Job market is better, search still difficult

Surpassing finals, moving-out, celebration and commencement, the job search is atop the list of priorities for graduates. \nThough college seniors are experiencing the best job market in the past four years, according to USA TODAY, the search is still not easy. Seniors find lack of experience, education and networking skills are reasons they face unemployment out of college.\n"Everywhere I apply says they need me to have more experience, but I don't know how I can get experience if no one will hire me," graduating senior Luke Etheridge said. "It's like a big, never-ending circle."\nA four-year college degree may not be sufficient for hiring, so some opt to continue their higher education. \n"I am thinking about going back to school in the next year or so to get my Ph.D," said graduating senior Kim Huston. Huston plans to pursue a job in media and believes it will take some time before she can accumulate enough experience to get hired.\nEmployers plan to increase hiring of college students by 13 percent this year, according to the National Association of college and Employers (NACE). Even with the biggest hiring increase since 2001, students are still unsuccessful in their search.\n"I have been looking for jobs since the beginning of the semester and I've applied several places and I'm still looking," Etheridge said.\nSeniors not only struggle to get hired, but also to find a career that is suitable to them.\n"Some of the businesses are just a waste of time and you don't know if they're actually good companies or a crack pot organization," IU almunus Chris Aguirre said. "You look through all these jobs and don't know if they're worthwhile and who to apply for; it's just overwhelming and discouraging."\nNetworking is an important skill for seniors who searching for a job. Through parents, experience and prior arrangements they are able to make contacts and work the market.\n"If I didn't have contacts through my dad, then it would be harder because when you search for jobs some will say out of state need not apply," Aguirre said. "It was especially hard for me because I knew I didn't want to work in Indiana."\nKnowing someone in the field can help jump start some seniors careers.\n"My father is trying to help me get with a brokerage firm as an executive assistant," said graduating senior Jeremy Walls. "I am confident I'll get a job soon because of the prestige held by the Kelley Business School, my better than average G.P.A. and international experience."\nThough some seniors maybe uncertain of future plans, most agree confidence and an optimism is important to have through the search.\n"Optimism about getting a job is the best way of going into it," Huston said.\nDespite the job market and the difficulties in the search, Aguirre says it's important for seniors to continue to hold standards for their future job.\n"For me, personally it was just hard to find a place where I could see myself being employed," Aguirre said. "Finding a job that you can see yourself being successful at and enjoying is harder than getting that job."\n-- Contact Staff Writer Nellie \nSummerfield at nsummerf@indiana.edu.