BUT GAIL ROONEY, DIRECTOR OF UNIVERSITY CAREER AND EMPLOYMENT SERVICES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS, SAYS THERE ARE REASONS FOR COLLEGE SENIORS TO BE OPTIMISTIC.

K-U IS A MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF COLLEGES AND EMPLOYERS. THREE TIMES A YEAR, THE ORGANIZATION SURVEYS COMPANIES NATIONWIDE TO ASSESS PROJECTIONS FOR HIRING NEW COLLEGE GRADUATES AND REPORTS THE FINDINGS TO ITS MEMBERS. THE LATEST REPORT SAYS THE ECONOMIC SLOWDOWN HAS HAD THE LEAST IMPACT IN THE MIDWEST. EMPLOYERS IN THIS REGION SAY THEY EXPECT TO HIRE 27 PERCENT FEWER GRADS THIS SPRING THAN LAST. IN OTHER AREAS OF THE COUNTRY THE DECLINE WAS AS LARGE AS 63 PERCENT.

ROONEY SAYS EVEN IN THE CURRENT ECONOMIC RECESSION, SOME SECTORS OF THE ECONOMY ARE STILL HIRING.
Rooney: "The government is a very active employer in seeking new college graduates. The service industry, the merchandising industry and the food industry continues at a pretty level plane." (13 sec.)

THOUGH MANY KANSAS SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE LAYING OFF TEACHERS, THE OUTLOOK FOR EDUCATION GRADUATES NATIONWIDE ISN'T BLEAK.
Rooney: "There still are many school districts that are having a large number of retirements, individuals leaving the field to do other kinds of things, and so the job market is very good for our teachers and our educators." (11 sec.)

IN MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES, ROONEY EXPECTS MORE HIRING THIS FALL.
Rooney: "We seem to have economic indicators that there is a recovery going on. Inventories are down, they will be replenishing those, that will mean more jobs in that manufacturing industry." (12 sec.)

COLLEGE GRADUATES WITH LIBERAL ARTS AND SCIENCES DEGREES AREN'T HANDICAPPED IN THE JOB MARKET, ROONEY SAYS. IN FACT THEY ARE EQUIPPED WITH A UNIQUE PACKAGE OF SKILLS THAT EMPLOYERS VALUE.
Rooney: "What the employer has indicated to us as the qualities they want are communication skills, analytical skills, the ability to research information data and then pull that together, the ability to work in teams, a sense of integrity, honesty and interpersonal skills. The liberal arts student has all of those types of skills and experiences through their curriculum." (24 sec.)

KU'S UNIVERSITY CAREER AND EMPLOYMENT SERVICES OFFICE HELPS K-U STUDENTS GET JOBS DURING SCHOOL AND AFTER GRADUATION. IN ADDITION TO SETTING UP JOB INTERVIEWS WITH POTENTIAL EMPLOYERS, THE OFFICE HELPS STUDENTS WRITE RESUMES AND DEVELOP PORTFOLIOS; CONDUCTS MOCK INTERVIEWS TO PREPARE STUDENTS FOR ACTUAL JOB INTERVIEWS; AND HELPS STUDENTS CONTACT POTENTIAL EMPLOYERS USING THE INTERNET, DATABASES AND CAREER FAIRS.

BUT ROONEY SAYS THE FIRST STEP IN THIS PROCESS IS FOR STUDENTS TO TAKE PERSONAL INVENTORY.
Rooney: "The first thing is to do a clear assessment of what are my skills, my interests, my experiences, my activities, volunteer experiences in order that they can have a sense of what they have to offer to the job market." (15 sec.)

ROONEY SAYS COLLEGE JUNIORS SHOULD BE PREPARING THEIR RESUMES NOW BECAUSE MANY COMPANIES RECRUIT IN THE FALL.
Rooney: "Then many of them will make offers by Thanksgiving in order for that student to be able to go home, talk to significant others, make a decision and then they have a job waiting for them in May, June or July." (15 sec.)