Schools

RMU Grads Deal With Difficult Job Market

RMU alums aren't letting the tough economy keep them down

Joe Kramer is pretty excited about moving to Minnesota.

And he has good reason to be. The 22-year-old Moon native just landed a job as a ticket sales associate with the Minnesota Timberwolves.  It's an impressive gig for the new alumus – especially given the tough job market for new grads.

"It's competitive out there," Kramer said. "When you're a freshman you have to get involved on campus. Get involved with student groups and meet with professors."

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Kramer and other RMU seniors finished up their final courses Friday.

RMU doesn't hold a commencement ceremony for December graduates, but like others across the country, these freshly minted alumni will contend with a tough economy and limited job prospects.

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The U.S. Department of Labor reported that November's unemployment rate stood at a grim 9.8 percent.

One of those December RMU graduates, David Serkoch,  24, said he hopes to find a job in the Pittsburgh region. It is, after all, his home, he said.

He's been sending out his resume and has gotten a few calls.

"But nothing concrete yet," he said.

"Hopefully I get something in the next two or three months," Serkoch said. "I'm trying to give myself kind of a cushion. I'm not overwhelmed by bills and stuff like that yet. "

Serkoch and Kramer both said their education at RMU helped prepare them for the realities of the current economy. Both are leaving the university with some real-world experience under their belt. Serkoch, a journalism major, wrote for RMU's newspaper, The Sentry, and Kramer interned for the Penguins, Pirates and Steelers.

"It's varied, but most of the time they would apply the classes toward real-world experiences," Kramer said.

Kramer said his internships – eight in total – helped set him a part from other entry-level job applicants.

 "I've learned a lot through internships about what it's like behind the scenes," he said.  "You've got to network big time.  That's all you hear about here.  Network and meet people."

RMU senior Heather Lowery, 20, has a few months left at RMU.  She'll finish up in May and plans to attend graduate school for creative writing. But she said she feels confident that RMU readied her for a post-college job hunt.

"I think that's always going to be a concern – even when the economy is fine," Lowrey said. "It's always harder for new grads to find jobs, the recession just makes it harder."

She said though she's in the midst of applying to grad schools, the internship on her resume would help her land a job.

"My brother graduated last year and he was worried about, but he found a job," she said. "But, yeah, [the economy] is the talk of the town."

 


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