Story 1

Chelsea Hoffman
February 9, 2008
2009 Graduates job search




With13 weeks left until graduation, students around campus are searching for their first career.
The media coverage on mass layoffs by companies like Boeing, Target and Starbucks creates a stressful situation for 2009 Grads. Kyle Vetter, Senior PR major, says that a company has already told him they will not be hiring due to the bad economy. Vetter is worried that the economy is affecting his opportunities for employment.
Stefany Unda, Senior Career Counselor at the WSU Career Development Center says that it is a normal for people to feel anxiety when searching for a job. In our current economy though some industries are shrinking, some are also growing. For example federal job opportunities are currently rising says Unda.
One advantage of being a new grad is that for the most part they will be applying for entry-level positions. Unda says that these positions have more favorable openings. Unlike mid level-blue collar positions which are more difficult to find, and also have a higher un-employment rate.
For students currently looking for work in a specific industry the career center will be a useful resource. Unda can show you current employment rates in your desired field. This can help compare your feelings about the job market to what is actually out there.
To increase chances of employment, Unda shared several helpful tips: First, make sure your resume is up to date.
Second, Select stories about your self that can be used for several types of interview questions. Find common interview questions, and then figure out 5-10 accomplishments that can be presented from any angle.
Third, Own at least 2 suits so that you have something different to wear for a second interview.
Fourth, plan ahead. “Someone in one month can find any job that requires their degree, but maybe they aren’t happy” Unda states. In this economy it will take about 6-9 months to find a job that meets a persons specific career goals”.
Fifth, networking is the job search method that has the highest return rate for offers. At the Student Advising Center counselors can help create a networking plan. This process allows students to map out who they know, how well they know each person, and how the individuals would react to an email or conversation about professional advice.
Washington State University is holding a Career Fair on Wednesday, Feb. 18 from 9a.m. to 3p.m. This year, there are fewer vendors than usual says Unda. There will be about one hundred. During times when the economy is better the fair will house around 200 vendors.
According to Unda the drop in vendors is not unusual. She has worked with the fair for the last 6 years and there have been 3 dips in the economy in that time, creating dips in career fair vendors. For instance before 9/11 the economy boomed, after 9/11 the economy went down. The fair has a lower attendance this year compared to last year, but the Career Development Center expected the change.