It's time for the summer hiring season to start - or at least, it should be for young Americans. Unfortunately, job seekers between the ages of 16-24 seem to have been hit the hardest by the economy, facing an unemployment rate of 18.5%. But, it may not be all bad.

According to a recent survey, the employment outlook for young job seekers is no worse this summer than last year's. In fact, 29% of employers plan to make the same number of hires as last summer, and 6% plan to increase their summer hires.

Just as the unchanged unemployment rate from January to February in 2010 can be viewed in a positive light, so can this summer's jobs outlook for teens and college students. No change is certainly better than a change for the worse.

So, what steps should high school and colleges students take to improve their chances of landing a job this summer? CBS Moneywatch.com suggests the following search strategies:

1. Network Strategically

2. Push your Passion

3. Mine the Web

4. Research All your Options

5. Study Up

6. Last Resort: Buy One

Readers, do you know any high school or college students who have found a job for this summer? What strategy worked best for them?