The heat is on, with only eight weeks left of the 2010 winter semester roughly 1,000 seniors from Northern Michigan University will be looking for jobs in  the real world. Everyone knows we are in a recession and the words “job search” are enough to send most soon-to-be graduates into a tailspin. So what is a college student to do?

Two words: get creative. According to collegenews.com, a Web site dedicated to reporting news related to college, a 22 percent drop in the hiring of entry level jobs is expected in 2010. With reports like these coming out daily, it’s easy for recent grads to pack up their apartments and move back in with Mom and Dad.

But, let’s make the assumption that most of this year’s graduates aren’t comfortable with moving home and picking up their job at the local movie theater or restaurant. For those  who shudder at this thought, and are determined to get a job in their field, will have to find creative ways to their foot in the door.

The bad news: good intentions aren’t enough. There are literally thousands of people out there vying for the same job that you want. Now is the time to set  yourself apart from the herd. A good way of doing this is by looking at what you’ve done that is unique to your career field. A great way to make your unique experiences stand out is by having great descriptions in your resume. And, no, this does not mean that padding your resume is the way to go. It means getting creative in how to explain what you did in a professional manner.

This takes care of standing out against people your own age, but what about the many experienced people in your field who have been laid off and are searching for jobs right along with you? This is when you can use your age to your advantage.

Using social media seems to be the general advice. Sarah Evans, a self-described “social media freak” and voted by Forbes Magazine as one of the 14 most powerful women on Twitter, recently wrote a piece on how to stand out in the social media world. She suggests making your Twitter account another branch of your resume, and putting the link to your Curriculum Vitae on it.

It’s also important to keep track of who you are following on Twitter. Employers most likely don’t care if you follow Kesha or Ashton Kutcher, but rather, who you are following in your field.

A final note on social media: be respectful to yourself. Delete those pictures from keggers before you start applying for jobs. Stay on top of what people are posting on your Facebook wall and how you are Tweeting. It’s simple enough, but you’d be surprised how many have lost opportunities due to these mishaps. On the same note, be polite.

I recently had an interview with someone I’m following on Twitter and I sent out a thank you Tweet with his handle in the Tweet.
He then sent me an email thanking me for the Tweet.

Remember what your grandparents told you about manners, then translate it to the social media sphere. Potential employers could very well love your old-fashioned sense of etiquette and manners and be impressed that you’re able to send a tangible thank you card and, perhaps,  a thank you Tweet. Just remember, make it personal; it’s your life.

Let your creativity flow and find a niche in your field. Hope to see you out there.