In a cratering economy, isn't graduation day a little late to start plotting how to get a job?

No worries, says Rachel Brown, director of Temple's Career Center. That's precisely why she held yesterday's first-ever Job Search Open House on the same afternoon as Temple's 122d commencement.

"We want to say it's never too late," said the ever-optimistic Brown, who would have urged Sisyphus to keep pushing.

The students "are where they are, and we're here to help them find their way. This is a day of celebration, but we want them to stop by anyway."

Only five of 5,000 newly minted graduates appeared at Mitten Hall over two hours. And one of them was there only because her father, a member of Temple's employer advisory board, said she had to be.

Regardless, to Brown the event was a success.

"I actually feel pretty good about the turnout," said Brown, 46, in her first year at Temple. "We would have been thrilled if 50 people showed up, but the five that came got a lot out of it.

"Our message is, 'We're here for you,' and I think they got that message today."

In this academic year (through March), Brown and her staff of 11 had more than 8,000 contacts with students at the center, she said. They participated in mock interviews, resume critiques, advising sessions, job fairs.

The idea of an open house on commencement day came up during a staff meeting.

"It started out as a joke," Brown recalls. "The more we let it marinate, the more we thought, 'Why not try?' We're here, anyway, and it's a very slow day, historically."

Joe Pinto, manager of recruiting, training, and development for General Mills, visits Temple, among other universities in the area, looking to hire business-management associates. Starting salary: $50,000, plus company car and matching 401(k).

The hardest part is getting students in the door, he said. "Once they're here, they take action and follow direction. It's disappointing how few are here today."

In his third recruiting season at Temple, Pinto, 51, based in Dresher, has hired "four or five" graduates, he said. As a member of the university's Employer Advisory Board, he offers career advice to students.

His daughter, who graduated yesterday with a degree in history, is not one of them.

Three weeks ago, she told him she thought she needed a resume and asked for his help. "I've been telling her that since her freshman year," he said.

"It's frustrating for me, as a parent, knowing I do this for a living. She's totally off the path. She doesn't know what she wants."

At 22, that is exactly where Jacquelyn Pinto wants to be. A self-described "leaf blowing in the wind," her only plans are to move to Nova Scotia in a few weeks with her Australian girlfriend.

The irony of her genetics is not lost on Jacquelyn.

"My father is always bugging me to get my act together. Because we're so much alike, we just butt heads. I'm very independent. The more he tells me to do something, the more I don't want to do it."

Besides, she added, "It's easy to resist your parents. It's what kids do. You're supposed to disagree with what they say. Then you find out later they were right and you should have listened."

One more thing. Given the response yesterday, would Brown repeat an open house at the Career Center on commencement day?

"I don't know. Probably," said the Mary Poppins of North Broad Street. "It wasn't that much extra work."

Contact staff writer Gail Shister at 215-854-5626 or gshister@phillynews.com. Read her recent work at http://go.philly.com/gailshister.