It's a math problem some students might not be prepared to solve: If more people are looking for fewer jobs, how is a recent grad supposed to find work?

Colleges, universities and technical schools are adding more staff, offering more assistance and turning to social networking tools to give graduates an edge.

For Jessica Urtecho, 25, a registered nurse who graduated from Miami Dade College this summer, preparation for finding a job included more than going to classes. She went to a career advisor for help with her résumé, attended job fairs and practiced job interviews.

``I feel confident that I am going to get something,'' said Urtecho, who wants to work in a hospital, but has learned it's hard to find that kind of job without a year or two of experience.

JOB TWEETS

Paola Documet, director of advisement and career services for MDC's Medical Center Campus, said the college is holding more targeted mini job fairs lately. Advisors also offer workshops to help students prepare their résumés and get ready for interviews.

One MDC campus has started using Twitter to promote positions that employers contact the college about. Students who follow the feed instantly get news that jobs are available.

``It's working out great because that's what students want now,'' Documet said. ``They want that quick response.''

MDC is also promoting a number of short-term training programs -- think weeks, not semesters -- to help people who might have found themselves laid off and in need of new skills.

Some fields include Web design, bookkeeping, accounting, human resources training and green construction.

``Somebody who recently lost a job in an area where there's just no jobs right now can go back and learn something they have aptitude for and get a job in an industry that is hiring,'' said Geoffrey Gathercole, director of MDC's School of Community Education.

At the Technical Career Institute in Miami, officials try to only keep programs that have job opportunities.

Where three people used to be assigned to try to find jobs for students, there are now six, said Gianni Anzellotti, director of admissions.

``We constantly have to be on the phone working to make sure we have openings for our graduates,'' he said.

Danielle Flowers, outreach coordinator in career and technical education at Broward College, said school officials are bringing employers on campus ``who are really hiring and not just out there collecting résumés.''

The college has workshops for students nearing graduation and shares job notices with program managers throughout the school.

Flowers said she has also recently started reaching out to staff with the Broward College Foundation, an organization that makes private donations to the college, to find out about job opportunities with companies that contribute.

HELPING ALUMNI, TOO

The University of Miami Toppel Career Center has seen an increase in alumni -- not just graduating students -- using its services, said director Christian Garcia.

Over the summer, the center kicked off a monthly alumni networking event. It also offers an alumni webinar series.

The center's website, hireacane.com, addresses the economic situation head-on: ``Jump start your career in these tough economic times!'' the message says.

Students are being urged to network with all their contacts, perfect résumés and cover letters, make themselves stand out by learning new software or languages and learn how employers in their industry typically recruit.

Garcia said the students who have been preparing should be able to find work.

``Maybe they haven't received as many job offers as two, three years ago,'' he said. ``The ones who are going to struggle are the ones who haven't prepared.''