Ayanna Roberts, 25, captured her dream job in June 1998, a month after graduating from North Carolina A&T State University with a master's of science degree in mechanical engineering. Roberts is a product engineer employed at the Chrysler Corporation in Auburn Hills, Michigan. 

Roberts' career path was anything but easy, even though she had graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor's degree in physics from Hampton University in Hampton, Virginia in 1996. Roberts knew that to land the type of job she desired she needed more than her undergraduate degree. She enrolled in graduate school at North Carolina A&T State University. While working on her thesis, Roberts found her niche--the automotive side of physics. She launched her job search in the beginning of her final year of graduate school. 
After countless interviews, Roberts decided to take Ford and Chrysler up on their offers for second interviews. She chose Chrysler because the firm is committed to higher education and employed a lot of North Carolina A&T alumni. In fact, that alumni recruited her. They recruited me one-on-one as opposed to Ford where there were 50 other candidates being recruited at the same time, she says. 

To graduating seniors, Roberts imparts the following advice: Start the job search six months before graduation. Visit your career services department for career information and literature. Practice interviewing with fellow students before the interview and before you go on the second interview.  Know yourself and what you're willing to accept. Research your targeted companies.  Attend recruitment information sessions. Make sure that your resume is descriptive and includes internship experience and an objective.  Once you get an offer don't just look at the salary. Look for benefits and advancement opportunities before deciding, Roberts added. 

Jevaughn Lennox Sterling, 24, went straight to graduate school after earning a bachelor's degree in business administration from Howard University in 1996. In hindsight, Sterling realizes that in going immediately for an MBA in finance, he had created more competition for himself. He would now have to compete with MBA candidates who had acquired work experience before entering graduate school. 

To make himself marketable, Sterling got involved in extracurricular activities. He participated in national business competitions; served on the graduate business student council; and formed an intramural soccer team for the MBA program, all in preparation for the job search. In the process, he received the Excellence at the Mecca Award from Howard University. 

He attended the National Black MBA Association's conference, but, before going, he sent his resume to the organization. When the event rolled around he had two interviews lined up. Sterling read THE BLACK COLLEGIAN regularly and consulted career services counselors, to whom he gives props for efficiency in bringing companies to the campus. However, Sterling recalls having at least five interviews weekly, and having five in one day! By the time he graduated in May 1998, he had four offers. 

Sterling chose Columbia Energy Group in Reston, Virginia. The company allowed me to be the first to do a lot of novel things, said Sterling, who entered the company's executive training program last July. 

Place no limits on yourself, Sterling advises graduating seniors. Gather a broad range of experiences in different functional areas while in school. Establish meaningful relationships. Sterling had fellow students taking notes while he traveled around the country interviewing and exchanged faxes and e-mail with them. Develop transferable skills. Maintain a positive attitude. Sterling was turned down 10 times; even after second interviews, but he viewed the rejections as the companies' losses. Draw on the resources around you. Put yourself into a leadership position.  

Debra Kay Cottingham, 24, entered the hot field of environmental engineering in June 1998, a month after graduating from Howard University with a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering. She interviewed with a lot of different companies and received at least six offers by Christmas 1997. Cottingham chose Malcolm Pirnie, Inc., in White Plains, New York. 

Cottingham's position puts her directly into her chosen concentration, environmental/water resources and the firm is a 12-hour drive away from her hometown of Macomb, Michigan. Malcolm Pirnie also has excellent educational benefits. I'm going back to school next summer, Cottingham explains. 

Cottingham launched her job search early during her collegiate career. She volunteered to work a career day for the career services office. I was able to get first-hand knowledge of when companies were coming, Cottingham adds. She supplemented insider information by reading everything she could find on companies in her chosen field. I used to look for THE BLACK COLLEGIAN, she said of the noted career publication. I did mass mailings of my resume and cover letter, attended the job fair, and did phone interviews. I prayed a lot.  

Cottingham suggests that graduates, network. Ask any of your college's alumni how it is at the companies where you want to work. Start looking for career opportunities, as soon as you can. In your freshman year and until you graduate, try to do internships or volunteerships so you can put that work experience on your resume. Companies want to see some experience. Find the career center at your university. Ask professionals, friends, family members, your pastor, if they know of any job opportunities.  

Brian Coker, 25, had a tough time landing his dream job. In Coker's case, the adage "Truth is stranger than fiction" entered the picture. How in the world can a graduate with a bachelor of science degree in computer information systems not have a job upon graduation in this increasingly technical workforce? But, it happened that Coker, a.k.a. resident web guru at Florida A&M University, didn't have anywhere to go, when he graduated in April 1997. 

Coker didn't give up his day job. He continued working as a prep cook at a restaurant. He returned to campus to interview at the university's job expo. He kept in contact with a lot of companies. Federal Express was interested. Amoco kept in touch. One day I went on an interview with Sonya Ross of Amoco. Once the interview was over, I went on my way; then I got a letter.  

Coker was on his way to a second interview at the Amoco Corporation in Houston, Texas. Three or four weeks passed without a word from Amoco. When Coker called the company to inquire about the outcome, Ross told him she was just about to call him. The company wanted to make an offer. Coker is now a customer support analyst at Amoco. 

It took him nearly a year to land the coveted position. Looking back, Coker said he was apprehensive and overly cautious during his initial interviews. As time went on I started building my skills. Doing more interviews helped me to be more comfortable.  

Coker advises students to constantly go on interviews. They say they won't interview freshmen, but even if you're a freshman, you need to at least talk to these executives. Of equal importance is to know what you're talking about. Know your skills and be able to articulate them. Share any novel ideas you may have.  

Take a professional development class to help begin to prepare yourself for the career. Learn how to write a resume. Review the list of common questions interviewers ask. Just relax because you don't want to be uptight.  

Coker adds, Definitely talk to the people at the career center. They are the most important resources you have. Go to the interview sessions. Participate in all the events sponsored by the career center. Then you'll be able to say, "I did this. I worked hard and did what I needed to do to get where I am.  

Raymond McGregor got at least 16 job offers, eight of which he seriously considered. The day after he graduated with a bachelor's of science degree in management from North Carolina A&T State University in May 1998, he went to work for Nine Rivers Technology in Raleigh, North Carolina. This company recruits professionals and trains them in the areas needed by the firm's clients, then places them as consultants at client companies. McGregor has been placed at Unifi, Inc., an international yarn maker and distributor. 

McGregor, 27, is living proof that where there is a will there is a way. He left college after two and a half years, got married and became a father. His wife, Kim, and their 15- month-old son inspired him to achieve his goals. This he did with no holds barred. You can have ordinary talent, but you need exceptional perseverance, he explained. You must be determined, focused on what you want.  

McGregor had at least 20 to 25 interviews before graduation. During the university's career day, he selected companies he wanted to work for, and frequently practiced his interviewing techniques. He always asked the interviewers what qualities impressed them in job candidates and what he needed to do to improve. In that way, I made myself a perfectionist, he says. 
 
The reason why I am where I am today is the way I feed into my higher power. I already believed in my heart that the job was mine. I had that confidence. That's what they liked about me. They also saw within me a work ethic. I worked full-time, went to school, and had a wife and son. They were looking for equilibrium and stability.  
 
McGregor says students should be political and should network with people. He received several offers because he stayed in touch with interviewers long after the career fair, something that helped get him job offers.  McGregor mentions that the college crowd you hang around is important. Everyone I hung around with pursued their goals. Their accomplishments motivated me to achieve my own.  
 
When the curtain goes up, you've got to perform, adds McGregor. When opportunity meets preparation, you get a result like I received. When I sat down I knew everything about me was practically perfect, from my head to my shoes. I knew if this was my dream, then this was my opportunity.