It's difficult not to notice what has been going on in the economy the past eight months. Indeed, the scope of change has been unprecedented with financial firms that have survived the Great Depression failing and storied investment banks on Wall Street converting to commercial banks. The malaise has reverberated throughout the economy, affecting firms in all sectors and adding a level of uncertainty for many students thinking about going back for an MBA.

This recruitment year will be different. At least 60 percent of graduate business schools in a recent MBA Career Services Council survey project a decrease in campus recruiting activity. "Despite the economic downturn, we had excellent placement with the Class of 2008, and with the recruitment cycle for the Class of 2009, we've seen stability in the number of companies recruiting on campus," said Karen Dowd, Senior Director of MBA Career Development.

Notre Dame is well positioned to help students in this difficult employment climate. Three industry experts who serve as Relationship Managers in the major MBA hiring sectors ensure students receive excellent counsel and are connected to the marketplace. The career experts include Patrick Perrella in finance, Laura Bellis in consulting, and John Rooney in marketing, general management, and entrepreneurship. And though Notre Dame's MBA students are expected to work hard, do their research, and be prepared, these industry experts meet with them many times – for a required interview jumpstart program, resume reviews, skills assessments, and an alumni mentor program – to prepare them for a competitive job market.

"The important thing to remember is that prospective students shouldn't be focusing on the current job market, but where it will be in May 2010 or May 2011," says Perrella, Financial Institutions Relationship Manager and Senior Associate Director of Career Development. "If you go by the remarks from most economists, the U.S. economy and the job market will be in much better shape by then."

Notre Dame's alumni and recruiters have continued to support the MBA program. Perrella says, "In trips to the West Coast, Chicago, and Wall Street, the message we've heard back from corporations is that they still want to see Notre Dame talent."

Notre Dame's MBA program is ranked in the top 20 among U.S. business schools in BusinessWeek magazine's biennial survey, "The Best B-Schools" (November 24, 2008), improving six spots to number 20 from the 2006 results. In addition, the program earned an "A" for its career services, with the BusinessWeek survey staff commenting that "Notre Dame students raved about their alumni base – super loyal to the school and super helpful on the job search."