Some of this semester’s graduates will have to confront life away from the corn rows of DeKalb and the difficult task of finding a “real” job.

Melissa Mathey, a senior communication major and current job hunter, recognizes the difficulties she will face looking for a job after graduation.

“Job searching will be just as time consuming as school,” she said.

Christian Hallock, a senior community health and environmental science major, also knows it won’t be easy to find a job. However, he’s trying to be patient and is positive about his chances.

“I’m confident I’ll get a good job and make good money,” he said. “It will just take a little waiting.”

Ron Short, director of the Career Planning and Placement Center, agrees graduating students can be successful in the job market.

“It’s not that bad out there,” he said. “But you may not get your dream job right away.”

Short said there still are jobs out there for NIU graduates with the same big companies that have established a pattern of hiring NIU students. However, they are not hiring the mass numbers they once did, and finding out about them requires some networking.

“The No. 1 way for graduates to find a job is networking,” Short said.

He recommends graduating students take advantage of the holiday season parties and gatherings to network.

“Friends and family might know about possible job openings,” Short said.

Short also wants graduating students to remember that a former NIU student might find out about your need for a job while at these parties and gatherings.

“Chances of bumping into an NIU alum are very high,” he said.

When not networking, graduating students and alumni still looking for employment or looking to improve their current job status are welcome to use the Career Planning and Placement Office, Short said.

They encourage students to make appointments with the office or stop by to learn ways to improve résumés, interviewing skills or ask any questions they may have about confronting the job market.

The office’s services also are available online at Victor eRecruiting at www.niu.edu/cppc. The online information and services are updated and include a new “NIU Major Web-Links” site offered under career resources.

For information, call the Career Planning and Placement Office at 753-1641, or visit the Campus Life Building, Room 235.