Colleen Van Epps

Try to do an internship your last year of college. If you are a recent graduate but have no work experience, you need to find a way to set yourself apart from the competition. Give the employer motivation to want to investigate your skills further. Always write a cover letter. Point out your scholastic achievements or areas of leadership. On your resume, if you are a recent graduate, you can list the relevant coursework you've completed. List an organizations you belonged to or community involvement.

Be strategic about your job search. The majority of positions are filled as a result of networking. Think, what type of position am I looking for? Then look at organizations or places where these types of professionals have a community, go there and make an investment in their cause.

When you interview, be on time, confident and upbeat. Follow-up with a thank-you email or card. While you're on your job search right out of college, you may want to work through a temping agency on contract assignments to gain employment experience and credible reference in the marketplace. However, make sure you are in control of when and where your information (i.e. resume) are sent. All in all, keep your chin up, learn from your mistakes and celebrate you victories!...