Graduating..

Recession..I'm completely sick of hearing that word as it fills me with dread and pessimism about my job future prospects.

I'm sure are many of you out there in the same boat as me..graduating with excellent degrees, brilliant prospects, basically academically you are every employers dream. Until...it comes to the work experience section. The worse part is there's not just one or two sections or paragraphs..the top employers expect an endless list of work experience as if we somehow magically managed to find time to study and be CEOs of a company at the same time (okay slight exaggeration but you get my point). Particularly when applying to graduate schemes, the selection process seems so intense I think at this point I'd be more likely to become Prime Minister then make it through the online application/psychometric, numerical and verbal tests/phone interview and double interview with different firm managers!!! Even when applying for work experience some firms (not ALL) want to know about your past work experiences. Would I be applying for work experience if I already had it? I don't think so! I'd be applying for a job instead..

I understand to get coveted law, finance, marketing etc. positions you must have some sort of experience in that field. But how can we get experience in the relevant field when no-one will offer it except for the very few internship positions which are like gold dust?

If anyone has been through this and would like to offer advice to me and other graduates you are more than welcome :D