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Graduates are no more worried about assignments and exams. Rather, they are all anxious about their job prospects in this grim economy. El Paso’s rate of unemployment today stands at 10% says the US Department of Labor Bureau and the slumping economy does not help either leading to great stress and worry among job seekers.

A senior business major Emmanuel Ortega says that unless he has a degree, he does not even get a call from employers which is indeed a tough situation. It is fortunate that Ortega is able to support his family as he already has a full time job and attends part time classes. Not satisfied with his present employment, he is on the lookout for another job for the past year and has been unable to find one.

Presently in the IT sector, he is looking for a job in logistics or sales but is hanging on to the present job as he says, it pays his bills. Pay is a major issue even if jobs are available. Last fall, the University Career Center conducted a survey that showed that a master’s graduate today earns about $57 thousand a year and a bachelor’s graduate earns about $45 thousand on an average.

In El Paso, salaries are lower which is aggravating says the director of University Career Center, George Barton. He says that even though people are worth more than what they are paid, employers seems to think that since it is El Paso where the cost of living is less, they do not have to pay much.

With companies such as Hewlett-Packard and Fort Bliss coming into El Paso, this town is growing with opportunities today. Barton says that it is however a good idea leaving El Paso if you are getting a higher salary elsewhere.

He says that since we invest so much money and time into our education, it is only logical to look for a job that pays what you are worth. According to Samkia Grimida who has an engineering doctorate in environmental science, she has been on the lookout for a teaching job where she can make use of her knowledge.

She says that in El Paso, it is hard to come across a job. On an average, it takes about five months for graduates to find a job, she says. According to Barton, people who do not look in the right places may take ages to find work.

He cautioned students that finding a job in itself is a full-time job. He advised students to spend some strategic time every day towards this effort. He said that they have to hustle and not just wait for the phone to ring.

He said students can take the help of career centers offering services such as connecting students to employers, resume writing and interview techniques. This is an excellent way of opening up new opportunities, he said.

Understanding student’s strong urge to land a good job as soon as they graduate, Barton said that it is important to hunt for a job with the right alternative perspective. It is advisable to take time to think about what is right for you and wait for the right opportunity to come along, he said.