Career planners and college advisors say many soon-to-be graduates are struggling to find entry-level positions after finishing college.

According to one survey conducted by the National Association of Colleges and Employers, the current economic crisis has created the worst hiring climate for recent college graduates since Sept. 11. Many employers say they plan on hiring roughly 22 percent fewer recent graduates this year, compared to 2008.

Cathleen Borgman, a campus career counselor at Fairfield University, says many students have resorted to applying for jobs they may not be qualified for, or choosing to go straight into graduate school or a volunteer program. Borgman advises students to stay optimistic in their job searches and to consider various fields of work.

"Maybe you see a job that isn't completely what you'd see yourself doing post-graduation, but maybe you could see yourself doing that for a little while," Borgman says. "Consider doing that and then use it as a springboard."