It was a couple years ago when it really hit hard. The stock market fell, people started to lose their jobs, and the unemployment rate increased. Now at the time the recession started several years ago, many students probably did not realize how much these economic struggles would come to affect their lives, as these students now struggle to find places to work.

    In her sixth year running the student-to-career program, Ms. Mary Murray must handle the tough responsibility of helping students find jobs in this rough economy.
    “The economy has definitely made it harder. The jobs are fewer and there is more competition for them,” Ms. Murray said.
    As the head of the student-to-career program, Ms. Murray must try to find places where students can work. This task has caused her to have to work very hard over the past few summers just so students would have some places to intern.
    “I spent time this summer going up and down Reisterstown Road, going to businesses and just trying to build up my program,” Ms. Murray said.
    The recession also means that students must be much more proactive in seeking a job. This summer, Tete Obot (’12) was one of many students who had to look for several weeks until he could find an opening.
    “I think I interviewed at about four different places, where I felt I left the interview with a good chance at getting the job, only to get rejected. Other places I went too that I thought would probably be good places to work were not even hiring,” Tete explained. “After about a two-week long process, I was finally able to get a job, but the economy made it a challenge for sure.”

    Josh Borris (’12) also noticed while job-hunting this summer how difficult the economy made it to find a place to work.
    “I had to apply to work at about five different places before I could find a job. It was crazy,” Josh said. “I was pretty relieved when I finally got a job, but it was not easy.”

    While there may still be some places out there Ms. Murray can count on to have job openings for students, even at these locations it is not as easy as one might expect.
    “There are some reliable places that I know I could get kids jobs at, but there is definitely less turnover in these positions, especially because adults seem to be taking them,” Ms. Murray said.

    Because Ms. Murray has been running the student-to-career program for several years, she can compare this year to not only a time when there wasn’t a recession but other years during the recession. And according to her, the situation is not getting better.
    “It is definitely not better right now. The difference is students have to get on jobs fast and they cannot mess up, or they will lose the job to someone else.”