wonderbread

Sorry to hear about your situation. I also graduated from U of I (2002). When I graduated I also felt that the school did not provided much help in opening any doors to employment. The only advice I would have has sort of already been mentioned. If you didn't have a degree in your area, what would you want to do? Once you figure that out, it's time to start networking in that area. By networking, I mean reaching out to people in that job position/company even if they are not hiring. Once you establish a few relationships doors are typically opened in one area or another. As to being "over-qualified", once a relationship is established it becomes much easier to explain why your not pursuing your degree path and why you would be happy doing "X". Good Luck!

Are there any companies in your area that are in an area you may be interested in? Even if they are not hiring it could be a good place to start without doing a lot of travel. When networking everyone you meet with is not only a potential employer, but more importantly they are a potential advocate for you. Even if they are not hiring, they may have a sister company elsewhere or may know of someone who is hiring. Once you establish a relationship in a market it's amazing how wide the doors open for opportunities.