Although this year's college graduates are facing a tough job market (and the smart ones are facing it now, rather than waiting until after graduation), they have an advantage over other job seekers, according to Andy Chan, vice president of career development at Wake Forest University: They are among the age group most likely to be hired in the coming months.


"Organizations are very interested in hiring young people because they have a lot of energy and are willing to do whatever it takes to get the job done," Chan says.
But no matter how well-positioned these young people are, they -- and all job seekers -- will have a better chance of success if they avoid these common job hunting mistakes:
Not Being Proactive Enough

"This isn't the time to sit back and be casual in your approach," says Emily Bennington, co-author ofEffective Immediately: How to Fit In, Stand Out, and Move Up at Your First Real Job. "Create a hit list of five to 10 target companies, and really utilize your network to locate an 'in' at each."
Relying Solely on the Internet

In a MonsterCollege survey, 78 percent of college job-seeker respondents said networking was a factor in their job searches. Brad Karsh, president of JobBound, says, "When thousands of candidates are applying to the same jobs online and posting their resume to the same job boards, candidates need to stand out by making connections and networking their way into a company." Job boards are an important tool, but Karsh says new grads also need to focus energy on networking.
Not Creating Wide Networks

Career expert Liz Ryan says that your parents', grandparents' and friends' networks can help you in your postgraduation job search. "Don't be shy -- reach out to any long-ago Scoutmaster, choir director, or babysitting or leaf-raking boss," she says. "There's no...