Are you making the assumption that since the economy is bad, it will be hard to find a position, or find a highly desirable position? Keep in mind that while unemployment is high, most people are working. One way of looking at employment is reversing the meaning of the statistics you hear in the news. If unemployment “soars” to 8%, then reversing that means 92% of the 140 million strong workforce in the US are employed just fine. That’s not as newsworthy, but it’s true.

And this workforce ages every year (tipping past 40 average age this year), and many (millions) of them will retire or downshift each year. That should open up some opportunity. Also keep in mind that the education you are acquiring in school is completely fresh, while those of us who have been in the workplace for 10 years plus, have a “shelf-life” to our education and degrees. Your newly minted skills and recent education is an advantage that employers will need.

I would also recommend taking the additional step of trying to identify job markets that may be traditionally overlooked (non-profits for example, or internship programs which a seasoned, laid-off person would not want). You can often find well-paid, meaningful work, and increase your probability of success because you are looking where others can’t or won’t look. Comments?