In difficult economic times, DU students are having to work “smarter and harder” to find employment after graduation, according to Wendy Winter-Searcy, assistant director of the Career Center.

“There’s certainly a change in the economy and in the strategies that are required to gain employment,” Winter-Searcy said.

Forty-one percent of DU’s graduates last year reported that they had not found employment in a survey taken just before graduation. This number is up from 36.8 percent in 2007. Another 37 percent of students reported having jobs lined up, while 11 percent said their plans included graduate school.

DU and the Career Center have begun developing a number of new programs to help students find employment in a shrinking job market, including the creation of a “job club” which helps alumni find employment through networking, offering new workshops in partnership with industry professionals and increasing outreach to potential employers.

A new program called Backpacks to Briefcases began this year through the Daniels College of Business. The program sponsors career conferences, guest speakers, networking events, a professional fashion show and an etiquette dinner open to students in any department.

Winter-Searcy said students understand the increasing challenge of finding employment.

Appointments at the Career Center, which acts as a liaison between students and potential employers, helps students construct resumes and build networking strategies are currently booked out two weeks in advance.

“All my friends seem to be really worried about what they’re going to do and where they’re going to work and finding jobs. I am worried, but I think less so than other people just because accounting jobs are easier to come by,” said senior Sarah Batdorf, who is currently working as an intern for an accounting firm that, she hopes, will offer her a position after graduation.

“Students have been much more proactive in taking action sooner. Students are getting their resume ready, they’re preparing for interviews and they’re applying sooner because they know that there could be problems with employment. Students graduating now are going to be competing with people with experience so they’re recognizing that and taking action,” Winter-Searcy said.

DU has not allocated any additional funds to the Career Center’s efforts to deal with increased student demand, according to Winter-Searcy.

However, in spite of the shrinking job market, there are still areas that are stable and growing.

“It’s pretty clear that there are some sectors that are really struggling but there are others that are actually increasing and growing: health care, federal government, IT. So just having that knowledge can be empowering to students to know where they might be able to use their skills… There are opportunities out there. It just takes creativity and strategic planning to find them,” Winter-Searcy said.