As the semester winds down and graduation nears, students find it more difficult to find jobs and internships than expected, according to a survey conducted by the National Association of Colleges and Employers.

In August, NACE surveyed employers around the country about their plans for college hiring in 2000-01. When NACE resurveyed the employers in March, nearly half decided to cut back on their college hiring. Most of the employers that are cutting back said the economy was the reason, according to the survey.

Although many employers have rescinded their original plans for hiring, there is still an expectation to hire 18.8 percent more new college students than last year.

“Many employers plan to cut back, but they aren’t curtailing college hiring,” said NACE executive director Marilyn Mackes in a press release.

“We’re still looking at a very positive market for new college graduates,” Mackes said.

Director of Career Services Jeanne Sinz said she hasn’t seen a slowdown for UW-Eau Claire students but rather an increase in the number of students doing internships.

“Eau Claire students are extremely popular,” said Sinz, adding that Eau Claire students have an excellent reputation with employers. “They like what they get here.”

Sinz said the trend she has been noticing is the rapid changes that many companies are experiencing. She said employers cannot plan ahead for hiring as much as they could in the past.

The best way for students to make themselves marketable, Sinz said, is to start preparing early. She said even as freshmen, students should be checking out their options at Career Services and looking into internships for the future. Upperclassmen should start looking early in the fall for summer internships.

“It’s the most effective way to invest in your career,” said Sinz, adding that 70 to 80 percent of students doing internships are offered a job from the company they’re interning for. She said students should develop a good resume and learn how to articulate their skills in an interview.