You may be a college grad who has struck gold. You’ve landed a job right out of school, despite the fact that entry-level jobs are few and far between. There’s one little hiccup, though: You hate your first job.

You’re not alone. Studies show only 2 percent of employees over 40 are working in occupations they planned when they were 18. Sure, on the outside, it may have seemed like nabbing a job immediately after you’ve walked the stage was a huge blessing. You have something to do each day and you can pay your bills. However, you now struggle to stay engaged and dread going into work. What do you do when you hate your job, especially in a job market where landing one is a challenge in itself?

A recent Gallup poll indicated that only 43.6 percent of Americans ages 18 to 29 had a full-time job in June 2013. That’s right — more than half of young Americans are un- or underemployed. This further proves how hard it is for young professionals to not only enter the workforce, but to find a stable gig that keeps them happy, engaged and productive.

Consider this: If you’ve been on the job search for months or years on end after college, is it time to explore alternative forms of employment? Below is a list of options that may not have been on your radar before, but should definitely be a part of your job search plan moving forward:

One of the positive aspects about job searching in today’s world is the amount of access you have to information about the process. For instance, we know referrals and job boards are some of the top ways employers find candidates. We also know networking is a pretty awesome way you can land contacts and referrals. But, how does this relate to job growth overall?

Recently, Simply Hired released their U.S. Employment Outlook for October. Overall, the U.S. experienced job growth, but let’s take a look at what this growth means for you and how you can capitalize on the report.

So, you’ve been searching for a job for months. Maybe you’ve applied via job boards or you’ve visited companies in the flesh. Whatever methods you use, your efforts often fall flat. Even worse — not only are the jobs you’re finding less than stellar, the ones you do apply for go unanswered. What’s the deal?

I’ll let you in on a little secret: There is such a thing as the hidden job market and if you aren’t tapping into it, you’re missing out. The Wall Street Journal even reports that about 80 percent of jobs are never advertised. This means there is, in fact, a secret place these jobs are hiding. And it’s up to you to find them.

Here are some ways to do it:

Picture this: You’ve spent the last four years of your college career honing your skills in a specific major. You’ve taken the classes, you’ve worked internships, and you’ve received shining recommendations from your peers. But when job search time comes along, you have a hard time not only finding your dream job, but locating a job at all. What’s the problem?

Here’s the deal. Recent studies indicate that although you may have pledged your allegiance to a specific career space, only 27 percent of college graduates have a job closely related to their major. This means even if you’re gunning for an major-specific job, chances are, you may not end up there.

This isn’t a bad thing. Many people don’t work in the field listed on their diploma and still have successful careers. It’s all in the way you use it. Here are some ways to draw career success from your major, without being tied to it completely:

So, you talked to your contacts, found the perfect job, and applied to the position. You included everything you needed to, cleaned up your online presence, and even had a referral to the position. Now what?

In an age where the job search is all about being proactive, you need to do one last thing in order to stand out from the pack: Follow up. Following up means reminding an employer that you applied, communicating your skills once again, and asking if they need additional information. However, there’s both a right way to conduct proper follow up and an absolutely terrible way to use this strategy.

Ah, the job interview. The one key element that’s standing between you and the job of your dreams. Hiring managers typically receive about 250 applications per corporate job opening, but once you’re in for an interview, you have an increased chance at landing the position.

Interview etiquette is a big deal, though. You may have been advised to ask questions at the end of your interview to learn more about the company. However, there are some key questions to avoid in the job interview. In fact, even though you should continue the conversation, continuing in the wrong way can mess up your chances.

So, when you’re preparing for an interview, you have to evaluate what’s going to work and what may send you into the deep end. With that in mind, try to avoid the following questions during your session:

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! No, it’s not holiday season yet — I’m talking about back-to-school season, which is filled with clean slates and brand new ventures for students and young professionals. While you may be sad to put away your beach towels and sunscreen, you should be aware of another opportunity on the horizon: Back-to-school career fairs.

Career fairs are a job search goldmine, especially if you want to meet employers face-to-face. Plus, many universities hold career fairs during the first few weeks of school, which helps you to jump start your search right when things are picking back up again.

If you’re thinking about attending a back-to-school career fair, there are a few things you need to do in order to ace your experience. Check them out:

We hope, when we apply online that someone is eagerly waiting to read every word of our carefully crafted resume. It is highly unlikely an actual person is reading any of it, at least on the initial screening.

Because companies continue to be inundated with resumes, more and more employers are turning to applicant tracking systems (ATS) to manage the volume and weed through all the applicants. What does that mean for job seekers? Here is a summary of what I have learned.