Over the past six months, I’ve applied to over 180 jobs through various job posting boards and websites. But here I am, still working part-time and struggling to make ends meet. Why is it so hard for young people to find solid jobs? While looking at various postings, I’ve found one common denominator: companies want experience. And I don’t mean basic knowledge of something; they want you to be an expert in the field in which you are applying.

The reason it’s so hard to find a job as a millennial is because every employer wants someone with a degree and 10 years of experience. Not to burst your bubbles, employers, but I wasn’t out there selling services or creating websites at the age of thirteen. I couldn’t even decide on an outfit that matched my shoes ten years ago. But that doesn’t mean that I’m not good enough for the positions that are posted online. I, like many of my peers, can learn quickly and adapt to various situations – that’s part of our generation’s skillset.

So how can twenty-somethings overcome the jo search woes? Remember one thing: you’re young. You have the rest of your life to work a minimum of forty hours a week and grow gray within the walls of your office. Keep applying, go to the interviews you land, but don’t get down on yourself if you don’t get the position. And keep your head up: any employer would be lucky to have you.