The special guest panelist for the 1/23/12 installment of #CollegeBound chat is Mark Babbitt, CEO and founder of YouTern.com (@YouTern) where emerging talent connects with high-quality internships and mentorship at entrepreneur-driven start-ups, dynamic businesses, and non-profits. Through YouTern, and their blog “The Savvy Intern,” college students, recent graduates and young professionals gain the experience and advice necessary to become employable – and successfully bridge the gap between the classroom and the real world.

Mark is the ideal expert for @CollegeBoundNet‘s #CollegeBound discussion about what’s next and how to Prepare for Tomorrow… Today!

The stats are pretty scary. According to YouTern.com, 45 percent of young adults under 25 remain unemployed, underemployed — or have abandoned their job search. And in 2010, 80 percent of graduates do not expect to have a job soon after graduation — up dramatically from just 49% the year before.

Now more than ever, it’s imperative that students do everything they can to prepare for their future careers today. That includes actually stepping foot into those positions even before they graduate college. In fact, says Mark Babbitt, CEO and Founder at YouTern.com, nine out of 10 direct-from-college jobs will go to students with experiential education on their resumes.

Today’s #CollegeBound chat will focus on the steps you can take to get the best internship opportunities, as well as how to maximize whatever situation you find yourself in, be it working in your current position, volunteering on the side, or in transition.

Join us online at 4 p.m. ET — register now!