I've read it has very little to do with merit and everything to do with who you kind of know, that is, our number of weak social ties is much more highly correlated with getting a job than our degree of qualification. The reason is probably mostly because people hate drudging through resumes. It's so much easier to have an employee say to their boss "Hey, I know a guy who could fill position X." Then the hiring manager or whoever is like "Awesome, less work for me, fuck everyone else who bothered to apply and is, in fact, better qualified, yay!"
Network network network. It's a miserable way to get a job, and involves nagging people who don't really want to hear what your skill set is, going to events with other people whoring themselves out and feeling like shit about it just like you, and telling lots of strangers you're out of work in the meager hope they'll think of you later for a job you didn't really want that much in the first place, but it's the best way not to be impoverished. Sorry to be so cynical, but it's getting a job, and there's no way around the fact that it sucks.
In contrast to others, I find college is awesome, and if I had my way I'd stay in forever.
