With graduation approaching, many students at the University will be wondering what the next step is.

Figuring out the future can be frightening and can cause an array of uneasy feelings, said Katlyn Birgensmith, a University senior.

“I just want to have enough money to afford a house,” Birgensmith said.

The University offers help on the topic of employment after graduation.

Jessica Turos, associate director of the Career Center, is aware of how time consuming it can be to look for employment.

“Searching for a job is almost a full-time job in itself, so let us help you at the Career Center,” she said.

The key to finding a job is asking for help, taking any experience you can get and making whom you know work to your advantage. The network you create for yourself, such as friends and professors, can lead to greater experiences and employment opportunities, she said.

Another key element of landing the job is the resume. The resume is a summary of all your accomplishments and can help to make a good first impression on employers, Turos said.

“You should be concise within your resume, but then expand on your accomplishments within the cover letter. Don’t underestimate the cover letter, because this will help condense your resume while also expanding on some of your major accomplishments,” Turos said.

Also, don’t be afraid to boast accomplishments in your resume. While this would generally seem like bragging, employers want to know what you have accomplished and what you can offer to the position, she said.

Turos has noticed that students “tend to undersell themselves within their resume because they want to be concise,” she said.

An important tip to finding employment is using resources available at the University. The Career Center, located at 318 Math Science, has a variety of different resources at every student’s disposal. They have drop-in hours every Tuesday and Wednesday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Also, resources such as Worknet lists available full-time and part-time jobs.

The job market is at a good standing for students who will be graduating this upcoming year. This year’s University Fall EXPO Job and Internship Fair was the largest career fair to date. Participating was 503 recruiters this year, which is a 19 percent increase from the previous year.

Blake Berryhill, senior, lined up his job for after graduation at the Career Fair.

“Just remember to keep your head up, because you are going to get rejections,” he said.

Most importantly, just remember that it’s never too early to begin preparing for employment after graduation, Turos said. Resumes should be updated regularly, and internships are always a way to build experience and a good work ethic.

“Breaking up the process of finding a job over four years will be a lot less overwhelming than waiting until your senior year,” Turos said.