According to a U.S. Department of Labor survey, 70.9% of the total United States population is comprised of men and women ages 20 – 24. That’s a pretty hefty percentage who recently abandoned childhood dreams of a career as a superhero or a princess.

“Get your degree so you can get a real job,” your parents said.

But if your parents have your best interests in mind, why have you graduated and still don’t have a job?

The same survey from the Department of Labor suggests that only about 13% of 20 – 24 year-old college graduates are part of the labor force. That leaves a pretty hefty percentage of them living at home, wishing they held the mask and cape you abandoned. It may feel like it sometimes, but spending four years in college wasn’t a waste of time; if you only have a high school diploma, the unemployment rate is twice as high.

Common discourse on the economy aside, finding a job after graduation has been difficult since the 1970s. When you graduate, especially if you didn’t work during school, you have few marketable skills and little experience to show, no matter how good your grades are. Some employers simply won’t hire people right out of undergrad, opting for candidates with a Master’s degree or who paid their dues in an unpaid internship.

A recent New York Times article broke down what anyone in their 20s already knows: right after you graduate, and especially if you have a liberal arts degree, you often have to work for free. That is, if you can afford it.

So what can you do to improve your chances of finding a paid position?

Pay Your Dues While You’re Still in School

It’s in your best interest to find a part-time job or an internship while you’re still in school, preferably in a field you enjoy. This will vastly improve your job prospects and will help you make contacts that will be invaluable once you graduate. if Do this while you’re still in school, and you will have a better chance of being able to move out your mom’s house.

If you didn’t have time for an internship in college, you probably have leadership skills from a club or group that you can highlight in your resume. Unfortunately, it’s become the norm for companies to hire unpaid interns, and you may have to take a position like this if you want to advance in your field (especially if that field is media-related). The sad truth is, many people can’t afford to take an unpaid internship, and if you find yourself in that boat, you’re definitely not alone.

Make Your Resume Job-Specific

Lots of people don’t understand that it’s absolutely essential to tweak your resume for each job you apply to. The chances of having a resume make a strong impression increase exponentially when you think like an employer: use keywords that are derived from the job description, and trim out any information that is unrelated or looks like filler. If you don’t know anything about keywords, this articleis a good place to start.

Apply to Jobs You’re Qualified For

Another reason Millennials aren’t finding jobs is because many are applying to jobs that aren’t suited to their skills. Desperate times call for desperate measures, but that isn’t to say that because your marketing degree isn’t getting you the job you want, you should start applying for entry-level accounting positions. You might feel it’s a catch-22: if you limit yourself to jobs that you’re continuously being rejected from you’ll never actually get hired. This isn’t always true. Focus on applying for jobs that you’re qualified for and want —you earned your degree in the field that you did for a reason. Use social media to network with people at firms that you are interested in and stay on your toes. Job hunting takes time.

Expand Your Resources

Start looking into staffing agencies (like us!) who have lots of jobs that aren’t posted online. Companies often come to us to do confidential searches, and if you’re in our network, we might be able to help you snag a gig you wouldn’t have found otherwise. Check out our job listings here.

Look for positions at startups, who are always expanding and looking for young people who are excited about their projects. Because enthusiasm is a big hiring factor, and the companies are small, don’t be afraid to reach out to the founder of the company on LinkedIn. Even if you can’t get a paid position, it will fill a hole in your resume, and you’ll make some valuable contacts.

Volunteering is another good way to find contacts and to keep you occupied while you’re unemployed. Do a quick Google search and try and find something you’re interested in.

Keep Your Social Media Accounts Polished

As much as you might like to tell yourself that employers don’t check your social media profiles, they do. Your profile isn’t as safe as you think; more and more companies are screening their applicants on Facebook or Twitter.  Do the smart thing and clean house of all those tweets about how you hate hunting for a job or how “productive” you’re being watching daytime reality TV on your couch. Also, the fact that you’re 21 means you can legally do keg stands, but can you reasonably have pictures of it on your Facebook page? Think about what’s important to you, and keep your private life private.

Make sure your LinkedIn account accurately reflects your resume and your accomplishments, and make sure you have a professional-looking picture. Companies are using LinkedIn more and more to pre-screen applicants. If you don’t have a LinkedIn, it’s time to set one up.

Try to Stay Positive

Don’t let discouragement deter you from remaining steadfast in your job search. It takes time and persistence. Remember, the market is tough right now. Make use of the connections that you have made in school and seek out new connections in the hopes that they will open doors for you. Not being able to land a job is not necessarily indicative of your abilities; it is a result of these challenging times. If you start to feel like your efforts are futile, step back and channel your inner superhero. You have the power to make things happen when you set your mind to it.

Good luck!