3 "New Grad Tips" for The Toughest Job Market in Years

If you have a new college graduate, you know the statistics.  The toughest job market since COVID, with the other being the pre-2010 downturn.  I have calls, almost daily, about young adults not being able to find a job.  In addition, if you are on any “Parent Groups” online, you will see story, after story, after story of young adults in high-demand career fields trying to gain their first professional jobs.  Parents stating, “My child went to a great school, super involved, excellent GPA, fantastic internship, but can NOT find a position.  What do we do?”  These posts are almost hourly, and I must tell you; it breaks my heart.

My daughter graduated in May with an Environmental Science degree and faced the same situation.  Funny…my other daughter graduated during COVID…faced the same exact situation, remember…2^nd most challenging time for new graduates.  Both obtained their jobs…through someone we knew!  We hear about this all the time about how to gain your first job, and so many people shrug off this reality.  Often with “We don’t know anyone”, “We should get a job because of our skills, not our connections”, “We have tried but no luck”.  I truly, truly understand how frustrating this chapter is in a young adult’s life, not to mention adults who are looking to pivot.

What is about to make the “upcoming” months even MORE challenging is that all the people who were offered early payout/early retirement by the government will now begin looking in October, as their salary payout is ending.  For professionals who took this time off to enjoy their R&R, they will now be looking to regain their salaries and employment.  It’s all a perfect storm.

So, what can be done to help?:

1.       Know the “Health” of a Career field BEFORE Selecting a Major

When I work with young adults, I talk extensively about the health of a career field.  Is it growing?  At what rate is it growing?  Where are the jobs?  Can they make a sustainable living?  In addition, what are the other “pathways” they can pursue with a degree.  A degree with many different career options is a fantastic “safety net”, giving lots of different options to potentially parlay into.

This is a small example of why it’s so critical to engage in formal career counseling.  I share with new clients that I am INCREDIBLY data-driven.  Yes, I want to know how people “feel” about what they like.  I want to understand what “motivates” a person.  But I also want to look at the hardcore facts about the job market.  If a field isn’t growing, THEN where you go to college matters.  And it better be with a school with a high “destination rate” AND a market that is growing.  And because I live in the “world of work” every single day, this is a full-time passion for me, not a side interest. 

2.       It’s Going to Happen Due to Networking, NOT Sending A Resume

So, in the spirit of keeping it real, let me share my daughter’s story.  In what I do, I know 90% of all jobs are obtained through someone you know.  Connecting, asking for mentorships, informational interviews, professional outreaches, etc., are absolutely critical.  So critical, I become a little too passionate about this topic at times.  A great statement was made by a career professional that said, “Jobs are going to be obtained by your ‘2^nd + circle of reference’, not your first".  I thought this was such a fascinating concept, and for us, that was true.  When my daughter was preparing to graduate at the beginning of 2025, she began the process of sharing her resume.  She’s not my extrovert, so this was not fun for her!  We worked together to make a plan and work on that plan. 

Her job offer came from someone I professionally interacted with through the Career and Technical Education board position I held with our local school district for years.  She’s a champion of internships for high school students in the manufacturing world, and I’ve loved her commitment to CTE careers and her content on LinkedIn.  In a chance message to her, I shared the challenge of my daughter finding the first professional job.  Through this interaction, it led to my daughter gaining two interviews and an offer in a field she never considered, which is very closely aligned to the environmental science field she’s passionate about. 

But let me be very clear…this was a hard journey for my daughter and for us as parents, even in what I do for a profession.  What I learned and was so grateful for is that when I explore careers, I review, “What Other Titles This Career May Be Called”.  It’s a piece of information most don’t consider.  But because we love to give all kinds of random titles to careers, if a person isn’t searching or considering titles that have other names, they miss out on opportunities and possibilities.

If you have a young adult who is struggling to gain a job after 100+ resumes have been sent out, it’s NOT their resume, nor do they need a resume writer.  Everyone is using AI for FREE, and they are better than anything anyone can create.  It’s most likely not because there are no jobs.  It’s because they must become vulnerable and ask for help through their family, friends, professors, fellow college friends, neighbors, and random strangers (kind of a joke, but you get my point).  Then as another great person stated, “When offered a position in this market, whether it’s their dream job or not, Take IT!”  New graduates must gain experience “in their field”!  Very few people have the perfect first job.  This is a time to learn, grow, fail, and gain experience to build your professional career so you “Proceed with Confidence” into your next chapter.

3. My final word of wisdom: Just Don’t Stop Trying.

Looking for a position is soul-crushing.  It brings up every single insecurity we may have.  I’m not smart enough.  I’m not good enough, I’m not qualified enough. No one wants me. What am I going to do with my life!?  Career counseling serves so many different purposes, and one critical one is to help flush out, in an impartial way, all that is swirling in a person’s head.  There’s a reason “counseling” is part of our titles.  I hope I can help give clarity and calm in these very difficult times.

Reeder Consulting: College and Career Paths is a specialist in the career development field and the number 1 career counseling company in San Antonio, TX working with clients in all 50 states. We help individuals engage in career and aptitude testing to process information through meaningful conversations and give clarity to the stress of career decisions to Proceed with Confidence. www.reederconsulting.com