Economic slump creates a hurdle for job hunters

"I just found my dream job," senior Cara Wierzbinski said as she scrolled through the countless employment listings on the Internet. With 27 weeks of her college career left and the recent tragedies in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania, Wierzbinski, a business major, recognizes she is about to enter a competitive and somewhat scary world. \nCounselors and professors continue their constant pursuit of preparing their students for the challenge. \n"The business school almost instilled a fear in their students that (with a recession looming) it would be more difficult to find a job," Wierzbinski said.\nTom Rearick, associate director of recruiting for the Kelley School of Business, said the number of companies interested in coming to IU to recruit is down 15 percent. \n"This year, most every sector is down. The tech sector in particular is down significantly. Students who are (Computer Information Science) majors will see far fewer opportunities than last year. Accounting seems to be the strongest area, with levels similar to last year," Rearick said. \nRearick said there have been cancellations among recruiters coming to IU after the terrorist attacks. \n"Investment banks that are centered in New York have had to cancel or postpone because of the interruptions to the financial markets," Rearick said. \nRearick faces the task of finding new companies to recruit at IU and overcoming obstacles accompanying the economic recession. \n"For the first time in about ten years, the labor market will be tight with fewer opportunities to move around," Rearick said. \nRearick is working hard trying to prepare students to aggressively pursue jobs. \n"All the little things now count. By "little things" I mean attending presentations, working up a strong resume, networking, doing an independent job search as well as using the Business Placement Office, approaching companies when they are on campus to sell yourself and your skills, (and) using every opportunity to get in front of them," Rearick said. \nAlan McNabb, director of Arts and Sciences Placement Office and Career Development Center, also recognized the obstacles seniors are going to face. \n"It's going to be very difficult this year for the first time since 1987. Some people are going to have to realize they may have to leave college without a job," McNabb said. \nThe number of firms attending the Information Technologies Fair in October decreased by 50 percent. Last year the fair reached its maximum of 60 firms, this year it's down to 30. McNabb credits this decrease to fear of flying and the uncertainty of the America people. \n"The students that work hard and have an open mind, academic preparation and leadership skills are still going to do fine," McNabb said. "People who work hard at finding an opportunity are going to be successful. But this isn\'t a year to wait around until March."\nHe also stressed the importance of looking into smaller companies and talking to everyone instead of playing the name game.\nIn the first discontinuation of trade since the Great Depression, economics teachers found a way to incorporate the circumstances of Sept. 11 and the recession of the economy into the classroom. \n"When people don\'t know what is going to happen they tend to play it safe. Companies are less likely to hire people, less likely to make investments," said Elyce Rotella, associate professor of economics. Rotella also expressed her concern for seniors. \n"The economy has taken a dramatic downturn ... Last year all of my students who were seniors had jobs before November, that's not going to happen this year," Rotella said.\nCounselors continue to recommend internships as a beneficial way of getting experience and making connections. Blanca Miller, leadership program coordinator for the SPEA Placement and Internship Office said students should not be deterred from applying for internships specifically in Washington. \n"If your heart is set on working in the government, then the best place to be is Washington, D.C," Miller said. \nOn May 4, seniors will walk across the stage and receive their diplomas just like in previous years. But this group of individuals might be thrown into an unstable economic world. Many will leave IU not knowing what the future holds, and others will depart with a certain path. Whatever the case may be, the graduating class of 2002 is faced with a challenge.