Careers August 24, 2010, 3:06PM EST

The Young and Successful Job Search

So you're just out of school and searching? Here's how to snag a position that makes a fitting start to your desired career path

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A recent New York Times article titled "American Dream Is Elusive for New Generation" created a massive buzz throughout the online world. The story, written by Louis Uchitelle, questioned young people's ability to share in the fabled American dream. It revealed discouraging statistics such as an unemployment rate of 14 percent for Millennials, ages 18 to 29. I've seen numerous other articles and blog posts in the past year with a negative outlook for a generation with so much promise.

But don't listen to all the bleak forecasts. Instead, get out there and jump-start your career. If you have talent, you can find opportunity. Here's my advice for entry-level professionals.

1. Think Internship, Even If You've Already Done One—or Two

Internships are crucial to a successful job search. The National Association of Colleges & Employers reported that 42.3 percent of 2010 graduating seniors with internship experience received at least one job offer. The smartest thing I did in college was take eight internships throughout the entire marketing field, from advertising to marketing research, at both large and small corporations. I worked at a small promotional products company in the operations department until I spoke up and started designing brochures for its clients. Instead of doing work that wasn't relevant to my major, I pursued other projects, where I could offer more value and do work I was passionate about.

I also recommend working for at least one "brand-name" company, such as GE (GE) or MTV (VIA), before you graduate, even if the internship doesn't come with a salary. During my job interviews I noticed that despite the amount of experience I was accumulating at the small firms I worked for, hiring managers were more interested in the big brands, such as Reebok (ADS:GR) and LoJack (LOJN), on my résumé. Why? They are already familiar with those companies and trust their reputations. From this experience, I learned that brands open doors.

I received anywhere between $8 to $15 per hour from some of the internships, while others I did for course credit or completely gratis. Marketing internships are typically unpaid, while finance and accounting internships remunerate quite well. You need to invest in your long-term career, even if that means settling for less money now. One of my peers just graduated with a marketing major and got an internship instead of a full-time job. I guarantee that it's a career investment that will translate into future opportunities.

2. Go the Extra Mile with Your Online Presence

There's a very good chance that people are already looking for you online: According to 2009 Microsoft (MSFT) research, 78 percent of recruiters are using search engines and 63 percent are using social networks to conduct background checks on candidates. Almost 60 percent of companies have hired a candidate found through social networks, according to eMarketer, a New York-based marketing research company. Your first impression isn't a handshake anymore. It's your online presence that will decide the fate of your career. Sure, you already know about LinkedIn and Facebook. You should also be using online monitoring tools such as Google.com/alerts (GOOG), TweetBeep.com (for Twitter), and SocialMention.com. Via e-mail or feed reader alerts, these tools allow you to view articles, blog posts, and social media updates that contain your name.