This year's college graduates have the misfortune to be stepping into a truly bleak job market. As the unemployment rate continues to climb, more and more members of this year's graduating class are heading straight to grad school, hoping that by the time they're out, their employment prospects will look a little brighter.

But if grad school isn't in your master plan, don't fret. A recent Monster.com survey found that 54 percent of companies surveyed still plan to hire 2009 grads, down only 5 percent from last year. A survey by CollegeGrad.com actually found that entry-level hiring, while down 1.5 percent from last year, is up 11.4 percent from 2007.

Knowing where to find these positions -- and how to stand out in the crowd once you do -- is key to your success.

Here are a few ways to make your job search a fruitful one:

-- Cast a wide net. Be sure to attend job fairs on your campus. In the past, these events may have been all it took. You shake a few hands, hand over your resume, go to a brief interview and just like that, you're hired. This year, things are working a bit differently, and you need to really think outside the box, says Lindsey Pollak, author of "Getting From College to Career." That means researching companies in your chosen field that you may not have heard of -- smaller companies that don't necessarily recruit on your campus. Say you have a few companies in mind that you'd like to work for, head to the Internet and do a little research on their competitors. You'll find a lot of prospects that wouldn't have crossed your radar otherwise.

-- Network, network, network. I cannot stress this enough. If you want a job, your chances may be better through good old-fashioned word of mouth. So talk to people, tell them what you're looking for, and see if they or their associates know of any opportunities. Call your friends, your family members, visit old professors, talk to fellow alumni. If you did an internship during college, get in touch with the people you worked with -- including your supervisor -- and let them know that you've graduated and you're looking for a permanent position. And make sure to have a professional profile on networking sites like LinkedIn and Facebook.

-- Focus on you. There's a lot of competition out there, and laid off workers are getting frustrated and applying for anything they can get, including entry-level jobs. "Our site is focused on entry-level grads, and we've seen that there are more experienced people applying for these jobs. A lot of people with three, four and five years of experience," says Adeola Ogunwole, director of PR and marketing for CollegeGrad.com. Don't let this get you down. Instead, focus on what you have to offer, what makes you a good candidate. What a lot of companies are looking for right now is new energy and new ideas, and you have to show that you can bring that to the table.

-- Head to career services. This is one of the most under-utilized services on college campuses. It's a shame because it's also one of the most helpful. In the real world, resume-writing services and career consulting will cost you an arm and a leg, but the career services office on your campus will help you for free. Having someone with experience look over your resume, take you through a mock interview, and connect you with alumni in your field is absolutely invaluable. And it's not just for 2009 grads, says Pollak. "Theoretically, you can go back indefinitely. You may have to wait a little while because the priority is current students, but the vast majority of colleges will help alumni with their job search."

-- Be aggressive. "There's no secret playbook for a bad economy. You just have to work harder, be faster, make sure all of your documents are perfect. All of these little things add up to get you a job," says Pollak. That means getting the business cards of recruiters at job fairs, and following up with a note, thanking them and letting them know you'd appreciate an interview. It means having a coffee meeting or phone conversations with all potential contacts, following up on resumes you've sent out, and always sending a thank you note or e-mail to anyone who helps you along the way.

-- Consider other options. I understand that you may not find your dream job right away, and that's OK. It's better to accept a solid job, gather some experience, and in a few years, when the employment situation is better, you'll have the benefit of a great resume. Volunteering, too, is also a great way to gain some experience and contacts. Find opportunities at www.volunteermatch.org.