By Dr. Cecelia A. Robinson
Professor of English
William Jewell College

More than 1.2 million college graduates received their degrees in May of 2002. Amy Brown , Elly Richards, and Jubilee Green of William Jewell College, “ Times Liberal Arts College of the Year” in Liberty , Missouri , were among the recent graduates. All three are astute and personable English majors who received Bachelor of Arts degrees. Amy is planning to attend graduate school in Montana , Elly is preparing for a fall internship in England with the BUNAC organization, and Jubilee is headed to the work force. Of these three young women, only Jubilee has chosen to enter the job maze of the working world.

According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers, companies expect to hire about 36 percent fewer college graduates this year as compared to 2001. And after checking top popular job sites, as of March 27, 2002 , there were currently 14,114 entry level positions posted. Due to duplicate listings and other variables, as many as 106 spring graduates could be competing for each entry-level job listed on popular job sites. Networking and researching the Internet about potential employers are essential skills for success in finding the job one desires.

If you, like Jubilee, are entering this maze what is your employment strategy? Perhaps you are befuddled, but no matter what discipline you represent, thousands of students from Alaska to Wyoming are updating resumes, preparing letters of introduction, requesting letters of recommendation and highlighting jobs advertised in local newspapers. A specialty degree helps and will give many graduates a slight edge over the masses in the field. In a recent article from East Bay Business Times , John Challenger, Chief Executive Officer of Challenger, Gray & Christmas says, “College graduates [this spring] will be competing with young people who have already been in the work force for one or two years, but are unemployed due to downsizing. Some of these individuals may be more inclined in this uncertain economy to accept entry-level pay.”

The competition is fierce, and the job maze has a labyrinth of corridors and chambers. Knowing alternatives to the traditional job search can be beneficial for graduates who have omitted networking among past employers, family friends, and the church for potential job openings where hiring recommendations can be made. For the average college graduate, the church is an area that is often overlooked when networking.

Rev. Bobby Love, Pastor of Second Baptist Church of Olathe, Kansas, observes, “Once college graduates leave home in pursuit of a degree, many unplug or disconnect from the church and tend to think “I can do this on my own.” Usually they don't return until they are about 25 after having experienced knocks and bruises.” Love says, “The church offers many opportunities for networking: it is a conglomerate of different disciplines and professions that meet on a regular basis and is accessible to young people in a non-threatening and nurturing environment.”

Moreover, Rev. Robert Hill, Senior Pastor of Community Christian Church on the Plaza in Kansas City , Missouri , points out, “We are discovering more and more in all aspects of society that a sense of belonging is absolutely necessary to a meaningful life. It is in a community of faith where everybody can be accepted and celebrated. In the church we find some of our best friends, strongest colleagues and influential mentors. In the church we see the well to do and the nothing to do. We see the down-and-out and the up-and-coming. In fact, the church is the place where everybody can be somebody.”

Marian Wright Edleman in her new book, Lanterns , reflects on the influence of mentors from her church and community: “O God, I thank you for the lanterns in my life who illumined dark and uncertain path calmed and stilled debilitating doubts and fears with encouraging words, wise lessons, gentle touches, firm nudges, and faithful actions along my journey of life and back to you.”

The above is an excerpt from The Last Job Search Guide You'll Ever Need: How to Find and Get the Job or Internship of Your Dreams, which is available for sale for $19.85 in our bookstore or $27.00 at Amazon.com but for free to those who subscriber to our free career newsletter. This hot new book contains job search secrets of the most experienced, most knowledgeable and most respected career experts. Learn career planning, job hunting tools and tactics, interviewing, cover letter and resume writing (lots of samples!), networking, and how to find an internship. Written by 149 career experts. To receive a free copy, subscribe to our free career newsletter.