By Bae Hyun-jung

Graduation is no longer the end of the relationship between a student and a university. Many universities are now providing career courses for graduates, sometimes lasting several years after graduation.

Amid a deepening economic crisis and an oversupply of educated man power, university graduates immediately face a career blank.

According to figures from the National Statistical Office, 2.58 million university graduates remained jobless as of July last year, showing an 8.1 percent increase from a year earlier.

The overall unemployment rate for 2007 stood at 3.2 percent, but this figure excludes those not registered as job-seeking.

In this age of unemployment, conventional career support courses, primarily designed for would-be graduates, are evolving to help graduates who are without jobs or want a career change.

"The school career center turned out to be more supportive than I imagined," said Choi Ji-yeon, 26, who graduated from a university in Seoul and recently moved to a financing career with the aid of a school career course. "At first, I felt rather shy to contact the center as I graduated several years ago."

She was also boosted by the thought of her alma mater helping her through the job seeking process.

"Job applicants, especially the graduated ones, are easily dispirited," she said. "Participating in a school career course gave me a sense of stability during my career blank."

She was also relieved that most of these classes were free, even though she was no longer a paying student of her university.

Many universities are enhancing career programs to attract alumni job seekers.

Hankuk University of Foreign Studies started the "Graduate Upgrade Program" in July last year to provide graduates with practical courses on applied foreign languages and business accounting.

"We actually launched this program before the economic crush hit the world and the job market," said Chang Jong-youk, an employee of the HUFS career development center. "As the depression became obvious in the second half of last year, many other universities hurried to start similar programs."

The free four-week program is tightly scheduled – six hours per week, after working hours – but participants are more than willing to give their input. The third season of the program starts next week to get trainees ready for spring employment.

Sungkonghoe University is to launch a "Mock Company Program" this summer, mainly for graduates, including junior workers who have just started their careers. The course consists of subjects such as advertising, marketing, project-planning and personnel management. The participants must take charge of every step of their projects, just as they would in actual firms.

Hanyang University is planning a career camp for graduates in February. The camp focuses on interview skills and self-confidence.

The university will also hold a school to guide employment seekers. It will feature skills and knowledge required in the job market.

Chung-ang University runs a winter program on English resume-compiling- and interview-skills for graduates wanting employment in foreign-based companies. Other courses include, among others, a Korean resume clinic, interview tips for large firms and career projects for engineering students and graduates.

Hansung University offers a one-year mentoring program for students and graduates. Each applicant has a mentor who works in a career group, imparting field knowledge and advice.

"I wanted to work in a design company, but as I had no intern experience, I didn't know exactly how to peek into the industry," said Koh Young-hyun, 25, a design graduate of Hansung University. For a year after graduation, she worked in her family's business, which is unrelated to her major.

"I had nowhere to begin, but the mentor program really helped," she said. "I did not expect to receive such detailed help, especially so long after graduating."