College Grads Facing Tough Job Market
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- College students graduating and entering the job market said it's tough to find work right now.
Katie Roehl graduated in May from the University of Minnesota with a degree in communications.
"I'm really open to anything right now," Roehl said.
Since graduating, she has applied for nearly 30 jobs. She's had five interviews this week, and four the week before.
"Sometimes I've called my mom crying because I get so frustrated," Roehl said. "I'd rather know they didn't want me versus never hearing back."
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics, those aged 16 to 24 have an unemployment rate of 16.2 percent, which is double the national average.
In Minnesota, the rate is 11 percent according to the organization Young Invincibles.
"This year has been a good year -- 2009, 2010 were the depths of recession," said Diane Crist, director of career development at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul.
Crist said many grads struggling to find work often lack work experience, or changed majors late in their college career. She said the key to finding a job for many students is networking, which is what Valerie Turgeon, a graduate from the University of St. Thomas continues to do.
"I'm currently interning at Green Spring Media Group, and I'm also still working at University Relations at St. Thomas," Turgeon said. "So having two part time jobs equals a full-time job."
Turgeon hopes her networking can lead to her dream job of being a writer for a magazine, while Roehl is hoping her persistence will pay off.
Here are some resources for recent grads searching for jobs.
Career Builder
Simply Hired
College Recruiter
Jobs For College Graduates
