You spent four (or more) years in college, developed your resume, made sure you participated in extracurriculars and have polished your online presence (Right? No? Back to Chapter 4 for you!). However, as I'm sure you're aware, finding meaningful work is not a build-it-and-they-will-come scenario.

Ten years ago, as I was applying for what I'm certain was my 100th job, I remember thinking to myself, "Finding a job IS a full-time job!"

And it was. Finding work—especially in an economy that isn't quite on your side—can be brutal.

However, now is actually a great time to be looking for work.

Wait... what?

I know it sounds strange, but there has never been a more interesting and dynamic time to be searching for work. All of you recent graduates have amazing tools right at your fingertips for finding jobs you can be excited about. Ten years ago, my search tools consisted of Craigslist, Monster.com and a few other sites that—let's face it—weren't super focused on vetting the jobs listed. Now with things like social media and niche job sites, those on the hunt have more control than ever before.

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Let's talk about using social media to find a job.

Like it or not, social media sites like Twitter, LinkedIn and even Facebook are becoming great ways to find work. Between industry chats, hashtags and traditional job lists, you don't want to miss out on the opportunity to search for jobs in this arena. Here are a few best practices:

• Follow the companies you might be interested in working for. If those who currently work for the company are using social media channels, follow them as well. This is a great way to stay up-to-date on any potential job openings.
• Participate in industry chats on Twitter. Just about every industry has a chat and they're open for participation. While chats are more akin to networking than searching for a job, they're a great way to see what trends are happening in your field.
• Use LinkedIn to your advantage. As Alexis mentioned in Chapter 4, you'll want to make sure you set up a LinkedIn profile. This article from The Washington Post does a great job of spelling out the best ways to maximize the site's usefulness.

Looking for interesting work? Start with these niche websites:

If you're looking to travel or work outdoors:

• CoolWorks
• ModernDayNomads

If you love food (who doesn't?!):

• Good Food Jobs
• Careers In Food

If you're looking to work for trending companies:

• The Muse

If you work in a creative field:

• Behance

If you're interested in working in the digital space:

• Mashable
• Crunch Board

If you're interested in getting into the publishing industry:

• Publisher's Weekly
• Book Jobs

Looking for a more traditional job search? Here are a few tips:

• Search for jobs at your local universities and community colleges. I know, I know... you just left—degree in hand!—but colleges and universities are pretty great employers.
• Search your local nonprofit job list. Sacramento (where I'm from) has a great list of nonprofit jobs curated by the Nonprofit Resource Center. I'm betting most major cities have something similar.
• Head to Craigslist. While the site can be overrun with jobs that seem less than legitimate (and many are scams, so beware), there are still plenty of employers using it to find qualified candidates.

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Interested in being your own boss right after college?

Let's chat about that for a bit...