By: Emily Loss
A downturn in economy has led to many college students reporting having a hard time finding a part-time job.
Recently there was a jump in the number of people who aren’t working and who aren’t actively looking, but who would like to find a good job, according to a story in The New York Times.
While the region’s unemployment figures reached 13 percent in 2009, they are now down to 9.3 percent – still above the state unemployment rate of 7.6 percent, and the national rate of 8.3 percent, according to a story in the Sentinel-Tribune.
Students in Bowling Green say they are feeling this pressure as they hunt for jobs.
Lack of free time, a car and experience are all common problems, students say, when it comes to job-hunting in a college town, and most students say they have experienced at least one of these setbacks during their searches.
When applying to part-time jobs, students suggest that knowing someone in the field plays a large role in who gets the job.
“I got a great job through a family friend,” said Sarah Robarge, a junior from Toledo studying to be an intervention specialist.
Robarge has to travel to Toledo three times a week for her financial secretary job at Mercy College. She is paid well, but the downside, she says, is the 30-minute drive. She took the job for fear of not finding anything in Bowling Green.
Lindsey Gedert, a sophomore from Lima, Ohio, studying psychology, has heard that to find a job you need to apply to many places, but she disagrees.
“I applied to many on-campus jobs because I do not have a car, but only found one when my mom’s friend in admissions contacted me and said she had a spot for me,” said Gedert.
Many students do not have jobs, or have lost their jobs for various reasons.
Brett Yungmann, a freshman from Deshler, Ohio, studying mathematics said that his friend was upset because he had been promised his job when he returned for school, only to come back and find they had no spot for him.
Yungmann said his friend has been looking for a new job for the entire school year only to be constantly let down because of conflicts with classes, or lack of job experience.
Rusty Hafner, a junior from Columbus, Ohio, studying psychology, also can’t find a job and has had to turn to his parents for money.
“I hate having to ask my parents for money. I’ve had a job since I was 16 so it doesn’t make any sense why I can’t find a job here at school,” Hafner said.
Some students say their class schedules are just too busy for them to be able to fully commit to a job.
“Take all your classes in the morning so your evening is open to work. Or do the opposite, work in the morning and take your classes in the afternoon or evening,” suggests Nick Lishewski, a senior, from Sylvania Ohio, studying sports management.
Bryan Taylor, a sophomore from Columbus, Ohio, studying accounting, seems to have a positive outlook on the job situation in Bowling Green. He said that students should not give up yet.
“Don’t stop trying. A lot of people get discouraged and just fall back on their parents for money, but if you apply yourself you should be able to find something,” Taylor said.