Burger King: on South College Street advertises its job openings. Because of an unstable economy, college students are finding the job market to be more competitive.
For many students, getting a job after graduating college is almost as hard as getting the degree itself.
In today’s unsteady economy, the job market is taking a hit and is becoming more competitive than ever for graduates entering the real world.
Nancy Bernard, director of Career Development Services, said students who are job searching are having a more difficult time than expected.
“I think there are some areas where there are some cutbacks, and people are seeing that the job market is not quite as good as it was last year,” Bernard said. “People are having to try a little harder because there is a lot more competition.”
According to Bernard, some career fields are consistently hiring, including careers in nursing, accounting, finance and engineering.
Brittany Smith, a senior in elementary education, said she has had no luck with her job search.
“There are no jobs because of the education budget that has not been passed,” Smith said. “Nobody is hiring because nobody has the budget to hire new teachers. I have gone above and beyond, it seems.”
Smith said she thinks the state of the economy has a significant impact on the job market.
“I think that everybody is so worried about where the economy is going,” Smith said. “Congress will not pass our education budget, and I think it will change after we get halfway into the next school year. They’re going to realize there are too many kids in one classroom, so they’re going to need to hire more teachers.”
While Bernard said no career field has taken a major hit because of the unsteady economy, she said people might see a decrease in hiring for building science, retail and marketing students.
“It is all economy driven,” Bernard said.
When on the hunt for a job, Bernard recommends students should do their research when applying for jobs, as well as take the time to focus on what kind of job they are seeking.
“Be very conscientious about following up with employers,” Bernard said. “Look at different Web sites and resources, as well as networking with family and friends.”
One of the most popular ways students network is through an internship.
Cale McGraw, a senior in mechanical engineering, completed an internship and is in the co-op program.
“I worked for a steel mill for an internship for a while right after my first semester of college,” McGraw said.
McGraw said he has hopes that the company he is co-oping with will offer him a job after graduation.
For the rest of the recent or soon-to-be graduates, not all hope should be lost.
According to Bernard, a survey concerning the job market determined the hiring of new employees should increase for 2009.
In the meantime, Bernard wants all graduated students to know, Career Development Services is still available to aid in their job search.
