For college students or recent graduates, all the doomsday news about the economy can be pretty unsettling. And truth be told, the job outlook 
for 2009 grads doesn't look wonderful.
I don't mean for that news to get you down — quite the opposite. It's easy to listen to the news or read the headlines and get discouraged about your future. And that discouragement can become a self-fulfilling prophecy .
The truth is, when you graduate, you only have to find one job — for yourself. So stop worrying about statistics and start putting yourself in the best position possible to land a job upon graduation. I've posted some tips before about planning during senior year. Finding a mentor and creating a backup plan are a couple of great ways to help recession-proof your post-college life.
Start your job hunt early and cast a wide networking circle. You may have to keep an open mind about your location, or exactly the type of work you want to do. Try to stay flexible and keep your eyes open for the learning opportunities available to you at various types of jobs.
As I've said before, it took me nine months to land a full-time job in my field after college graduation. It was a tough time, but because it wasn't easy, I've truly appreciated every job I've had since.
In today's economy, how do you feel about your job prospects after graduation?
Actually, I feel pretty good about my employment prospects. I'm studying for a bachelor's degree in Emergency Management (at the ripe old age of 47), which looks to be a growth field. If I can't find a job with my current employer's Emergency Management department, I'd be sad, but would not anticipate it being particularly difficult to find work.
If I can't find a job in the field, I might well be able to make one by convincing a town, college, or company that they need a full-time Emergency Manager. Alternatively, I expect there to be a fair amount of demand for an independent consultant.