Business

You’ve all heard the numbers. Fewer than half of today’s college graduates will find their first job within a year of graduation. To amplify that, multiple years of a weak economy have created a cue of past years’ graduates already in the market.

And I hope you’ve all read the how-to tips on resume building, networking, interview preparation, appropriate use of social media and company research.  These will provide you with the job-hunting skills you’ll need to navigate your way through.

So, I’m going to focus on how to stay hopeful and productive in the midst of all the bad news and what seems like a daunting task ahead.  Chance are, if you’re a recent graduate and haven’t found a job by now you’re starting to worry about that. 

Below are three ideas I’ll call Chosen Beliefs. I hope they help you as they’ve helped me.
(Kevork Djansezian - GETTY IMAGES)

At colleges and universities across the country, legions of students are collecting their diplomas and preparing to enter an uncertain job market. But for graduates seeking jobs in public relations and marketing, there is reason to be hopeful.

While the nation is still struggling to recover from the long recession, experts say that graduates with degrees in these fields can expect improved job opportunities in 2012. That is not altogether surprising given that individuals and organizations are discovering the importance of communicating their messages in an increasingly interconnected world.

If you are hoping to land a job in any of these fields, here are five tips that will set you on a path closer to that goal.

(Frank Ockenfels - AP)

Like many business owners, I have read the stories, listened to the news and poured over the economic forecasts. Everyone says this is one of the worst times in history to graduate from college.

Students have unbelievable loans. Many are moving home to live with parents.  Some say there are no jobs.  But I know of at least one job that a media production company has unsuccessfully tried to fill for eight months.  It’s my company!  And I know other Michigan companies that have similar stories to tell about openings and the lack of prepared graduates. 

We’ve been in business for 25 years. Our customers range from the Fortune Global 500 to small business — and business is good. That’s why we decided to add one or two additional staff.  Who knew it would be this hard?  We’ve tried everything:  ads online, LinkedIn, Facebook, professional organizations, college placement offices. 

(Kevork Djansezian - GETTY IMAGES)

As the mother of a recent college graduate and a small business owner, I have often used my experience as an employer to help prepare my children for their post-college job search.

We have all faced the dilemma of landing that first job: The employer often requires prior experience but is classifying the position as entry level.  Although slowly improving, the current unemployment rate has intensified competition, creating an environment where internships are no longer optional but mandatory.

(Jeffrey MacMillan - Washington Post)

College students imagine their post-graduation jobs will be magical. Working for a company with a fun atmosphere, landing a fat paycheck, and leaving at 3 p.m. for a beer with the boss sounds heavenly.

Reality check: Businesses hire graduates to actually do work. Whether you’ve been on the receiving end of a new grad’s disappointment or the disappointed party yourself, it’s hard to combat these images.