Zachary Jones has simple advice for grads: If you want career satisfaction only apply for jobs you want, not jobs that promise higher pay.

“An employer can find a lot of people that are capable of performing a job,” said Jones, assistant director at the Career Center. “What they are looking for most of all is someone who likes what they do, wants to be there and wants to do their job.”

The job market is increasingly competitive for recent grads, according to Jones. In a digital age where a job application takes minutes rather than hours to complete, some graduating students are sending hundreds of job applications.

Despite the competition, Jones said the job market is fluid and offers opportunities to students of many different majors.

“To be honest with you, it’s tough to tell you any specific major [is more in-demand] because the job market is so fluid,” he said. “Students can weigh the pros and cons of choosing a major depending on economic factors and academic interests, but what I find is regardless of your major, every employer will view you from an investor’s perspective. 

“You can do a lot with any major, but do you want to do the job,” he said. 

Jones believes that the key to finding a good career match is taking a careful, thoughtful approach to the job search.

“Watch which jobs you’re investing time into applying for,” he said. “Ask yourself: if I heard back from this company, would I be excited? Would I really want to work for them? If you find your first job and you hate it, you’ll be right back at the starting line putting in applications again.”

He also advises students that many employers are looking for more than grades and skills.

 “Employment is becoming much less transactional,” Jones said. “Companies want employees that share their vision and aren’t just there to collect a paycheck.”