Harrison College in Elkhart hosted a "How to Find a Job" panel discussion Tuesday night because of the tough job market.

Local employers shared resume and interview tips with students who are studying various fields. Professors say it's a way for the students to get ahead of the competition and have their questions answered by potential employers.

For many of the students in attendance, the panel discussion wasn't the first time they'd heard such career advice. The average student at Harrison College is 35 years old.

"I worked at Newmar Corporations in Nappanee," said student Regina Yoder. "I had a great group of girls that I worked with, I had a great boss. But I got laid off in '08 in December."

You'll hear stories like Yoder's across the nation – people fallen on tough times because of a tough economy. But the stories of many of the students at Harrison College end differently.

"In January, I will have completed two degrees," said student Jennifer Jennings.

Jennings was also laid off from her job. She's now studying to be a medical assistant. Yoder will graduate in six weeks from her program and already has a job lined up at Goshen Hospital.

It's proof that even when the nation's credit rating falls, with the right attitude, people can get back up.

"It's very rewarding climbing over those mountains," Yoder said.