The recession has caused companies to come up with various ways to save money while staying productive and profitable. One way that some are using is offering internships where once they would have offered entry level jobs.

"When seeking out job opportunities for students, the Career Services team here at The Art Institute of California - San Francisco has noticed that while many employers don't have as many job openings as they did six months ago, they are offering internships instead," said Katie Layous, Internship Coordinator for the Art Institute. "I am approached by employers with internship openings all the time. As the Internship Coordinator, I have my hands full with internship leads. When budgets get cut, employers often look to alternative employment opportunities - including internships. Our current students, whom we encourage to participate in as many internships as possible, are benefiting from this immensely. With more openings, students have options in many different companies and industries. Be open to internships - it's an opportunity to get your foot in the door of the industry of your choice," she added.

Finding a job isn't impossible. In fact, there are many who believe that the current economy is a blessing for college students looking for internships and recent college graduates looking for entry level jobs because they represent "cheap labor" for struggling employers.

"I hear a lot of students say that they are worried about the economy ... so worried that many of them give up on putting themselves out there and boosting their candidacy as job applicants," said Kristen Fischer, author of Rent, Ramen Noodles and Resumes: An After-College Guide to Life. "The truth is that with a solid resume and interview skills - and the right job hunt strategies - it's not impossible to get a job in today's climate. Recent graduates can even be at an advantage because they're hungry for experience and some companies know they don't have to pay top dollar for quality work. Students and new grads need to do their best to stand out from the rest and market themselves - not just apply to jobs. Most importantly, they can't use the economy as an excuse not to try. Getting a job can be difficult no matter how the stock market is. They can get jobs by staying professional and having a solid foundation," concluded Fischer.

Making use of their alma maters' career services offices can also be helpful for job seekers who are experiencing some difficulty in their searches.

"Prescott College has wonderful Alumni Sharing Knowledge and Mentor networks in which alumni help one another and current students/recent graduates to meet career goals. Check out if there are similar programs at your college or university," advised Mary Lin, Prescott's director of public relations.

And, of course, what is a job search without networking?

"I strongly recommend that job seekers attend networking events and join social networking Web sites when searching for a job, specifically LinkedIn. I suggest joining right away and utilizing the meet-up groups they offer, where job seekers can walk away with new contacts and job leads. Sites like Twitter, where you can track and follow what people in your specific industry are doing, are great too," Layous recommended.