• The Career Services Center has seen more students registering for events during Career Week 2009 than expected.
• With a tough economy, the center has increased its efforts to help students find employment after graduation.
• The week's events continue through Friday.

Career Week 2009, a series of panel discussions and career workshops hosted by Marquette's Career Services Center, continues through Friday.

The center has seen an increase in students walking through its doors this year, and participation in Career Week has been strong, said Bethany Olson, a career counselor in the center.

"The week has been really successful," Olson said. "More students have registered than we expected."

In a tough economy, seniors are facing difficulties in securing post-graduation employment. Olson said the center has increased its efforts as finding jobs gets harder.

She said Career Week events largely tend to draw seniors, but the events are open to all students.

Kelly Ryan, a senior in the College of Business Administration, said he has used the center for career searching and improving his interviewing skills.

"They know how difficult it has become to find a job," Ryan said. "They provide as much help available and the advice that is needed."

While Olson said seniors should have already started job searching, Career Week events can enhance their search.

In light of the current economy, the center is trying to give students a leg up, said Matthew Myers, a career counselor. Some efforts are put toward working with students on their resumes and interviewing skills.

In this year's Career Week, the center planned more alternative career panel discussions because students had expressed an interest in alternative careers, Olson said. The center is also making an effort to get students to be more flexible in their job searches, she said.

Myers said the center tries to prepare events that are as interactive as possible, though some do involve a bit of lecturing.

Employer career panels serve to create discussion about different career opportunities students can pursue. Career workshops serve to teach students how to do certain employment searches and practice networking skills.

As for Ryan, the economy has put a damper on his job search. Had he been looking for a job a couple years before the economic downturn, he said he thinks it would have been easier.

Ryan said he plans to continue his job search, just like many other seniors set to graduate this spring.