Whether entering the final two months of their college careers or glancing toward a May graduation, Penn State seniors will face a fiercely competitive job market, experts say.

A survey conducted by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) in mid-September said employers around the nation expect to hire 3.6 percent fewer college graduates from the 2002-2003 school year than last year.

The drop is a result of the nation's weak economy, which has caused more companies to hire fewer workers straight out of college. The drop will directly affect graduates across the nation looking for jobs, including Penn State students, said Camille Luckenbaugh, NACE employment information manager.

"Everything boils down to the economy. There's just not a lot of opportunities," she said.

Luckenbaugh said the economic environment of the mid-to-late 1990s -- when employees were constantly moving to better, higher-paying positions -- is long gone. These days, workers are staying put because the market is not providing the same free-flowing employment opportunities it did a few years ago, Luckenbaugh said.

"Also, employers won't face as much attrition because workers won't be leaving," she added.

Another study conducted by the NACE showed that Spring 2002 graduates, though hired out of college, faced significantly lower starting salaries.

This new job environment is an unfamiliar concept to many of today's college students because they are only familiar with the economic prosperity of years past, Career Services Director Jack Rayman said.

"An awful lot of students who are graduating now have not experienced a downturn and seen the impact on their own family and themselves. I think now people are starting to realize that they need to hustle," he said.

The national decline in post-graduate employment has not failed to catch the attention of Penn State students.

"It's frustrating a little because you have to work harder to get a job or an interview," said Ryan Heavener (senior-electrical engineering). "I know it's [the job market] slow and tough, but I'm not really scared."

Chris Hafer (senior-biology) said several of his friends have expressed concern and doubt over post-graduate employment.

"A lot of them say they don't want to leave college and face the real world because they know what to expect," Hafer said.

To improve their chances for employment, Rayman suggests students target the exact industry they want to pursue.

"It makes a tremendous amount of difference in the job field you're looking at. The reality is, there is a lot of varying within [the employment spectrum]," he said. "For example, architecture and nursing are very strong. Meanwhile, telecommunications are struggling and consulting is terrible."

Jeff Smithbower (senior-kinesiology) said he is willing to relocate and accept low-standing positions from prospective employers in his field, if need be. He might, however, take another route.

"I'm probably going to go to graduate school. I'll get more income after I graduate [from there]," Smithbower said.

Rayman said students need to keep their heads up and continue to aggressively attack the job market.

"There is no question in my mind, if students graduate from here ... a very high percentage of people are going to be successful," he said.