From College to Career: How to Get Hired In a Recession

This year many college graduates will continue to interview for their first executive position during a very unusual economic time. As a young professional, you are armed with a world of knowledge. However, now comes the art of gaining real-life experiences in your field of expertise. It will be much more challenging this year to find a job in your industry. Do a lot of research to understand a company's culture, and what it takes to get hired and remain employed during these tumultuous times. In 2009, 43% of employers plan to hire recent college graduates, down from 56% in 2008 and 79% in 2007, according to Career Builders Annual College Forecast Survey of 2,543 HR professionals. I thought it was interesting that employers reported that the top three mistakes made by recent college graduates during the application and interview process were: 61% not dressing appropriately, 50% not turning off cell phones or electronic devices, and 48% not asking good questions during an interview.

All of these challenges can be overcome by understanding how important your professional image is to