It's never too early Graduates urge students to start looking for jobs as soon as they possibly can If you are graduating in May, former students suggest that you start looking for a job now. Spring 2003 PSH graduates warn that the job market is tough and that even they are not doing what they planned after graduation. Alia Hartwick, elementary education graduate, works as a furniture salesperson in Quakertown in the evenings and substitute teaches during the day. "This is definitely not what I expected," she said. "I applied to 50 school districts in Pennsylvania and I didn't hear from any of them." Stacy DeAngelo, a communications graduate, works at a bookshop in Kingston as a wedding and station ary design consultant. The major obstacle is the lack of jobs in the area," she said. "Not only for communications but for any- thing." Both Hartwick and DeAngelo said they planned on having a steady job and living securely on their own, however, that was more difficult than they imagined. "After a month or more of not having a job and hav ing bills to pay and school loan payments coming in, you find yourself settling for anything that will offer a paycheck and putting finding a job you want on the back burner until you are financially secure enough to afford quitting the job you have," said DeAngelo. Hartwick agreed. She said after graduation she planned on having a full-time teaching, position in Pennsylvania, getting her own place and supporting herself. "As of right now none of those plans are in effect," she said. Josh Kerlin graduated with a degree in mechanical engineering last year. He said that despite his efforts to get a job, there was nothing available to him. Kerlin said most places were not hiring or they required experience. By RACHEL SHEPHERD Features Editor "They didn't have the time to train entry-level graduates," he said. "Penn State gave me the basics but there is a lot of room for improvement. An internship would have helped too." Kerlin said Penn State could expand as far as technology for MIT students is con cerned. He said the Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) classes were poor because they were taught by instructors who were either unknowledge able of the subject matter and/or did not care to teach the course. He said his lack of work in this area contributed to his difficulty attaining experience to get a job. All three degree students say graduate school is in their future, however money is a big issue. "It is far too expensive for someone right out of col lege unless they get yet another loan or some sort of financial help," said DeAngelo. Kerlin said he would attend graduate school if he finds a job that would assist with tuition. Hartwick said she would do the same if she can find a school district that would offer financial assistance so she can further her education. These graduates said they are taking it one day at a time before they think of the future. "I think more along the lines of five days from now or maybe five months top," said DeAngelo. "My next step is to get up in the morning and go to work." Hartwick is taking advantage of her substitute teaching opportunities. "This way when I finally get a job, I'll have a better idea of what to expect," she said. Kerlin is working as a consultant for a trucking company, but he is looking for something more permanent. He said his search is more difficult than he thought, especially considering he started looking for a job over a year ago. "Start looking for a job as soon as possible," he advised. "It is a tight market and internships and contacts really do help."
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