By Education-Portal

Job hunting is always a challenge for recent college grads, especially with the economy and job market struggling to recover. Read on to discover some of the most useful (and free!) career resources on the Web for students and graduates.

1. After College
After College is a networking and job hunting tool for students and professionals. Sign up to connect with alumni and employers in your field, create a profile and apply for jobs.

2. Alumwire
Alumwire provides an Internet platform for businesses, grads and schools to connect. They offer job listings, recruitment and career enhancement services such as virtual career fairs.

3. Alumni Central
Alumni Central is part of the College Central Network (CCN). They offer a huge database of entry-level jobs geared toward recent college grads, as well as tools for resume building and referrals. Current students and advice-seekers can hop over to College Central for career services info and resources on useful topics like personal finance and health.

4. Campus Career Center
The Campus Career Center connects students and recent grads to job and internship opportunities nationwide. Fill out a profile and you could be contacted by major employers as varied as Shell and the C.I.A.!

5. College Recruiter
College Recruiter is a straightforward job search site that offers employment, continuing education and business opportunities for students and graduates. Their massive online database has been around since 1996, and for five years before that they published a printed guide.

6. Cool Works
Looking for short term employment? Cool Works specializes in seasonal job opportunities, which are great for college students on summer break or recent grads looking for employment and adventure without a major commitment. Find work at ski resorts, summer camps, ranches, theme parks, tour companies and more!

7. Experience
Experience describes themselves as ‘more than a bank of resumes or a traditional job board.’ They help students and alumni develop their interests and abilities and figure out how to apply those talents to a career. Experience partners with nationwide schools and organizations to offer these and other career services.

8. iHipo
Ever want to live or work abroad? iHipo, or the ‘high potential network,’ helps students and grads find international internships, job opportunities and graduate programs at businesses around the world.

9. One Day, One Job
Put this blog at the top of your reading list: One Day, One Job posts a new job opportunity or idea every day. Started by a 2006 Cornell alum, the blog focuses on organizations and entry-level opportunities that are of special interest to young college graduates.

10. USA Student Jobs
Interested in working for the government? The U.S. Office of Personnel Management has a special website for students and recent graduates who are interested in federal service. They have part-time and temporary opportunities for current students, as well as jobs at the GS-4, GS-5, GS-9 and GS-11 levels, depending on the highest degree you’ve earned.

Current Students
Looking for a major that will get you a great job? Check out these resources for choosing the right field:

The 10 College Majors that command the highest entry-level salaries
The Forbes Magazine list of the Top 10 Jobs for Today’s Grads
The College Board’s list of the Hottest Careers for College Graduates based on predicted number of job openings through 2018 – you can even filter the results by education level
Business Week’s Best Job Markets for Recent College Grads
The University of Delaware’s Major Resource Kits, which link academic majors to related career paths and job options (open to the public)