Issue date: 3/19/09 Section: News

Media Credit: Ben Kleppinger Graduating senior Bobbi Parks from Boston, Ky., gets advice from Career Services employee Kelsey Blevins at GradFest on Wednesday. Parks is scheduled to graduate this spring with a fine arts degree in photography.

Media Credit: Ben Kleppinger Graduating seniors wait in line for GradFest Wednesday. Seniors verified their addresses and got information about financial aid, advice from career services and more.

Many graduating seniors are looking forward to trading in their textbooks for careers this May, but when they step out the college door into real life, they may not like the job market they find.

"It's not very good," said Laura Melius, director of Eastern's Career Services.

Melius said she has been in a position to watch the job market for a while, and the current situation is the worst she's seen.

The current job market is very unstable, primarily due to the economy, Melius said.

"Companies are laying [people] off and downsizing," Melius said. "It's hard for them to go out and hire new talent."

Compared to the job market for last year's graduates, this year there will be an estimated 22 percent fewer graduates hired, according to a survey by the National Association of Colleges and Employers.

The survey, based on 174 organizations and major employers, said nearly 67 percent of responding employers had changed their hiring plans as a result of the economy since the fall, with most cutting back on their hiring projections.

The prospects for 2010 don't look much better, Melius said.

But there are some things students can work on to ensure they are prepared for their job search, she said.

Students need to get as much experience in their related field as possible. Internships and co-op opportunities are one way to get your foot in the door before you leave Eastern, Melius said.

Juniors and early seniors can also work on their interviewing skills and attend local job fairs in order to create prospective contacts and see what possible employers are looking for in their future workforce.

Eastern's Career Services can provide helpful resources to students, like mock interview and resumé critiques, Melius said.

Some students might have an easier time than others, depending on their specific field of study, Melius said.

Students who are studying health sciences, construction and some areas of education, or are looking to get jobs in the federal or local government will more than likely have an easier time finding work after graduation, Melius said.

Melanie Timmers, a junior earth science teaching major, said she is fairly confident about finding a job after graduation.

"In middle school and high school, there is a shortage of math and science teachers in the state of Kentucky," Timmers said. "We don't have to worry about internships or co-ops because we do student teaching."

Neil Compton, a senior psychology major, is more anxious about his future.

"I'm worried," Compton said. "Definitely."

Compton said he doesn't have any jobs waiting for him after graduation, but he does have ideas of where he could look.

Compton said he feels a bit unprepared to go in search of a job in the field of psychology with just an undergraduate degree.

"You need to have a master's to be really competitive," Compton said, "especially in psychology."

For more information about career services or to see a schedule of upcoming career-related events, visit www.career.eku.edu.

Page 1 of 1

Article Tools