If you are graduating from college in 2009, you’re entering one of the tightest job markets in decades. There’s no question that finding work is tough right now, but there’s no need to panic. Some planning and preparation now can go a long way toward smoothing your transition from school to employment.

Career-advice blogger Lindsey Pollak has some good tips for recent grads, including ways to make your resume stand out from the crowd:

Try to find a personal connection to the companies you want to work for. Talk to everyone you know — friends, family, former colleagues, former classmates, neighbors, etc. — to ask whether they know anyone at your target companies and would be willing to make an introduction. This is the absolute, no-doubt-about-it, very best way to catch the eye of a recruiter or hiring manager: to have your resume hand delivered to that person by a fellow employee. Don’t be afraid to ask people to help you get a job — this is the way business is done and you’ll make your contact look good for recommending you when you turn out to be a fantastic employee.

Even the savviest job-searchers may not find success right away, and in the meantime it’s important not to neglect the other details of your life. Health insurance is one of the most important financial protections you can buy, but too many young adults go uninsured to save money. US News has a great introduction to the basics of health coverage, which every new grad should read:

On a health insurance plan, the annual deductible is the amount you have to pay (not counting co-payments) before your health insurance kicks in. Health insurance plans come with various deductible levels, ranging from $500 or less to as much as $5,000 a year. Typically, the higher your deductible, the lower your monthly payment will be. But choosing a plan with a high deductible doesn’t mean you’re unprotected. For example, since visits to the emergency room can be so expensive, you’re bound to save a substantial amount of cash even with a $5,000 deductible. And if you get into a car accident, it’s a lot easier to borrow $2,000 or $5,000 to help you cover your deductible than it is to borrow $20,000 to cover the whole bill!