According to the Wall Street Journal, the graduating class of 2010 will face the toughest labor market the country has seen in 25 years.
 
Experts expect 7 percent fewer new college graduates to be hired this year. The National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) reports that employers plan to reduce new graduate hiring because of the economy.
 
Carol Schroeder, director of the North Carolina State University Career Center, encourages future graduates to remain steadfast in their job search. She notes that during an economic slowdown, graduates must be proactive and flexible.
 
"That means going perhaps to a part of the country that isn't as desirable as North Carolina, perhaps interviewing with a company you've never heard of before and perhaps taking a job that doesn't pay as much as you hope you would make," she said.
 
However, the Northeast may be a pocket of opportunity in an otherwise grim landscape. NACE reports that Northeastern employers intend on increasing their graduate hiring by 5.6 percent.
 
Students can also find employment opportunities through alumni associations. Sue Simonds, director of NC State's Alumni Career Services, says that the alumni directory can be a great networking tool for new graduates.
 
Popular alternatives to help students avoid the difficult job hunt while still being productive include graduate school, Peace Corps, Americorps, and Teach for America.
 
"All of those are good potential places to gain experience, to gain exposure, to give back to society, while you hope that you can find another full-time job in your field," Schroeder said.
 
Schroeder emphasized the importance of staying confident and optimistic. "There's no magic bullet, you just have to [be] persistent and appropriately creative," she said. "You don't lose heart. You maintain that spirit of 'can do'. You don't let it get to you."

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