As graduation looms ever closer, 2008 Saint Louis University graduates are feeling the pressure of the job market as they plan to enter the “real world.”

In the midst of a declining economy and increasing prices, obtaining that first job out of college may be more intimidating than in previous years, but Kim Reitter, director of Career Services, isn’t seeing any drastic changes in the employment of SLU students.

“The media is saying it’s bad, but we’re not seeing that for the entry-level college graduate,” she said.

Jack Strauss, Ph.D., an economics professor and forecaster at SLU, thinks the decline of the economy will hit college students first.

“Certainly, we are experiencing economic slowdown,” he said. “This is the worst market since 2001 [and] 2002, and it’s pretty clear that the job market-locally, regionally, nationally-is declining.”

Strauss said St. Louis won’t be getting hit as hard as the coastal cities and states.

“There is a particular slowing in the housing and financial sectors, while education and healthcare are doing OK,” he said.

Because the economic strife is hitting the financial and housing sectors the most, St. Louis won’t be affected as much by the downturn in the economy.

“If you’re having a hard time here, the east and west coasts aren’t the places to fly, because those economies are going to be hit the most,” Strauss said.

Strauss warned people not to be fooled by claims of increasing college graduates’ wages.

“Wages adjusted for … inflation have been flat for seven years,” he said. “We know prices are higher, so, although salaries are increasing by 4 percent, they are just keeping up with inflation-there are no real gains.”

According to Reitter, the industries that are always big-engineering, physical therapy, accounting and nursing-continue to recruit a high number of recent college graduates. For those students in liberal arts majors, the competition gets a little steeper, especially with some majors like marketing and communication.

“Ad firms, [public relations] firms-they might hire a person here or there, but that industry is not like engineering or accounting [which are ones] that hire in mass,” said Scott Plowman, assistant director of employee relations at SLU. Reitter agreed, but said that this doesn’t mean jobs aren’t available, but that the job seeker has to work harder.

Senior marketing major Jamie O’Brien did her homework before graduation and has an internship in New York in the merchandising sector of Tommy Hilfiger this summer. While she feels prepared to enter the workforce, O’Brien has doubts about her position.

“I don’t feel secure in my industry because the merchandising [and] visualizing department is always first to go when downsizing,” she said.

Reitter knows the stress that searching for a job can cause and encourages students to use Career Services.

“There is a fear of [getting your first job], but that’s why we encourage students to be proactive by getting internships and experience,” Reitter said. “It’s all about thinking, ‘How can I stand out from the crowd when there’s competition?'”

For nervous graduates seeking employment, Reitter and Plowman suggested attending SLU’s first Job Search Bootcamp on June 10 in the BSC. The one-day seminar is geared toward giving students the tools to jumpstart their career with tips for interviewing, networking and resume-building. To increase opportunities for networking, Plowman recommended getting involved in professional organizations. Reitter said she encouraged students to spread the word that they are looking for employment.

O’Brien suggested applying to as many positions as possible and gaining valuable interview experience.

Above all, Plowman and Reitter remind students not to get discouraged.

“Keep in mind that your first job may not be your dream job,” Plowman said. “It may be two or three down the line.”