I can’t watch a segment of CNN or the Today Show without hearing reports about the job market; and in the past four or five months, I know of approximately six people who’ve lost their jobs. There was no warning or lead up. They simply walked into their offices one day and received the bad news. These individuals have families, mortgages, car payments, etc. And anyone who’s ever had to rely on unemployment compensation knows how difficult it is to make it on $400 a week.

But shifting gears, I want to turn my attention to recent college graduates. Many colleges and universities held graduation ceremonies during the first week in May. I remember my college graduation. I can’t tell you how excited I was to leave school - I swore that I would never study again. But my excitement was short lived when I didn’t find employment. I spent the entire summer completing job applications and interviewing - but I never got the jobs. I honed my interview and resume.  But with at least ten other hopefuls competing for the positions, I wasn’t the top pick.

I called it quits after two months and resolved to live my life as a freelancer. Sometimes, I wonder what my life would be like if I had secured employment. Would I had climbed the corporate ladder, or eventually return to my self-employed roots?

Maybe I gave up too easy. Who knows, in the back of my mind, maybe I didn’t want an office job, inflexible schedule or a boss. Whatever the motive, I knew I had to do something. I had a car payment and I was planning my wedding. So, that wasn’t the time to be without income.

Hopefully the graduates of 2009 will have more success in their job search than I did. But if not, there’s always the option of self-employment. And if they need some ideas, All Business explores the Top 25 Home-Based Business Ideas.