Economy affects job availability
By Dave Stephens
Assistant
Campus Editor
The terrorist attacks of Sept. 11 that brought
down the twin towers of the World Trade Center and a portion of the
Pentagon also helped to bring down many students' idea of landing the
perfect job.
But according to Tim Luzader, director of the Center
for Career Opportunities, the notion that good jobs aren't out there
is wrong.
"We have a softening economy, but that was going
on before the attacks," said Luzader. "Many companies are hiring right
now, but it's the bigger companies that aren't doing the hiring of several
people at once."
Luzader said the impact of the tragedy hasn't caused
a major decrease in the number of companies coming to conduct campus
interviews.
"We don’t have any information that would
indicate that companies aren't coming because of the attacks," said
Luzader. "The number of companies that are coming are down from last
year, but that is because the economy has been slowing down."
Luzader said he encourages students who are looking
for a job to research the companies they want to interview with and
to actively pursue positions with that company.
"It's important that students utilize all the available
options, like (the Center for Career Opportunities), to find the best
available job," Luzader said.
Kay Henry, coordinator of career services for the
School of Management, said that management students' job prospects are
down from last year, but still strong.
"Right now, what you're seeing is a few companies
are having hiring freezes," said Henry. "But there are companies that
do need people to hire."
Henry said many of the businesses looking to hire
graduates are smaller companies; the ones that are hiring only one or
two people to replace workers who are retiring.
"What we are not getting is companies hiring six
or seven people at a time," said Henry. "My advice is to go to smaller
companies, look for more local companies."
Henry said the other problem students might face
when looking to be hired is delayed job offers from companies.
"I don’t look for students to be getting offers
in December," said Henry. "I look more for offers to be made in April
and May."
Sarah Crooks, a senior in the School of Management,
said that she hasn't been actively pursuing a job yet and that she is
a little afraid to try.
"It's a little depressing knowing that the chance
of getting a job is less than it was a year ago," said Crooks.
Henry said students who are looking for a job are
taking the situation well.
"I'm not seeing a big panic with students at this
time, they just have to work harder," she said.
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