Being out of college and desperately trying to find a job definitely feels like a job within itself. I knew it was going to be difficult but it is hard to not feel discouraged when you see that there are people who are fresh out of college and they suddenly have a career, a new home and a life. I have actually been applying since last summer because everyone told me to start early and I agree, you have to put yourself out there, but adulting is so hard!

Here are five signs you are unemployed:

1. Sweatpants have become a regular clothing item of choice on a daily basis and I think I am going to win the award for Most Amount Of Days Wearing Sweatpants. Can I put that on my résumé? Does that count as an achievement?

2. Seeing a listing for an entry level job and thinking you are perfectly qualified for it. Then you continue on reading the rest of the job description and seeing that you need 5+ years of experience.

3.Hearing back from a company you applied to within minutes and seeing that you are already hired and then want you to work from home. What’s the catch? They want you to email them your social security number AND they want you to work from 12am-5am.

4. Constantly looking on LinkedIn for new job postings all while connecting with people that are already in the job fields that you are looking into. You immediately hope they will magically just offer you a position with the company. A girl can dream!

5. Knowing that you are completely qualified for a job and that you would be the perfect employee but then you see they reject your application. How do they not see how great I am?!

These days, a college degree does not mean that you are going to land a job. What really helps is to network with others and to gain experience that is relevant to what you want to do. Create a LinkedIn account if you do not have one, talk to people in your neighborhood or communicate with others on your social media accounts and meet new people. If you want to volunteer, get out there and do it, if you want to babysit, go ahead; those little things you do will definitely help out in the long run! Soon enough you won't have to say, "I am unemployed" and you will be saying, "Actually, I have a job!"