You are about to graduate from college and will be entering one of the toughest job markets in decades. Is the situation as hopeless as it looks?

Unemployment is at a 25-year high, and employers expect to hire 22 percent fewer graduates this year than they hired last year, according to a survey by the National Association of Colleges and Employers. So, yes, the situation is troubling, but it certainly isn’t hopeless. Accept that you may need to adjust expectations — not just about the job itself, but also about its pay and location.

If you studied finance, consider working in accounting, insurance, small business or government, rather than just Wall Street. Keep in mind that the rest of your life is unlikely to be determined by your first job “Understand that no matter what you choose, it will be an opportunity to learn about work and about yourself, and that will help with your next step.