There is no doubt about it – trying to find a job in this economy is difficult. As such, many recent college graduates are feeling a bit concerned that they won’t be able to put their degree to work for them. If you are one of these recent graduates, or if you are simply someone who is looking for a new job or a replacement job for the one you lost, there are several strategies that you will need to keep in mind in order to give yourself the greatest chance for success.

Make a Connection

In the past, the mindset was to close the deal at the interview. In today’s economy, however, your main goal has to be to simply get the interview in the first place. This doesn’t mean you should just randomly send out resumes to as many employers as possible, however, as you will simply get lost in the mix. Rather, you need to make an attempt to make a personal connection so your resume will stick out from the rest.

One way to make a more personal connection is to visit the company’s Website and to apply from the job from there. Before completing the application, however, you should take some time to become familiar with the company. This way, you can create a more personalized resume and cover letter. It is also a good idea to attend industry events and conferences, as this will help you expand your professional network. You never know who you might meet at one of these events. You don’t even have to leave your house to expand your network, however, as a quick search on the Internet will likely bring up several online forums and discussion boards on which you can interact with other people in your field.

Utilize the Career Center

A growing number of graduates are returning to their schools to take advantage of the services provided by the career center. Most schools keep their doors open to graduates for at least two years and, thanks to the current economic conditions, many are welcoming back graduates who finished their programs more than two years ago.

If you feel embarrassed about heading back to campus, many career centers offer over-the-phone and online counseling, so you might choose to go that route instead. By making an in-person appointment, however, you will likely get more accomplished. With an in-person appointment, you can get hands-on assistance with conducting a job search and the career counselor can more effectively help you with creating a resume and practicing interview skills.

Expand Your Horizons

If you are having a difficult time finding a job or if you have a few different career interests, focus your job search efforts on the area where the most jobs are available. The reality is that there are far more jobs in some fields than there are in others, so you want to be sure you are looking where the jobs are. According to US News, some of the areas where the greatest employment opportunities exist are biomedical engineering, computer software engineering, multimedia arts, film and video editing, special education and healthcare. Of course, these aren’t the only strong career paths to pursue, so take some time to do a little research to learn more about where the jobs are now and where they are expected to be in the future.

Consider Your Priorities

When deciding on the right career path, it is important to consider which is more important to you: a job that is intellectually stimulating or one with a high salary. While it is always nice to have a job that is personally satisfying, you also need to make certain you are making enough money to pay for your living expenses.

If you are truly struggling to find a job, you might be able to tap into the best of both worlds. For example, volunteering with a nonprofit company or organization is personally satisfying and looks good on a resume. In many cases, taking on these volunteer positions leads to an actual job, so the time you put into your volunteer work can be worthwhile in a number of ways. You might also want to consider participating in an exchange program or working abroad in order to gain the valuable experience that this type of work can provide. .

Don’t Run Off to Graduate School

Attending graduate school is meant to be a stepping-stone toward advancing in your career or taking it in a new direction, not as a strategy for finding a job when no jobs seem to be available. In short, you should only attend grad school because you want to, as going back to school can increase your debt without increasing your employment opportunities. The reality is that you will be better off taking on a part-time job that is not related to your degree than going to graduate school, as this will help you gain real world experience while still providing you with the time you need to continue searching for the job you really want. So, unless attending graduate school was already part of the plan, don’t think of it as being the answer to your unemployment problems.