I feel frustrated that so many recent college grads are having a hard time finding a job. In all the articles and discussions about the economic slump, I have never seen a reference to what I believe is the biggest problem facing the young unemployed: Nobody told them that they might have to look outside their community, their state or even their country to find work — and nobody taught them the skills they need to thrive outside their comfort zone.

I've had some interesting conversations with bright but unemployed grads lately. What I notice is that many of these young people have a very limited idea of what it means to look for a job and few go beyond the obvious help-wanted ads, Craigslist route or Dad's-company-is-hiring idea. Even more challenging is the fact that many new grads are unwilling or unable to consider work outside the community in which their parents live. They are home with the folks and looking for work within a 25-mile radius of where they went to high school.  

This might be fine if you happen to have a degree and experience that corresponds with a sizable selection of desirable jobs available in your home town, but that's rarely the case. And those who feel restricted due to a lack of launch funds can't see themselves looking much farther than the next town.

So when I hear someone say, "I've been looking everywhere, but I haven't been able to find a job," the first question I ask is: Where is everywhere?  

Plenty of people roll their eyes when the subject of "preparing students for the global economy" comes up, but they are the ones most likely to cry foul when their kids can't find a job. And there's the rub: Hometown, USA is not the final frontier for our kids and we are not doing them any favors by failing to teach them how to fish outside the local fishing hole.

New grads need to recognize — and yes, be prepared for — the fact that they might find their most thrilling and fulfilling opportunities far from home. Do they have the skills to successfully navigate in a place that is unfamiliar to them? Can they start fresh in a new city or state or country without their family and friends nearby? Are they able to adapt to new settings that require a different perspective or perhaps even a different language?

In most cases, the answer is no. Not only have they not been given an opportunity to practice autonomy, they have not had a chance to develop and strengthen the skills they need to find employment options and pursue them wholeheartedly.

Those who are prepared find all kinds of interesting work in every corner of the globe. Every week, I hear from elated parents about their son or daughter who is embarking on an adventure in another country that is both fascinating and lucrative.

I've done the happy dance myself for my own daughters. The oldest just finished her master's degree, two graduated from college last December and the youngest will graduate from college this December. The three older daughters are currently working in New York, Buenos Aires and on a cruise ship in the Mediterranean. They found jobs with enticing perks (an employer-paid master's degree, the ability to work virtually, employer-provided training and travel expenses, etc.) in places that interest them.  

Did my girls have degrees from elite universities? Nope. None of them attended any colleges that would evoke oohs and ahhs. But they had experience living in other cultures and fluency in at least one foreign language. And I'm not talking Mandarin or Arabic here — they blasted ahead largely because of their fluency in that most underrated of foreign languages: Spanish.

Granted, not every college grad is ready to go abroad to work, but many more would be if they'd been prepared for the realities of (here it is again) the global economy. And those who are sticking close to home may find that the recession limits their options far longer than they would have imagined.  

Listen, I'm not saying every new grad should leave the country to find work, but it's true that those who have a larger pool of options have a much higher chance of getting a great job. Having the skills and experience that allow them to reach beyond their peers means they are no longer competing with them for the same jobs. By engaging in work that challenges them (rather than settling for whatever they can find), they are advancing their knowledge and expanding their possibilities for the future.

Recession? Those who are willing and able to find work wherever the jobs may be are not hampered by an economic downturn. Grads who have spent time abroad, developed language skills, experienced other cultures and discovered their interests have the confidence and competence to go forth and offer their talents to those who need them. And the truly bold and innovative ones figure out how to create their own work — and generate their own income — anywhere.

Don't believe it? Living in Argentina has given me a front-row seat from which to watch expats in action abroad. I'm currently writing a book about Americans of all ages and backgrounds who are finding and/or creating meaningful work they love wherever they choose to live. They share some common characteristics — and some that are surprising.  

When it comes to job hunting, the strategy that yields the best results is to think broadly and be bold. Sometimes that also includes going beyond borders, both real and imagined.

To read more blog entries by Maya Frost, visit her site MayaFrost.com.