By DeMarcus Hamilton
Daily Egyptian, Southern Illinois University 

(UWire)--The plummeting economy has some Southern Illinois University seniors shaken up about job placement after graduation, but many in the College of Business have already made plans.

Because of the economic situation, Tomeka Stamper said she has chosen not to test the employment waters just yet.

"I always had plans to go to grad school, but the economy confirmed it," said Stamper, a senior from Chicago studying accounting."The stability for jobs after school isn't really great. I would rather wait till everything is stable before I get out in the real world so I will be better prepared."
-Tomeka Stamper

Stamper said she sees graduate school as a safe haven from the real world and its economic problems. The job market may not be stable enough to jump into right after college, she said.

Even with a bachelor's degree in hand, many young adults struggle to find jobs. Stamper said she is going to use graduate school as a way to become better equipped for the job market when the time is right.

"The stability for jobs after school isn't really great. I would rather wait till everything is stable before I get out in the real world so I will be better prepared," Stamper said. 

Stamper is not the only one planning in advance. Ranard Vercher, a senior from University Park studying accounting, said he already has a job lined up.

Vercher said he got a full-time job with Deloitte, one of the largest professional services firms in the world, after interning with the company the past two summers.

Even though he is ahead of many of his peers, Vercher said there are still things he worries about.

"As far as jobs, I'm not worried, but when I get in there you still have to worry about whether they're going to lay people off," Vercher said.

Vercher is not placing all his trust in his new job. He said he plans to remain at SIUC for graduate school next fall because his company is paying for him to attend. He will go to work for Deloitte after graduation, he said.

Vercher and Stamper will not be the only graduates feeling the job market crunch.

A poll by the National Association of Colleges and Employers shows that 52 percent of respondents project they will hire fewer graduates in 2009 than in 2008. Only 14 percent of respondents said they planned to hire the same amount as they did in 2005.

Because of the climate, students should aim for careers - not jobs, said Michael Haywood, director of recruitment and minority programs for the College of Business.

"J.O.B. stands for just outside broke," Haywood said. "Robbing Peter to pay Paul, no money for investment, no money for savings and no money to pass on to future generations."

Students unsure of what direction to take should assess their abilities and put their priorities in order, he said. If someone is aiming for a big house and nice car, that should factor into a career choice.

"It's not one set formula for any student. By making those assessments, they can make the determination if they need to enroll in grad school or if they should test the market and seek employment," Haywood said.

Another thing Haywood stresses to his students is the importance of a résumé.

Haywood said he helps students organize their résumés to make sure they are ready for employers.

"If you come in the office with a blue suit and looking clean, your résumé has to look just as good," Haywood said.