It is officially June and the majority of domestic colleges and universities have concluded their terms, releasing even more unemployed Americans into the workforce. While NACE’s 2010 Student Survey shows 24.4% of 2010 graduates who applied for a job actually have one waiting for them after graduation (NewGradLife), many are still struggling to even hear a response from potential employers. In the coming weeks I will attempt to condense the plethora of articles about running a successful job search and present my findings, and personal experiences, in an informative peer-to-peer format. I hope you enjoy.

This initial post will provide various online tools one can employ to search for potential opportunities. Since 75% of Human Resource departments are required under company policy to post job listings online, it might be a valuable place to begin one’s search. While many of these are considered common knowledge, some may surprise you…

LinkedIn
LinkedIn is a commonly used social networking service to construct a live resume online. However, what some users may be unaware of is the existence of an extensive Job Board. With over 70 million users in 200 countries, the opportunities are endless. The useful filters, found in the left-hand column are great for narrowing down a candidate’s preferences (location, industry, experience level, etc).

Monster
A highly recognized name among the unemployed, Monster.com has been a brand name online employment solution since 1994 and the rise of the Internet. Whether or not you find the postings relevant for your field or experience level, publicly posting a resume and cover letter on their servers can only help with your personal Search Engine Optimization (SEO).

InternshipIN
InternshipIN is an interesting site serving a niche employment market for low-cost startups that provide remarkable opportunity for growth and learning. Getting involved while an organization is still in its infancy allows a young adult to truly become immersed in various aspects of a business, exposing him or her to the inner workings of fields he or she may be untrained in.

Urban Interns
Urban Interns may be a useful site for the young adult seeking a summer job, or a graduate looking to prove him or herself at an organization with no paid openings. The site connects employers in need of assistants in a wide range of fields to qualified Generation Y go-getters. I highly recommend subscribing to their newsletter for weekly updates on opportunities. You never know what may show up in your inbox!

New Grad Life
The site is an amazing blog for recent graduates entering the real world. With daily posts providing invaluable insight on topics ranging from securing gainful employment to successfully developing a financial budget, there is something for everyone. Furthermore, their recent New Grad Star program is a great way to promote oneself online – see my own story featured here.

Mashable
If you subscribe to my blog, you know I am an avid supporter of this well-established Web 2.0 and social media focused blog. However, it also boasts a pretty hefty Job Board, which it highlights in a weekly post. If you are interested in marketing or current technology trends, Mashable should be your homepage.

SummerJobs
A site with numerous relatives (InternJobs.com, ResortJobs.com, InternationalJobs.com, OverseasJobs.com), SummerJobs.com provides their audience with a continuously updated list of employment possibilities. While I have not used the service myself, it has received great media coverage lately and caught my eye.

Twitter
While many social media users have not found value in Facebook status updates and Tweets on Twitter, the latter does provide some very useful job-search resources. Utilizing a number of Twitter search engines, or just constructing your own lists can prove to be quite useful. Here are a few tools you might like:
• http://www.twitjobsearch.com/
• http://tweetmyjobs.com/
• http://twitter.com/microjobs

Career Services
Do not overlook your current institution’s, or Alma Mater’s, resources. The Career Services department is an incredible networking tool to reach out to the extended community of your college or university. It also acts as a porthole to the vast network of alumni that are always willing to help. The Skidmore College Career Services Department was a great tool throughout my undergraduate career, and will remain a tool I refer back to on a consistent basis in the years to come.

Lastly, if you are unsure of the right choice for your future, the Rockport Institute may be able to help. “Rockport Institute has helped more than 14,000 people all over the U.S. (and worldwide) choose a new career. Career change clients range from Fortune 500 CEOs, executives, professionals, art and technical professionals, people returning to the workforce, people seeking careers where they can make a positive difference, and people who have had what they describe as jobs, not careers. We also provide career coaching for younger people making an original choice.” Visit their website for more information.

***UPDATE***

Facebook and SimplyHired have just teamed up to create a new job search experience for young users.  While SimplyHired is an already established partner with LinkedIn, this new relationship will allow Facebook users to see current openings at organizations their friends are currently employees of.  Click here to read more.