Just because there is high unemployment nationwide, don't assume that getting a software development job will be historically difficult. After long hiring free

Just because there is high unemployment nationwide, don't assume that getting a software development job will be historically difficult. After long hiring freezes, tech companies - more specifically, the team leaders who end up interviewing you - are dying to hire new employees to fulfill pent up demand in their own teams. The preference is for experienced candidates, but smart new grads are also welcome. This is from my experience in the San Francisco Bay Area. I'll second the previous recommendations to go out and interview with other companies. You didn't include many specifics, but I'll assume your master's degree is in Computer Science and that you are smart. If you don't interview well, treat each real interview as practice. Your relatives may warn you about the economy and send you newspaper clippings showing all the unemployment. I have a hard time convincing my own family, but software development jobs are different.