College graduates have resources to gain employment

Many college students dream of the day they will walk across the stage and receive their bachelor's degree, but the reality that awaits many after the last note of "Pomp and Circumstance" has been played might not meet their expectations because job availability remains bleak.

According to an analysis of government data conducted for The Associated Press, nearly 54 percent of bachelor's degree holders under the age of 25 were jobless or underemployed in 2011. That's the lowest such level in more than a decade.

Some analysts have begun to question the value of a college degree for recent college graduates who have student loans to pay off. But the concern should be less about the value of a degree and more about how recent graduates can find jobs in an economy where a lack of professional experience might make them more affordable, but ultimately less valuable to prospective employers.

The following are a few tips that recent college graduates can use to increase their chances of finding a job.

n Use all the resources at your disposal. Even though you might feel on your own the moment you put away that cap and gown, resources are available.

Your university's alumni career center, for example, has helped graduates find jobs in what has proven to be a historically bad economy over the past several years. Alumni career centers often sponsor networking events, and staff members will help recent graduates craft resumes.

Graduates who went to school away from home still can tap that potentially valuable resource even if they no longer are close to campus. Chat online with an alumni center representatives, and access online video workshops that offer anything from interviewing advice to how to write a better cover letter.

Other resources include your parents, their friends, your own friends who have already found work or anyone else who might share their experience and advice.

n Look for jobs in fields that are expanding. Although no job fields might seem fertile in the current economy, that's not true.

Green jobs and jobs in the field of health care, for instance, are growing, and projections indicate that growth is expected to continue in the years to come. Such fields are likely to have more entry-level positions available, and entry-level positions do not typically target experienced professionals.

n Consider moving. One of the biggest advantages to being a recent college graduate is freedom to move around. Few have spouses or children to consider, and even fewer have a mortgage to pay. Having so few strings attached can work to your advantage, allowing you to relocate to a stronger job market even if you don't already have a job offer in hand.

As the economy has struggled, many companies have been forced to cut back, and one of the cutbacks many companies have made is reducing their relocation budgets. A 2009 poll from the Society of Human Resource Management found that 58 percent of companies had reduced their relocation programs, while 17 percent had eliminated such programs entirely.

Simply put, companies have begun to limit their hiring to local candidates. If a particular company has caught your eye, consider moving to where that company is located.