UTICA,N.Y. (WKTV) - As the job market continues to sour, recent college graduates and even older grads are looking back instead of forward to find work.

Dozens of SUNYIT and Utica College alumni are using career services departments to help critique resumes, provide job listings and seek general advice. UC says it's seen about 11 students per week in the 45 days since graduation seeking these and other services.

SUNYIT estimates 10-15 per week either emailing, visiting or using online resources.

In many cases the advice given is simple, keep trying.

"I think what we really try to do with them is be honest and try to get them in touch with the realities of the situation and they are frustrated they are scared, they been searching haven't found anything, aren't sure when that's going to turn around," said Peter Perkins Director of Career Services & Transitions at SUNYIT.

Utica College Assistant Director of Career Services Halina Lotyczewski, job seekers need to focus on several simple keys: Stay positive, use job databases, diversify your search by using newspapers, networking and web sites such as www.linkedin.com/jobs.

The job market may be a hairy one currently, but in Utica and Rome, things are better than the bigger state and national pictures.
According to the State Labor Department Utica-Rome lost 1,400 jobs from May 2008-May 2009 or 1% of jobs. The State lost 2.2% whereas the United States lost 4% of its jobs.