With unemployment rates still high and the economy at a low, graduating from college can be pretty hopeless. Many students believe that finding a job will be very challenging, and they’re right. However, there are many things to keep in mind when facing such difficult times.

Karen Hagans, director of career services, encourages all students to remain positive when preparing for the real world.

“Even when the economy is bad, people still get hired,” she said. “I think what most students need to do is figure out what makes them unique and discover how they can contribute to their fields.”

Hagans believes that the major news outlets can often scare people so much they end up doing nothing at all.

“It’s not hopeless,” she said. “But you do need to have good resources and marketing tools. Looking at something negatively instead of thinking about the possibilities never gets you anywhere in life.”

There are many students who feel unprepared for graduation, while others feel ready for the next chapter of their lives.

Junior Allison Dieter is a fine arts major and knew that finding a job would not be easy.

“It worries me, because I could have chose a different major,” she said. “But I would rather get a job doing [something I love] than something I hate.”

Even though Dieter is worried about graduating, she believes she has enough general experience outside of her field to land a job.

“My resume looks like I’m a physical science or athletics major,” she said.” I’m trying to get more of an art background in there, but with everything else I’ve done, it’s nice to know I have a back-up plan.”

Taylor Zorman, a junior who is a marketing and international business major, feels more confident in her job search after getting two internships under her belt.

“Luckily the internship I am doing now has prospects of turning into a future job,” she said. “So that’s pretty reassuring. I just feel like because I’m so persistent and because I’ve had past experience, I’ll be able to find a job, but it’s going to be difficult.”

Before applying for her current internship, Zorman spent a week in the Career Services Center working on her résumé.

“I love my résumé,” she said. “Career Services is a really great service and more people should be using it because if you want to be competitive, you have to keep focusing on yourself and work hard.”

Seth Swaggerty, a junior speech communications major, is concerned about finding a job but doesn’t like to think about it often.

“I am worried,” he said. “Yet at the same time, I am not. I don’t know what will happen in two years so I leave the future for that; the future.”

Swaggerty, like Dieter, believes that passion is more important than income.

“I want to eventually do something for my passion,” he said. “Wealth isn’t a big thing for me.”

Lynda Romer, a fifth year senior and child and family studies major, never planned on making a ton of money with her job. She believes that satisfaction from helping others will make up for that.

“Money means stability but it doesn’t mean happiness,” she said. “I would rather be poor and helping families in need than rich [with] nothing to show for it.”

While Romer values happiness over money, she knows that moving out of the area after graduation might be difficult.

“Finding a job does worry me,” she said. “I know I can always relocate, but with student loans that will probably be very hard. I try to stay positive and hope for the best.”

Hagans encourages all students to come to the CSC for advice.

“If a student needs help, they need to come see us,” she said. “Everyone has something to offer. You just need to figure out what it is.”

Career Assistants are available for walk-ins at the CSC Mon. through Fri. from noon to 5 p.m.