they do it once, not five, six, seven, eight times. They do it once. We have a system here, where we can research all the graduate schools. CB Dr. Dumont Gerken Owen also helped get ClevelandIntern.net off the ground. Executive Director for Career Services at John Carroll, she sees the website as a win for everyone involved. Dumont Gerken Owen, Ph.D. Exec. Dir., Center for Career Services, John Carroll University/ClevelandIntern.net Founding Member For students, it’s a great opportunity to find a job. For employers, it’s a really great way to attract and screen applicants because when they make an offer, a permanent offer to a student, who’s been co-opping with their company, they already know who they’re getting. CB It’s not just making students aware of the employment opportunities that exists in Northeast Ohio. Educators believe we have to stress our quality of life, like this new apartment building going up in the flats, to new graduates and to those graduates who have left know, that Northeast Ohio is a great place to live.  CBGraduate Jennifer Knauf says she’s already sold on the region’s amenities and would like to stay here in Northeast Ohio. But she realizes that if she doesn’t link up with a local company soon, she may be forced to take her degree out of state. JK I’m definitely willing to give Northeast Ohio a chance. My family is here and so I’m kinda reluctant to leave, but at the same time, if there’s an opportunity elsewhere, ah, I’m gonna take it. CB For Making Change, I’m Cynthia Barnes. Resources:
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