A few weeks ago I linked to a report assessing the grim state of '09 grads and jobs. Less graduates than usual have secured jobs as of graduation, and can now look forward to a summer on the hunt, looking for that very first gig.

This morning, while listening to NPR (true story: Scientists have found that as you age, there is a direct negative correlation between time spent partying and time spent listening to NPR. I also think this relates the the distance of your pants' to your navel ... but that data is inconclusive) I heard the story of Emma Jacobs, a recent Columbia grad, and her struggles landing her first job. Emma relates the frustration of rejection, the fear of uncertainty and the self-doubt that come from consistent rejection (a low point was three rejections in one day!)

I highly recommend you take a listen if you have also struggled to find a job. Sometimes the job search isn't just about what you can do to find that next (or first) job. Sometimes it is about knowing that you are not alone in your rejection and frustration. We are in a very tough market - hopefully the toughest you will ever have to face - and there are a lot of very skilled, highly educated and highly qualified individuals who just cannot find work.

It is important to keep perspective in this situation. You are (most likely) not the problem. The problem is one of sheer economics and numbers ... not enough jobs, too many people. Finding a job will prove to take a certain amount of dedication, hard work and just plain luck. But it is important not to let the grind get you down and to realize that there are still jobs to be had.

For advice on finding these jobs, let's turn to The Links ...

Secrets of the Job Hunt Provides: Tips for non-traditional interview setups. This post talks about pre-interview computer screening as well as some hints for handling phone interviews, web interviews and even a bit on video resumes. Good resource to have in case such a situation should arise.

Christine Hassler Tackles: The question of the most important thing to learn in your twenties. Christine attended a Seminar over the weekend and posed this question to a number of successful speakers and got a wide range of answers. Head on over to the Huffington Post to read the answers.

Cheehead Reports: Monster.com is adding a background check. "The background screening services will be offered through an alliance with HireRight, a global employment screening provider. Monster said the partnership will help streamline the candidate background-check process for businesses, increase the quality of new hires and help reduce liability. The service will be integrated with the Monster.com desktop and candidate management tools."

Mashable Explains: How to personalize and brand your Twitter page. Dan Schawbel (one of the post's author Ben Parr's examples) has a very professional looking Twitter page and has made a very successful living at personal branding, so his is as good as any for a reference. This post gives some great examples of how customize your account without looking fake and foolish.