Career strategist and author Adele Scheele, director of Cal State Northridge's Career Center, has some tips for taking some of the angst out of the job hunt for recent college graduates.

"I know a lot of them still don't have a job and I'm sure they feel like they've failed," said Scheele, author of such books as Skills for Success, Career Strategies for Working Women and Jumpstart Your Career in College. "The first thing they need to realize is that it's the market, not them."

Scheele said the unemployed graduates should not despair. They should update their resumes with any summer experience they may have gained, and then go back to their alma maters for some help.

"Most universities and colleges have career centers, and recent graduates have access to them either for free or for a nominal charge," Scheele said.

She said the staff at a career center can help them with job listings, resume critiques, honing their interviewing skills and may know of internships that are awarded to recent graduates and not limited to enrolled students.

This is also a good time to consider graduate schools for those who initially thought they'd work for a while before pursuing their master's or doctoral degrees, she said.

"It's been a very tough year, job wise," Scheele said. "Recent graduates spent all that time in school and expected their college education to launch them into a career when they graduated, and instead they're landing in the frying pan. What they are learning is that there are going to be waves in the market, and during a dip, everybody has to hustle."

Scheele said those looking for work should not be too picky about what kind of jobs they will take.

"They need to look further down the list from their top dream job, and get experience that may then lead into something they really want," she said. "They should also realize that in really bad times, innovation strikes. When people are up against the wall and have nothing else to do, that's when the bubble wrap for people selling stuff on E-Bay is invented. Look around and see who needs what."

Scheele also suggested that recent graduates explore alternative careers.

"If they cook on the side, paint, sew, start doing that and see if anybody is interested in buying that instead of hoping for a corporate job, which they may not have really wanted anyway," she said.

Scheele pointed out that most people do not find their careers in the first jobs they take after college.

"Their first jobs are just doors that open other doors that lead to places they never thought of, or knew about before, that take them to that great job," she said.

In the meantime, she suggested recent grads "be nice to your parents so they will still house you. Show your appreciation that they haven't thrown you out after they spent thousands of dollars to educate you."