As students graduate from SF State, they'll be setting their sights on entering the real world and getting on the path toward finding a "real job."

But, as the nation struggles with high unemployment rates, new graduates will not only be competing with their peers, but with a higher qualified unemployed force.

San Francisco is currently burdened with a 10.3 percent unemployment rate. As numerous companies order massive layoffs and pay reductions, recent college graduates are turning to alternative measures for finding employment such as continuing to work positions already held or promotions based on higher education.

While some students will go on to find jobs in their field of study, kick-starting their career, others will continue working jobs they already have while pursuing a higher degree.

Josh Boado, 25, has just completed his degree in kinesiology and currently works at the utilities commission.

He says he will continue to search for a job related to his major, but is not worried because he hopes to attend UCSF soon to major in Physical Therapy.

David Kharade also came back to school to help advance his chances of a promotion by receiving a Masters in Business Administration.

He works in the IT industry and has a contract he must complete before he is considered for a promotion. Because his company helped finance his education, he feels certain he will be moving up.

According to Alan Fisk, acting director of the Student Career Center, the Spring Career Expo attracts over 100 employers in a "good economy." Although only 64 employers attended this year's expo, it is a slight increase from last year's attendance of 55.

Fisk says employers have expressed their desire to increase hiring. He adds that the slight increase in attendance at the expo is a sign of the economy picking up.

Although students will be competing with an experienced crowd, Fisk says finding a job is all up to the student.

"Students are finding jobs, but it may take them a little longer." He encourages networking,
volunteering and interning at organizations to get started.

Hiu Vo, 25, who just completed a degree in civil engineering, says internships in his field are harder to find compared to two years ago.

He doesn't have a job lined up in his major and says the industry is "still much worse than compared to other fields." Currently he has a job with a bank and will continue working until he lands a job in his field.

On the other hand, Channing Colbert went to a number of networking seminars and was advised to learn as much as possible about her workplace.

For the past five years, she has worked at a restaurant and has been promoted to supervisor.

And with a degree in hospitality management and a minor in business administration, she is hoping her strategy toward getting a higher education will help her move "up the ranks" and that her job recognizes her achievements.

Jessie Delman is being "realistic" about job prospects. She says with a degree in Political Science, she doesn't hope to use it to specifically gain a job related to her subject.

"A bachelor's is a gateway to the next step," she said, although Delman still feels it doesn't guarantee anything. She currently works as a nanny, but hopes to eventually work with a non-profit organization.

She is not worried though, and hopes to start looking for a job as soon as finals and graduationis over. "We'll see what happens."