The “real world” for this year’s graduating class is not just a classic show on MTV. For them, it is a scary, competitive, dog-eat-dog world where finding a job doesn’t come easily.

For Arts & Sciences senior Michael Manning the hardest part about preparing for the future is the uncertainty.

“The most difficult part of moving on is knowing that you no longer have a set plan,” Manning said. “You have an idea, but things are more volatile outside of the safety of undergraduate.”

The job market is highly competitive in this year’s economy. Because of this, many students will turn to graduate school as a means of furthering their education and getting a leg up on their competition.

For Arts & Sciences senior Melissa Murphy graduate school and receiving her Ph.D. in English are a way for her to reach her dream career. Murphy said the “real word” can wait, and graduate school gives her a place in an uncertain job market.

“It’s a pretty challenging job market,” Murphy said. “It’s hard to see friends, who you think are well-qualified, not able to

find jobs.”

Another suggestion for students looking to get an advantage early is an internship. For Murphy, interning is a solution for students looking to get their foot in the door. Internships give students exposure their chosen field and can even help students discover more about themselves.

For some students, an internship helps them realize that their dream careers weren’t exactly what they had in mind, Murphy said.

“Interning at a law firm, while a great experience, helped me realize it wasn’t my path,” she said.

Instead of interning, Manning worked at the phonathon for three years and said it was a valuable experience to learn how to communicate with people. Another piece of advice Manning gave was to start looking for a job as soon as possible.

“Start early, especially in a tough economy. It will take employers time to sift through all of the applicants and find the right one,” Manning said.

Graduation marks the end for most students’ education. Students like Manning realize that the goal of graduation is something to be cherished.

“It shows that I am capable of completing hard work at a great institution like Creighton,” Manning said.

Parting with Creighton is bittersweet for some seniors, especially Murphy.

“Leaving the bubble of Creighton is scary but exciting,” Murphy said. “I’m just trying to savor everything.”