For many students, the joy of graduating from college is quickly replaced by the stress of trying to find a job. Because they lack relevant on-the-job experience, many new graduates figure they lack the skills required in the corporate world.

"Students don't think about what skills they developed during their college careers over and above what's on their transcripts," says Joan Brannick, president of Brannick HR Connections and an organizational psychologist in Tampa, Fla. "It's not just about the class work they did."

In addition to expertise in a variety of academic fields, college provides "soft" skills that many employers seek. "Students have the ability at 2 a.m. to write a paper while instant messaging their friends and watching a TiVoed version of 'Grey's Anatomy,' " says Brad Karsh, president of JobBound.com, a career consulting group based in Chicago. And that's a skill that can come in handy at a company that values employees who can manage tight schedules effectively.