The Great Recession and Anemic Recovery have been hard on college graduates. They earned their diploma and a student loan repayment plan. Now they're scrambling for work, zapping off résumés and swapping job tales with friends. An office temp job here. An intriguing internship offer -- unpaid.

It's cold comfort for debt-laden job hunters, but college graduates remain far better off than high school graduates and dropouts. The nationwide share of jobs requiring postsecondary education has increased from 28 percent in 1973 to 59 percent in 2008, according to researchers at the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce. The researchers estimate that 70 percent of all jobs in Minnesota in 2018 will require some form of postsecondary education.

What can graduates do to get a job? At the Varsity Theater on Wednesday, I participated in a Policy and a Pint discussion: "I Have A Degree, Why Don't I Have A Job?" Here are the main takeaways:

Any job is better than no job: You might want to get hired for a marketing position or start your career in a bank, but the only jobs available are barista and clean-up crew. That's OK. You're earning a paycheck and, more importantly, your résumé expands. Employers know it's a tough economy. They'll notice that you're hustling for work.

Think twice about graduate school: It's common advice that it pays to get an advanced degree during a downturn. It's a savvy move if you truly know what you want to do. But hold off if you're on the career fence, questioning your options, trying to figure out what you want to do. You don't want to take on the debt without a strong sense that you're on the right job path.

Listen and then listen some more: Let's say you're intrigued by the idea of setting your own business, say, in software, music or public relations. Ask entrepreneurs in the business that intrigues you if you could ask them some questions over a cup of coffee. The same goes if you're focusing on a marketing job or human resources. You're gathering information and insight, learning about the business. A job could come out of the conversation.

Don't get discouraged: Yes, it's a harsh job environment. But there are also exciting companies and work opportunities out there. You'll spend at least 40 hours a week at work over your career. Take the time to find what is your passion. Figure it out, and then go for it.

Chris Farrell is economics editor for "Marketplace Money." Send your questions to cfarrell@mpr.org.