The Daily Collegian Unemployment rate for graduates rises By Zach Geiger COLLEGIAN STAFF WRITER Penn State might be the No. 1 school in the country for career recruitment, according to the Wall Street Journal, but that doesn't mean recent graduates won't face difficulties in the job market. The national unemployment rate among college graduates with a bachelor’s degree or higher peaked at 5.1 percent in November, according to a study by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Though that number is half the national unemployment rate. Penn State students need not panic when it comes to finding a job after graduation. Career Services Director Jack Rayman said. "It's not a substantial increase." Rayman said. "It hovers between 4.6 percent and 5 percent. It's been hovering around 5 percent for the last couple years or so." Rayman said the economy impacts various industries and geographic areas to different extents, therefore not all students are affected after graduation. Still, some students expressed concern about the statistic and what it means for their future. "I'm scared of joining that 5 per cent." Sandy Osterhoudt < senior biotechnology i said The online resources offered by Career Services are helpful, she said, but students need to be proactive in Undine a job post graduation. "You can't fault the system." she said. “It's just hard to be a stu dent and be looking for a job. Justin Garvey ■ senior-food sci ence) said the numbers were "alarming," but he acknowledged that gaining internship experi ence and participating in extracurricular activities are cru cial to differentiate yourself from other job applicants. "When people see that you're involved in things that goes a lot further than someone that’s just a 3.5 GPA student,” he said. The numbers do present a con cern to Career Services, but the easiest way for students to pre pare for their future is to take the first step preferably in the direction of Career Services, Ravman said. "Parents and students view higher education as preparation for a career," Rayman said. "If they don't secure jobs, they feel like higher education failed them." To secure a job in time for grad uation. students need to visit Career Services in their freshman year, Rayman said, and fully take adv antage of the resources. A benefit unique to Penn State is its reputation with employers, Rayman said. Career Services had an impact on the No. 1 rank ing Penn State received in the Wall Street Journal, Rayman said. Penn State came out on top of 100 colleges surveyed by 479 pro fessional recruiters. Penn State also ranked No. 5 in accounting. No. 6 in finance. No. 7 in computer science and No. 9 in engineering, according to the Wall Street Journal. But the real challenge is up to students to enhance their mar ketability after graduation. Ravman said. To e-mail reporter: zjgsol2@psu.edu Students pose with a Santa Elf for a picture in the HUB-Robeson Center on Tuesday morning. The photo shoot benefited the Interfraternity Council./Panhellenic Dance Marathon. Man bound over for trial By Zach Geiger COLLEGIAN STAFF writer The man charged with robbing i the Northland i Center Subway twice in i i November was f JEf 1 bound over tor f t s * trial after his pre liminaiy hearing on Wednesday. I the Ferguson ; Township Police Blasko ! Department said Police said Michael Blasko. 24. ; of State College, robbed the : Subway restaurant. 283 ! Northland Center, at knifepoint on two separate occasions Blasko was arrested on Dec. 3 and faces two counts each of felony robbery and misdemeanor theft, simple assault and receiv ing stolen property, police said. The Subway restaurant was robbed Nov. 9 at 8 p.m.. police said. An unknown man wearing a white bandanna to conceal his face threatened a cashier with a knife and demanded money, police said. The man tied the store with an undisclosed amount of cash, police said. Surveillance \ideo released by police showed a man wearing loose fitting jeans and a hooded witt 4 u We will Be Back at & (MMo & <] , —vP ■? V~\ fvl <<-; Publication. of Tfte Dotty Collegian will resume Contact vour Account Executive (814}865-2bBl It The Daily Collegian Friday, Dec. 10, 2010 I sweatshirt, in addition to a white bandanna. Police described the robber as a white male in his twenties, with a thin build and between 5 feet 10 and 0 feet tall. At 10:39 p.m. on Nov. 12. the same Subw'av was robbed at knifepoint. The description of the man matched the one from the first incident, except the man was wearing a blue bandanna, police said. Blasko is currently incarcerat ed in the Centre County Correctional Facility on $lOO,OOO cash bail and his arraignment is set for Jan. 5. 2011. To e-mail reporter: zjgsol2@psu.edu today to discuss advertising! 123 S. Burrowes St