CollegeJournal.com Offers Advice to Students Graduating Without a Job

Princeton, NJ (April 24, 2003) - College students graduating this spring will have more to compete with than a poor economy: They'll be vying for jobs against graduates from the classes of 2001 and 2002, according to CollegeJournal.com (www.CollegeJournal.com), The Wall Street Journal's free site for career-minded college students.

During the recession, many recent graduates have been forced to accept lower-level jobs for which they're overqualified -- just to pay the bills, says Tony Lee, editor in chief of CollegeJournal.com. So as this year's graduating class starts interviewing for jobs, they'll likely find they're competing against candidates with a year or two of experience who are willing to work for the same entry-level salary.

This year's students who face the prospect of graduating without a job offer should start preparing now, says Mr. Lee. The key is to understand employment trends, accept that job-hunting may be harder than you think and start now to sharpen your search.

CollegeJournal.com offers this advice to graduating seniors:
Get Focused Now - determine your top skills and strengths as soon as possible, then identify career options best suited to your talents.

Target Your Search - look for stable companies and industries that are expected to remain healthy in the coming year.

Get Connected - network with people who can provide job leads, emotional support, or both, including relatives, friends of your parents and former teachers.

Make Searching Your Work - spend at least 30 to 35 hours per week arranging interviews, making contacts, picking up the phone, seeking out referrals and connecting with alumni in industries of interest.

Have a Plan B - if your dream job doesn't materialize right away, have a fallback plan to reduce your disappointment.

Mr. Lee advises discouraged job seekers not to give up.
You may receive countless rejections, but it takes only one acceptance from a targeted employer to end your job search successfully.