College seniors face difficult career decisions

For Erin Hagemann, a University of Missouri senior and Kearney native, losing the final few months of her undergraduate career is devastating.

RIGHT NOW - COLLEGESENIORS ARE MAKING BIGDECISIONS ABOUT THEIRFUTURE.THEIR FINAL SEMESTER ISALMOST OVER - AND SOMESAY THEY DON'T KNOWWHAT COMES NEXT.41 ACTION NEWSREPORTER EMMA JAMESTALKED WITH STUDENTSFEELING THE PRESSURE.ERIN HAGEMANN, MIZZOUSENIOR"I cried, like I cried atdinner."FOR MIZZOU SENIOR ERINHAGEMANN - LOSING HERFINAL FEW MONTHS OFCOLLEGE IS DEVASTATING.ON TOP OF GRIEVING LOSTMEMORIES - SHE'SSCRAMBLING TO FIGUREOUT WHAT HER NEXTMOVE IS.ERIN HAGEMANN, MIZZOUSENIOR"All these things that I thoughtI had lined up and they'reeither cancelling or they're notdoing an internship program orthey're not even hiring."SHE'S CONSIDERINGGOING TO GRAD SCHOOLSOONER RATHER THANLATER - BUT SHE'S NOTSURE IF THAT'S THE RIGHTMOVE.ERIN HAGEMANN, MIZZOUSENIOR"I mean it's been so stressfuland the world is everyday, it'ssomething different."UNIVERSITY CAREERSTAFF MEMBERS I SPOKEWITH SAY WHILE THE JOBMARKET APPEARS LIMITEDRIGHT NOW, SOMEEMPLOYERS ARE STILLPOSTING FULL TIME JOBS.MATT REISKE, DIRECTOR OFBUSINESS CAREER SERVICES,MU"For us it's to make certainthat we work with thesestudents so they don't hitpanic mode."ANOTHER PIECE OFADVICE - CAST A WIDERNET.TESS SURPRENANT, DIRECTOR,BLOCH CAREER CENTER, UMKC"A student going throughschool might have a veryspecific role that they'rethinking they will start theircareer in and now is maybe atime to broaden that out alittlebit more."AND - IF STUDENTS DOFIND THEMSELVESJOBLESS - TRY TO PICK UPA NEW SKILL.AMANDA NELL, SENIORCOORDINATOR OF STUDENTSERVICES, MU CAREER CENTER"Even if it's volunteering ordoing LinkedIn learning or justyou know being productivewith the time that they do haveto make a stronger candidatelater when more positionsopen up."EMMA JAMES, REPORTINGdoing LinkedIn learning or justyou know being productivewith the time that they do haveto make a stronger candidatelater when more positionsopen up."EMMA JAMES, REPORTING"All three staff members wantto remind students campusesmay be closed but you can stillutilize them virtually so reachout if you have questionTheir last piece of advice -practice your virtual interviewskills because you'll mostlikely need them.

In KansasCity, Emma James, 41 ActionNews."