Career counselors say graduates shouldn’t be discouraged by job market

(Host)  Career counselors are encouraging college seniors not to get discouraged about the prospects for a job after graduation.

Experts say some students have given up on a job search before they've really gotten started, and it's due to pessimism about the economy.

Pamela Gardner is the director of Career Services at the University of Vermont. Speaking Tuesday on Vermont Edition, she said they may be harder to get, but jobs are available:

(Gardner)  "Well you can't open the newspaper or turn on the radio or turn on the television without someone talking about how bad the economy is. And so I think that it's very easy for students to hear that superficial or surface level of information and focus on how there aren't any jobs.  But if we have 7.5 percent unemployment in Vermont, then we have 92.5 percent employment - and somebody is getting those jobs."

(Host) The National Association of Colleges and Employers released data last month that businesses are hiring 22 percent fewer college graduates this over last year.

Gardner says that survey data relies on large employers that are hit harder by recessions. She says small to mid-size companies have more consistent hiring records.

Middlebury College Career Services Director Jaye Roseborough says the key to a job search now is to have a personalized approach that makes use of people who know you:

(Roseborough) "Begin with family and friends - I mean, people who have a vested interest in seeing that you succeed are great beginning resources.  And they don't have to be the vice president of some major corporation, nor do they even have to do what you might be interested in doing."

(Host) Roseborough and Gardner agree that internships are critical to building work experience and developing professional contacts.

They also recommend that students begin working with the career services center at their college as early as possible after starting school.