New grads entering a tepid job market

MIAMI, May 11 (UPI) -- New college graduates will likely face a difficult job hunt amid a souring economy and rising unemployment, analysts say.

Students have expressed apprehension about finding a job but some academic advisers say companies are still looking for good employees, The Miami Herald reported Sunday.

Imani Fredricks-Lowman, associate director of career services at Florida International University, says employers have not reduced their recruiting at the school.

"Students need to take responsibility and try to learn as much as they can about job opportunities out there," Fredricks-Lowman said. "These are not the kinds of economic times when you can say, I am just going to graduate and have that degree and I can get that job. They have to be a savvy student planning their career."

Academic advisers say the job market is not so bleak for recent graduates because many of the recent cuts in the work force are occurring in upper levels of companies, not in entry level positions.

"If they've done their work and they've been diligent with it, I think they've been very successful in finding work," said Christian Garcia, associate director for employer relations at the University of Miami.

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