While graduating students are anxious about finding a job amid rising unemployment rates and economic uncertainty, the SF State Career Center is doing its best to ease their minds and prepare them for the job market.

The Career Center offers students a wide range of services like mock interviews to help with such as duate school applications, one-on-one guidance and group workshops. The center is run by Jack Brewer, director of student affairs.

"Every semester, we try to expand on the programs we offer," said Janelle Metz, a Career Center counselor. "Students' interest in seeking help from us has definitely grown."

According to the state's Web site, www.ca.gov, California's unemployment rate surpassed 10 percent in January, which is the highest it has been in 26 years.

To better one's odds of finding a job in these difficult times, Metz advises that the best thing graduating seniors can do is to seek help so that they don't feel like they're taking on such an impossible task alone.

"The sooner students come in [to the Career Center], the better," Metz said. "Panic is a big issue, but talking about it can help and planning can help, and that's what we're here for."

One of the services the Career Center offers periodically is the "Rev Up Your Resume" workshops, which help students tailor their resumes to fit the specific job field in which they are seeking employment.

Some of the students who attended last week's resume workshop were preparing for the upcoming hospitality management symposium. The symposium is a chance for hospitality management students to meet and network with representatives from the industry.

"With the symposium coming up, I really needed some help with my resume," said hospitality management student Sophia Bangoy.

"There's a lot of competition at the symposium," said senior Michael Olvera. "Getting your resume right helps."

As additional incentive for students to attend the workshops offered by the Career Center, students are allowed early access to the Career Expo on April 3. The Career Expo helps link students to possible employers in a variety of fields.

"Networking is essential to finding a job," Metz said.

Metz warns that finding a job in one's desired career field after college can take a long time, but the key is not to get discouraged.

"Finding a job is a full-time job in itself," Metz said. "It's not unusual to spend up to a year looking for employment after college. Some wonder if they're doing something wrong, but they're not -- it's just a process."

In regards to today's uncertain job market, Metz advises students to know their own strengths and market them well.

"No one really knows what's going to happen," Metz said. "All I can say is know yourself and know your strengths, your skills, your interests, and values, and stay positive."

For more information about all of the workshops and resources offered by the Career Center, visit the Student Services Building room 206 or http://www.sfsu.edu/~career/.