Latest news, weather, high school sports for Michigan’s Upper Peninsula

MARQUETTE -- More than 20 percent of young people between ages 16 to 24 are unemployed, according to Michigan Works!

Lindsey Whitfield, a recent Michigan Tech graduate with a degree in mathematics, knows those numbers all too well. She's spent the last two months scouring the Internet for a data analyst job.

"It's been very frustrating, especially with Michigan Tech; they have a really high job placement rate, so it's just like, I know I'm qualified. It's really frustrating when you know you've done everything you can, and it's still not enough," said Whitfield.

She's been using Monster.com, LinkedIn, and went to job fairs that Michigan Tech offered while she was still a student.

Whitfield has had some luck. She nabbed a few interviews but didn't get the jobs because the companies weren't looking to hire at that time.

Michigan Works! says getting a job interview could just require a few extra clicks of the mouse.

"One of the pieces of advice that I give to students when they're putting out their resumes is research the company that you're giving the resume to. You want to know a little bit about that company, but research what you're looking to apply for," said Michigan Works! board member, Tony Retaskie.

Whitfield has begun looking outside of the U.P. for work and recently received a job offer in South Dakota.

She has one tip for fellow grads.

"I would say go use a lot of the job sites, and if your college has career fairs, definitely go to those because I have had the most luck with those. Getting one-on-one contact is definitely the best way to go," Whitfield said.