By Amanda Clifford
As unemployment rates around the country continue to skyrocket and the recession continues to worsen, college seniors are getting ready for what is supposed to be one of the most exciting times in their lives: graduation.
Last week, officials announced that Oregon's unemployment rate hit double digits - 10.8 percent - for the first time since 1984. Nationwide, the unemployment rate is brimming at 8.1 percent.
Although these figures are extremely high, Mary Beth Snell, assistant director and career counselor of Career Services, advises students not to lose hope.
"It's going to take a lot of effort on the student's part to find a job," Snell said. "It may take a little longer, and you may have to work a little harder, but seniors will find something. There are jobs out there."
According to Snell, the upcoming First Avenue Career and Graduate School Fair, set for Thursday, April 2, is the perfect opportunity for students, freshmen through seniors, to connect with employers.
"Most companies don't know if they will have positions open for next year because it all depends on the end of their fiscal year," Snell said. "But even if employers are not hiring, it is so important that students use this opportunity to make that connection. Networking is huge and at the career fair students can actually talk to employers face to face."
As of last week, 100 organizations are signed up to attend the event, which is right around the number of organizations that attended last year.
Snell said the Career Center is pleased with this year's turnout, considering the economy.
Despite the contracting labor market, most employers are remaining committed to career fairs and expanding internship programs, according to Philip D. Gardner, the director of the Collegiate Employment Research Institute at Michigan State University.
The hope is that interns will eventually receive full-time job offers.
Gardner's research also indicates that in addition to participating in on-campus programs and career fairs, students need to focus outside of campus and attend professional organization meetings and network with potential employers in the area they want to find work.
Students around campus are having mixed feelings about the upcoming career fair.
Senior Kacia Hart is undecided about whether or not she will attend the event.
"I'm always hesitant about job fairs because there are so many people that attend and you really don't hear that many success stories," Hart said. "Knowing how the job market is right now makes me not want to go. It is a lot of effort to get all dressed up, pay the fees and hand out your résumé when there is no real chance of finding a job."
KC Fox, a senior engineering student, attended the Science and Technical Fair, a career fair on campus for students majoring in fields such as engineering, computer science, chemistry, biology, math, physics, and environmental science, back in February.
Fox left the fair empty-handed with strong feelings of discouragement.
"It was mainly frustrating because there were so many companies there, yet none of them were hiring," Fox said. "It was really disappointing, especially because in previous years people have always had positive experiences at that career fair. It's always been a successful tool, but it didn't feel that way this year. And that is the general feel I got from most people that went. I don't know anyone who left feeling good about the fair."
While some students are hesitant to sign up for the fair because of the current job market, senior Emily Jacoby said that is just the reason she plans to attend the career fair.
"People think that they can just do it on their own," Jacoby said. "But with the economy as bad as it is right now, we are going to have to use the resources available to us."
Along with signing up for the career fair, Jacoby has already started networking with friends and family members to start making connections that could possibly lead to a future career.
For students who do plan to attend the event, preparation is important, according to a recent report done by CNBC.
In the report, spokeswoman Andrea Koncz, of the National Association of Colleges and Employers, reveals that employers can afford to be choosy these days.
When looking at a candidate's résumé, most employers are looking for relative work experience or internship experience.
She also points out that leadership skills are important to have on a résumé, including positions in campus clubs, professional organizations and sororities or fraternities.
With the market as weak as it is now, Koncz said it is more important than ever to demonstrate these characteristics on your résumé.
Students can drop into the Career Center to have their résumés reviewed on March 30, 31 and April 1 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. No appointment is needed on these days.
The Career Center is also hosting How to Work a Job Fair Workshops to give students information on how to be successful at a job fair. These will be held on the following days: Monday, March 30, 4 to 4:30 p.m.; Tuesday, March 31, 1 to 1:30 p.m. and 4 to 4:30 p.m.; and Wednesday, April 1, 12:30 to 1 p.m.
Snell encourages all students to stop by and use the resources available to them on campus.
"It is frustrating," Snell said. "But don't let that frustration lead you to not do anything."
Registration for the fair is $5 online or $10 at the door. For more information on the fair, contact Amy Cavanaugh, or visit http://www.olapcfirstavenue.org/.
