Bowling Green senior Brandy Davidson diligently presses the iron to her chocolate-colored slacks as she steams a perfect crease into the middle of her pants.

When she sees her slacks are ironed to perfection, she carefully hangs them next to her also perfectly pressed cream blouse.

Looking into the mirror, Davidson makes some final adjustments to her sleek black ponytail before putting on her clothes.

Davidson is getting ready for a job fair where she hopes she will be able to network and get a job soon after she graduates this May.

Booth by booth, Davidson stops and talks to several prospective employers.

She cheerfully laughs with them, trying to make a lasting impression as she passes out her resume.

Like many Western students graduating this May, Davidson is on the desperate hunt for a job.

Smiths Grove senior Amanda Hoffman has been student teaching this semester at North Warren Elementary School, in hopes that her impact on the students and faculty will help secure her a job after she graduates in May.

Hoffman has entered her name into the online database REAP, Regional Educational Applicant Placement, so different schools can review her resume.

She has been filing applications into several surrounding school districts, including Warren, Butler and Logan counties.

Yet, with all the effort to get her name out into the job market, she, like several other college students, realizes the difficulities of finding a job after graduation.

Davidson has been searching for potential jobs for more than six months and still hasn’t received any definite job offers.

“First, I haven’t graduated from college yet, so I can’t even take a job if I was even offered one today,” she said. “Second, most jobs ask for one to three years experience, but I’ve been in college for those years. The past jobs I’ve had probably don’t have the skills they’re looking for.”

The National Association of Colleges and Employers’ statistics show that there is an increase in fresh-out-of-college hiring at 19.8 percent, but some graduates don’t find jobs that match their degrees.

Lemarceo Shemwell, a December graduate from Evansville, Ind., received a degree in corporate and organizatonal communication and currently works at Jim Johnson Motors as a sales executitive.

Shemwell did most of the things the Career Services Center recommends for students looking for jobs.

Some recommendations include having an internship, being involved in organizations relating to their major and having their resume reviewed, said Desiree Williams of Career Services Center.

Yet, it was still difficult for Shemwell to acquire a job specifically relating to his degree. But he doesn’t see that as a problem.

Shemwell pursued a degree in corporate and organizational communciations so that he would have several skills he could utilize in almost any job.

Ideally, Shemwell said he would like to be a club owner and use his degree to help him communicate with business partners, get promotions and organize finances.

His degree hasn’t limited him to what he could do, but left him with several options into what kind of career he will pursue, Shemwell said.

“Going out and getting your dream job right after you graduate is highly unlikely,” he said. “You have to be patient and continue to work for it.”

Reach Stephanie Keene at features@wkuherald.com.