Studies and surveys are proving that the job market is tough on recent college grads and not even internships and job interviews ahead of graduation are helping students secure work.

In a "Voices from Campus" piece for USA Today, published in April, Rachel Saxe outlined her own struggle finding work after graduation. She said she worked at competitive internships, participated in "high-level academic projects," interviewed and met with mentors, but still did not get a job.

A new study from Wells Fargo found that a majority of college graduates are "overwhelmed" by their debt. However, student loan debt may just be exacerbating stress from other forms of debt, like credit cards, mortgages and auto payments.

According to CNN Money, debt and other financial hardships facing recent college grads are causing them to put off important life decisions, like buying a home and starting a family. A University of Arizona research team found nearly half of recent college graduates to be living at home or relying on their parents in some financial fashion in the years after graduation.

From Saxe's piece, here are five tips to remember when on the job hunt:

1. It really is about who you know.

It may be an old adage and a cliché, but it is true. Employers would rather hire people they know, or at least jobseekers whose references are people they know.

2. Interpersonal conversations > exchange of business cards.

If you have a hard time remembering the potential employer you exchanged business cards with at that job fair that one time, they have already forgotten you. Less interpersonal connections outweigh more business cards.

3. Your resume should have a purpose.

It is just words on a page, but it does matter. The only way to stand out is by making your resume look different than your peers. The best way to do this is by detailing as much real-life experiences as possible, so go light on academic achievements.

4. Get proactive.

Apply for jobs that are not listed. Reach out to companies you would like to work for even if they say they are not hiring because all it could take is to simply be on an employer's radar. Still, always be wary of what you do well and what you do not.

5. Don't get yourself stuck.

Saxe said she got a job offer from a different department in the company that initially did not hire her. You may interview or make a connection through an internship, so it is important to keep that relationship alive. Be careful not to take a job that will not help you later in life or where you will have no room to grow.