This year’s graduating class will be facing a different dilemma then the last several years of graduates – fewer job offers and lower starting salaries, a result of America’s dwindling economy.

In the past two years, students graduating from Eastern have not had trouble getting a job. They often had multiple job offers and options to choose from.

But now, for Linda Moore, interim director of Career Services, the biggest problem is controlling graduating students’ anxiety about the job market.

“We have developed a culture thinking jobs are easy to get and had the luxury of students getting many job offers,” Moore said. “Now students are finally figuring out they can’t model after students who did that, and now they are asking for direction.”

“Sending resumes out earlier is not necessarily the best strategy,” she said. “Most employers are sitting very tight right now.”

Students looking to land a job after graduation should research the companies they are interested in to see if they are financially sound, Moore said.

“Check the stock market and go to Bloomberg.com,” she said. “Do not send resumes to companies who are laying off.”

Normally, recruiting starts early in the year, Moore added, but companies are now planning for later in the spring because of their economic situations.

With the reduced open job positions and increased unemployment figures, getting a job will involve fierce competition.

“Students need to use their personal networks and have the best interview skills,” Moore said. “The competition is much greater and you must sell yourself, not be egotistical, but know your assets.”

Internships are a good asset in securing a job in the downed market, Moore said. Those who have had internships are more likely to get offers either from the company they worked with or from a different company.

“Salary offers are not declining but not moving forward, and students may have to become more flexible this year, possibly having to relocate in order to get a job,” she said.

Senior Scott Muhr, a finance major, plans on graduating in May. He said he really hasn’t started looking yet, but he has started to communicate with the personal contacts he has.

“I know people who have posted their resumes on Monster.com, Hotjobs.com or on Eastern’s Web site to get started,” Muhr said.

Moore said business majors are a “down cycle” for job placement.

“While education has been waiting long for their day and they will get it,” she said. “We fully anticipate that there will be made full-contracts at the teacher-placement day in March.”

Katie Cox, a senior political science major, is chair of the Student Advisory Committee for the Illinois Board of Higher Education. She also says that education majors won’t have the problems with the job market like other majors will.

“Education majors won’t have a hard time finding a job due to the teacher shortage,” Cox said. “Business and humanities will all have a difficult time because employers are cutting down to bare necessities.”

“I know that I am personally somewhat worried,” she said. “The state has a hiring freeze and I’ll be applying with campaigns since it’s an election year.”

Moore warns though that students should not be too disheartened.

“The jobs are there, just be persistent and flexible, it might take 6-9 months to get a job,” she said, noting that Career Services has hired additional graduate students to research employers.

“There is not instant gratification, it takes time,” she said. “Know your strengths and go after it.”