[billpatrianakos]

This is so true. Everyone wants to say we're not trying hard enough but we really are the guys with the awesome grades, extra-curriculars, part time jobs, and involved in sports plus finding time to be social.

The silver lining is that if you're in the right industry it can be easier. Last week I sent out 10 resumes and got 4 interviews for web development positions. My chances are good at every company I interviewed with but only time will tell if I'm not being too optimistic. Your location has a lot to do with it too im sure. I live in Chicago so it was relatively easy to land those interviews but if you're not in a major metro area (New York, Chicago, LA, etc.) then surely it's a lot tougher to break in. The solution is probably to move. Half the people at the companies I interviewed at told me they moved from places like Kentucky, Mississippi, Michigan to where the jobs were.

It's tough though no matter where you are and what you're trying to break into.

[bhickey]

    This is so true. Everyone wants to say we're not trying hard enough but we 
    really are the guys with the awesome grades, extra-curriculars, part
    time jobs, and involved in sports plus finding time to be social.

Don't confuse the sweat of your brow with hard work.

No employer has ever asked me about part time jobs, clubs or sport. Frankly I don't think any of them cared about my grades either.

These things are noisy signals, proxying for hoop jumping. What's more important is proving that you have relevant skills.

    It's tough though no matter where you are and what
    you're trying to break into.

This generalization is false. If you can program your way out of a soggy paper bag there are hordes of folks who will fill that bag with money.