As Missouri State University graduates look to the future, it's hard to ignore the present. In fact, at 6.1 percent, Missouri's unemployment rate is the highest it's been since 1997.

Andy Palmer has been looking for a job for nearly a year. He took an internship at a local bank to help him get the experience necessary for a job in his field.

“My life ends August 15. I don't have plans after that so I'm really searching for things now,” said Palmer, who graduated on Friday.

Even those like Sarah Radcliff who are lucky enough to find a job are realizing they have to take what they can get when it comes to pay.

“I tried to negotiate and they just said they can't raise it or give me a better offer,” said Radcliff, another MSU graduate.

College graduates not only have to compete with each other but the thousands of Missourians who have recently lost their jobs and are looking for new ones at places like the Missouri Career Center.

“The economy is tight so it's not the best time to find a job,” said Bill Dowling of the Career Center.

Dowling says construction managers, real estate agents, mortgage lenders and financial advisors will have the toughest time. But there's plenty of demand in other areas.

“BSN in nursing or engineering or accounting are strong,” he said.

Dowling says, regardless of their area of study, the biggest mistake of new graduates is ignoring opportunities that come their way.

“Take a job for now that might not be the perfect dream job and, in three to four years, that perfect dream job will be yours,” he said.

Dowling says graduates looking for jobs outside Springfield will likely have a tougher time. He calls the job market in Kansas City and St. Louis bleak, but also says college graduates, no matter where they live, are more in demand than those with no degree.