People act as if college seniors should have jobs, plans and their entire future figured out the second they graduate. But that’s not reality for most.
Just ask Maddie Doc, a student-athlete and a graduate assistant at the Career Development Center at the University of New Haven. Doc sees stressed-out students come in with the same worries every day. If you ask any college senior what stresses them out the most, chances are the job market and getting a post-grad job are at the top of the list.
Between pressure from family, constant comparison to peers and job listings that demand “2–3 years of experience” for entry-level roles, it’s no surprise students feel overwhelmed. But students aren’t failing. The job market is shifting, and everyone is trying to keep up.
“There’s this growing pressure to immediately find a position that checks all the boxes,” Doc said. “It can feel really overwhelming.”
To make things trickier, many entry-level jobs now require two or three years of experience. Still, Doc said students are figuring out ways to adapt. They’re expanding their searches, starting to network earlier and exploring industries they might not have considered. Even other advisors in career development, such as Desmond Anderson, assistant director, employer relations, shared in a seminar that students need to tailor their resumes to stand out to employers.
“It’s not that there aren’t any jobs out there,” Anderson said. “It’s that the hiring landscape is changing. Students who are open-minded and proactive are likely to find long-term success.”
Some industries are especially active, such as healthcare, tech, business operations, human resources and marketing. The expansion of hybrid and remote jobs has made it easier for students who can’t move right away to enter the workforce.
“Employers are looking for candidates who can adapt, work well with others, and bring creativity to problem-solving, things new grads often do naturally,” Doc said.
Doc has studied and worked in Philadelphia, North Jersey and New England, and has noticed differences in job markets across the regions. In New England, thousands of grads enter the workforce each year, and that makes it harder to stand out.
“Students have to be more strategic,” she said. “Being open to hybrid work, remote roles, or looking outside major cities can make a big difference.”
Shauna Curran, a graduate student in sports management, understands the competitiveness of specific industries. She hopes to work for a professional sports team, but said most jobs come from personal connections that you’ve made through networking in your specific industry.
“There was a statistic from last May that said 80% of jobs came from networking,” she said.
Her program connects students with alumni, which gives her a head start.
“I’ve started applying and making connections to broaden my network,” Curran said.
Experience doesn’t always come from a degree. Jenna Sullivan, manager at Playa Bowls and an Albertus Magnus alum, said she learned most of her skills on the job.
“I’ve gotten better at them with experience,” Sullivan said. “Everything will work out how it’s supposed to. It takes time, and it’s not always about what you know—it’s about who you know.”
Doc also pointed out common mistakes students make, such as sending the same resume to every job, or not preparing sufficiently for interviews. She encouraged college students to tailor their resumes, practice interview answers, and leverage experiences from classes, internships, sports or volunteering to demonstrate their skills. Even a small gesture, such as sending a thank-you email after an interview, can leave a lasting impression.
In the shifting job markets, industry watchers say soft skills are as necessary as technical expertise. Employers want grads who can communicate, adapt and demonstrate leadership, even if those skills didn’t come from a traditional job.
“Employers notice perseverance, teamwork, and initiative,” Doc said. “Graduates who handle challenges professionally and are willing to grow really stand out.”
