Like many people, Wake Tech computer engineering student Yusuf Abdi is having a hard time paying school loans, car payments and all his bills after being let go two months ago from his job. Now, he faces one more challenge.

"It's really hard because a lot of people aren't hiring right now but I've got to pay my bills," Abdi said.

But Wake Tech is reaching out to its students by holding its annual career fair. This is the 19th year the college has put on this event but Jeannette Moss, the director of job placement, says this year things are different.

"The employer representation is half the size than we've had in the past," Moss said. "Usually we have 100."

There were only 50 employers to about 1,000 students at the fair. Some of the companies weren't hiring, just taking resumes for the future. Others were ready to take on new employees.

Student Amber Webb said the fair gave her "the opportunity to go to a lot of different companies that I never would have thought about."

Students agree the career fair not only puts resources at their fingertips but it also gives them one-on-one time with employers.

"You meet and greet people, and I think it's more personal," Webb said.

As for Abdi, he says he's looking forward to the economic turnaround but will not wait for it. He says he's pressing ahead with his search to land a job as soon as possible.