For the last six months you could hardly pick up a newspaper or watch the TV news without hearing a story about a bank going under, a firm closing down or staff being made redundant. Such unrelenting bad news may have made you think that there’s no hope for a new graduate in the labour market during the recession!

The reality is very different and while the recession certainly makes the job market much tougher for any job seekers, new graduates can be better placed than most. New graduates can offer innovation, enthusiasm and focused commitment that often more established workers are less able to. The harsh reality is also that new graduates can also be much cheaper than staff with ten or twenty years service, and may be a better long term investment for firms who want to see themselves through the recession and to better times beyond it.

What can students and graduates do to improve their chances of success in a recession? Here are ten top tips drawn from academics, industry experts and careers professionals who been through a recession and come out the other side:

1. Do something – don’t just do nothing and wait for the recession to end. Someone with an extended period of unemployment, even during a recession, will not be a good prospect for most companies after the recession; they’d prefer someone who got useful experience or a brand new graduate. So get work experience, do further study, voluntary work, or any job that can build on your skills or give you the opportunity to shine.

2. Don’t get stuck in a low level job for the whole recession. Many graduates keep on with the part-time jobs they had while they were studying, if they can’t get the graduate job they want. While this can be of value if it’s related to what you want or you have the opportunity to gain promotion or a new role, if you stay doing the same thing it can really damage your ability to move on. You could find yourself simply looking like a sales assistant with a degree, rather than a graduate who is gaining skills and experience in a temporary role.

3. Be flexible about what you’re prepared to do. The recession may mean your ideal job is just not a realistic option at the moment. Don’t just hold out waiting for it to come along, look for other routes to get what you want or alternatives that may satisfy you just as well.

4. Maximise your potential by building on your strengths and seeking ways to address your weaknesses. This means really reflecting on what you’re good at and what you’re not so good at. Further study, work experience or talking to those with relevant expertise may all help you to maximise your potential – which is critical for success in a very competitive job market.

5. Seek help. Don’t struggle to cope on your own. There are many people who can help you whether its friends and family, professional careers staff, academics or business contacts. Seek advice on where and how to move on after university, as well as practical support on finance, housing and other areas of your life that may be under pressure in the recession. Check out the UWE careers website www:uwe.ac.uk/careers

6. Network with people who may be able to offer you your first break in the graduate labour market, or a step up to something more suitable. Networking is about making the most of contacts you have through university, family, social networks and work you’ve done. It’s not just about asking for a job, but building up relationships and understanding that will help you market yourself and identify relevant opportunities.

7. Research the job market, not just by looking at the vacancies that are advertised but at the business and news pages too. Check out relevant magazines and websites to find companies and organisations that are expanding or setting up new projects. Even in a recession there are some organisations that are expanding, for example new NHS developments in Bristol and, nationally, those involved in the preparations for the 2012 Olympics.

8. Sell yourself. The graduate labour market has always been about ‘selling yourself’, making yourself stand out to a recruiter over other graduates. This is even more significant in a recession. Think carefully about how you present yourself on your CV, on an application form and in an interview – use the UWE careers website www:uwe.ac.uk/careers to find out what is needed.

9. Celebrate your successes. Many graduates are reluctant to celebrate their successes and achievements through a lack of self-confidence or a fear of others thinking that they are boasting. In a competitive market employers will recruit the individuals who can provide the most convincing evidence of their potential so this is no time for modesty.

10. Build on what you’ve got and who you are. Reflecting on the type of person you are and what you have to offer an employer is the starting point for any job search or career decision-making. Don’t try to be something you are not, just because you think that’s the only sort of job that’s around now. The reality is even in a recession the job market is very diverse and there are still many different opportunities to get on, either immediately or after further study. Support is available to help you make the right decisions for you as an individual, make the most of it.