For the many students who are getting ready to graduate and looking for employment, the search might be easier, as hiring rates have increased 14.5 percent so far this year.

According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers, employers expect to hire more new college graduates this year than they have in the past. The NACE spring salary survey also said employers are paying more in starting salaries than they did in 2003-2004.

Restaurant management major Brooke Herrema, 23, is hopeful in her current job search.

“In this field, there’s a lot of openings,” Herrema said. “There are lots of jobs opening up in hotels and restaurants.”

Herrema is currently helping in the opening of a new environmentally friendly restaurant with an organic appeal.

As the number of Internet-dependent youth rises, Web sites catering to the college graduate job search are proving to be helpful in a variety of ways.

Collegegrad.com offers a list of more than 145,000 jobs that are available, as well as a listing of the top 500 companies to work for.

Companies such as Enterprise Rent-a-Car are increasing their hiring rates and are currently looking for 7,000 new hires. The engineering firm Lockheed Martin Corp. is hiring 4,400 new employees this year and comes in second on the Web site.

According to NACE, there is a 9 percent increase in aerospace and aeronautical engineering jobs for students with related majors. Marketing majors have seen a 6 percent increase while economic and finance majors are getting paid 5.1 percent more than last year.

As hiring rates are increasing nationwide, many students are finding local companies that spark their interest.

“I thought I would have to go to L.A., but now I want to stay here,” said cinema major Brandon Miller, 24. “They are making Hollywood here the right way, not the Hollywood way. George Lucas is making a lot of things happen.”

Finding a job last year was a struggle for SF State alumna Joslyn Rinde, 22, who majored in broadcasting.

“It was frustrating,” Rinde said. “There were times where I broke down. It actually took me four months to get a job and I’m still looking elsewhere.”

Rinde works as a receptionist, which she said has nothing to do with her degree. She is on the continuous hunt looking for something in her field.

“Usually you don’t have to go to college to do this job,” she said.

For those who find the job hunt daunting, the campus career center holds workshops and resume critiques a couple of times a month. The next workshop will be March 16 at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.

“We help students do job searches and help sophomores and juniors re-evaluate what their majors can be,” said career counselor Laura Carter.

Senior business major Arlena Winn began her job hunt by applying for several paid internships and has noticed the demand for college graduates.

“We’re like fresh meat to them,” she said.