With their degrees in hand and commencement over, some newly minted college graduates are missing something -- a job.
Not being gainfully employed shortly after graduation is not unusual, but also shouldn't be taken lightly, according to Lisa Severy, director of Career Services at the University of Colorado at Boulder.
"Students come into my office with their chins dragging saying 'I know I should have come in earlier,' " Severy said. "We try to let them know that we understand that graduation was their first priority and that we are still ready and willing to help them."
This year, recent graduates should have an easier time finding a job. While the U.S. job market hasn't improved greatly during the past year, the market for new college graduates has. According to a survey by the National Association of Colleges and Employers more than three-quarters of employers described the job market for recent college graduates as "good" or "very good."
For example, CU-Boulder had twice as many employers visit campus in 2005 than in 2004, according to Severy. While on campus, they attended career fairs, posted listings for jobs and internships and conducted on-campus interviews.
"The job market for new college graduates tends to bounce back a little bit faster than the job market at large," Severy said. She attributed this to several factors including that salaries for new graduates are usually lower, they possess the latest skill sets, and are enthusiastic and bring a lot of creative energy to the workplace.
Before they do anything, though, first-time job seekers need to figure out exactly what they are looking for. Once they know that, then they need to let everyone know they are looking for a job, according to Severy. This includes friends, relatives, classmates and of course their parents.
"Networking is essential to getting a job, but it doesn't come easily for everybody," she said.
To help students sharpen their job-seeking skills, most colleges offer career advice of some kind. For CU-Boulder graduates, those services don't end when they graduate, because they can get help through the campus Career Services office for up to a year after graduation.
And that is a good thing because some students visit the Career Services office for the first time after they graduate, according to Severy. The important thing is getting them in the door.
"Chances are if you are a student who is not really knowledgeable about the job-seeking process, then you probably haven't developed your interviewing skills and you most likely don't have a resume ready to go," she said.
Just sitting down with a counselor for half an hour can help hone these skills, which can make a huge difference when it comes to making a positive first impression.
"I like to remind students that this is one of the only times in their lives that they will have free access to professional career counselors, so take advantage of it," she said.
For those struggling to find a job, Severy said they should be proud of completing a major milestone. "It's not easy to graduate from college," she said. "Just remember when you get a rejection letter that there are all kinds of employers out there and you will get a job. And if you need help, come see us."
For more information about Career Services visit the Web site at or call (303) 492-6541.