Fresh out of college and ready to take on the world? Perhaps not, and there are plenty of reasons why most recent college graduates feel tremendously anxious and stressed about entering the workforce right after college. And having to deal with parents who are slightly out of touch with how the world works today shouldn’t be one of them.
Not only are pandemic-era college graduates now entering a foreign time in their lives, but labor market conditions have completely changed over the last several years, making it harder for some to overcome the stress of finding suitable employment right after college.
Most college graduates aren’t even concerned about money. Instead, many of them, or at least 21 percent, have said that they are stressed about not finding a job that can provide them with a proper work-life balance. Secondly, 19 percent said they’re concerned about not finding a job they’re passionate about, while 18 percent said current layoffs are adding to the pressure of entering the labor market.
Times have changed, and for parents of recent college graduates or any child entering the workforce or changing jobs, it’s important to understand where they are coming from and how you can assist them in their job search and become part of the transition.
Why College Graduates Are Anxious About Finding a Job
While change can be a positive thing, it comes with feeling of uncertainty, and for many college students who didn’t necessarily have access to career counselors or guidance. In contrast, at college, their parents are often their only source of support.
However, things are different compared to 10 or 20 years ago. Today there are plenty of reasons why college graduates are feeling anxious, and perhaps stressed about finding employment right after school.
Fewer employers hiring college graduates
According to research estimates by the National Association of Colleges and Employers, the number of employers hiring freshly minted college graduates has decreased over the last couple of years. Current projections estimate that the hiring of recent graduates will decline by six percent, which is a nearly 10 percent decline from the hiring peak of 2021.
More graduates are underemployed
“Underemployed” graduates or those working a job or full-time employment that doesn’t require a college degree are now becoming a frequent occurrence. In fact, around four in ten, or at least 40 percent of recent graduates are currently underemployed.
Finding work-life balance is difficult
While their parents were seen working 40 or more hours per week, having almost no time for their families or themselves, younger would-be employees are looking more at finding jobs that can offer them better work-life balance. Research shows that 65 percent of the class of 2023 would rather choose a job aligned with their goals and personal values than take higher pay.
Droves of company layoffs
Companies across multiple industries have been making cutbacks in recent years, slashing their headcounts as part of a restructuring process. This year alone, more than 107,370 tech and software employees have been laid off by more than 366 companies. Entering a job market where layoffs have become the norm can leave any would-be employee feeling uncertain about their future.
Current state of the economy
Though economic conditions have gradually improved, inflation has decreased in recent months, and employment figures have stabilized. However, as many as sixty-nine percent of graduates said that they are concerned about the current state of the economy and how it will negatively impact their job prospects. More than half of them have said that they assume they won’t be able to find a job at the company of their choice due to economic challenges.
Personal values and career advancements
Growing in a company is more important to younger employees than their parents. Most college students are looking for companies that can provide them with learning opportunities and the possibility of career advancement within the company or perhaps somewhere else.
Politics and the politicization of the labor market
It’s becoming increasingly hard to avoid political scrutiny in your current place of employment. Even more challenging is that the labor market has become immensely politicized in recent years, and now college students aren’t interested in working for companies or executives that openly support a candidate they don’t support. Around 77 percent of recent grads have said they won’t work for companies that openly support a political topic, issue, or candidate.
Best Ways Parents Can Assist College Graduates In Their Search For A Job
Having a recent college graduate enter the workforce right after school can be a proud moment for any parent. However, getting to that point can take some time and often requires some help and guidance from parents.
While your children won’t necessarily ask for your help, there are ways you can support them without seeming too aggressive or out of touch with the current state of the labor market and how the world around them is rapidly changing.
Talk to your adult child when they are ready
While you might be ready to discuss finding work after college, your child or children might not be in that headspace. Although it’s essential to consider the steps one will take after graduating college, having that initial conversation will help both you and your child know where you’re standing and what the road forward will look like.
That initial “what are you going to do after college” conversation will help put things into perspective for both you and your child. You might think that they are ready to jump right into the labor market when, in fact, they’re maybe thinking of starting their own business or partnering with a friend to get something off the ground.
Consider asking your child how they would like you to help them. They are adults now and you don’t want to push your relationship back to the dreaded teenage years. This is a friend conversation — and an adult conversation. As you are the more mature adult, ensure you conduct yourself as such.
Finding the right time to have the conversation is just as important. Some children want their parents to start helping them with job applications while they’re still in college; others are more comfortable with taking things as they come.
Choose a time and place that’s most convenient for both of you. Listen to what they have to say, and avoid brushing off their ideas or responses. This is as new and important to them as it may be for you.
Ask whether your guidance is needed
There are plenty of stories of parents going overboard while helping their children apply for jobs. While some children might expect this from their parents, others are perhaps more comfortable with their parents taking the backseat instead.
Knowing whether your child would want your guidance is an important process. While you might have a few ideas up your sleeve for what they can do to help them land that job they want, they might already have been working on something more suited to their needs.
Talk to your child or children about whether they want your help. You’re likely to get a response you’re not ready for, but it’s important to remember that this is an important moment for them and something they’ve been looking forward to.
Right from the start, establish an avenue of open communication between you and your child. Let them know that you will allow them to take charge, but should they need your guidance or assistance, you are always available to help them when and where needed.
Stay up to date on current labor market trends
The labor market may look different compared to when you, as a parent, first started your own job — a hundred years ago. Companies have changed how they recruit new employees, and in some instances, jobs now require several years of experience before applicants can be considered for a new position. Job prerequisites have become increasingly challenging to meet — and hiring standards are constantly changing.
These changes might be central to your child’s stress of finding a job they will enjoy. The labor market isn’t what it used to be, and as a parent of a soon-to-be employee, it’s important to know which economic and social trends might influence how companies hire new employees.
You might already be fascinated with keeping up to date with other topics such as the stock market, current events, and politics, tracking historical CD rates, or learning skills that you can use in your line of work.
Keep in mind that as a parent, it can feel overwhelming at times to stay up to date with all the newest trends and be informed about how the world around you may be changing as you age.
Take some time to assess the things that are most important to you and your children. By being more proactive, you can navigate certain trends without losing touch with how the labor market works today.
Encourage your children to attend career counseling
You might have the parenting skills and experience, but this isn’t to say that you have all the answers to your child’s questions about finding a job and their career. This is nothing to be shy about, and you should openly communicate with your child if you’re unsure about something or don’t know the best possible option.
Encouraging your child to seek career counseling will help provide them with better insight into their possible career path after school. Sometimes, your children need a push in the right direction, and even this small gesture of helping them leverage their services can mean a lot for their prospects.
With this in mind, remember that the career counseling sessions are between your children and the counselor, and this shouldn’t be seen as an opportunity for you to push your agenda of ideas or to force a counselor into telling your children what you want them to hear.
Respect their boundaries, and give them the space to make a confident decision. Should your child’s college not provide these services, ask them whether they are interested in seeing a career counselor and how you can perhaps schedule a call or appointment with them.
Become supportive of networking
Not so long ago, it was possible to land a job at a company without knowing anyone and be hired purely on merit and experience. Unfortunately, these days are now behind us, and many employees often find jobs through networking and being in contact with someone who can help open a door of opportunity for them.
Networking is one of the most valuable tools any college graduate can use to find that job they’ve dreamed of for years. Research by HubSpot found that around 85 percent of jobs are filled through networking, and that’s because around 70 percent of jobs are never published publicly, according to CNBC.
Knowing how important networking is for your child’s career can give you a new perspective of how the labor market works and what they should be doing to land that dream job. Teach yourself and your children the value of networking and how knowing the right people in the right places can help them break into the career they want.
Assist with resume and cover letter writing
Putting together a resume is only one part of the job application process, and many candidates will realize that your resume is often considered a short snapshot of their skills and experience.
Considering how important a resume can be while searching for a new job, experts suggest hiring managers spend about six to seven seconds reviewing resumes before deciding whether to schedule an interview with a prospective candidate.
This would mean that as an applicant, you have a very narrow window of opportunity to create a lasting impression, and in a highly competitive job market, putting together an eye-catching resume is more important than ever.
Again, consider that the resume layout and template you were accustomed to during your initial job search might seem outdated today. Reading a few blogs, testing out some online templates, or even using Artificial Intelligence (AI) can help you learn some new tricks of the trade.
The same is true for writing a cover letter. While this might be one of the most tedious requests on any job application, it’s one of the most important things any job seeker should learn to get right from the start.
Interview preparation and questions
Hiring new candidates has become increasingly complex, and the vetting process can often take weeks or months. Many companies nowadays will have multiple rounds of interviews with several candidates before making a final decision. In addition, some applicants might be required to complete a skills test before even being invited to an interview.
It’s become a tiresome process. Many of those new to the job market often experience high levels of stress and anxiety due to the rigorous vetting process they have to endure, only to be informed that they weren’t successful for the position.
For those fortunate enough to be invited for an interview, it’s essential to know that first impressions count, which is vital for both in-person and online interviews. Though around 90 percent of organizations now use virtual technology for interviews, being well prepared with the proper responses and having follow-up questions is vital to securing a second or third interview.
Parents, this is where your expertise and skills will also be put to the test. Make an effort to learn how to use virtual conferencing technology such as Zoom, Google Teams, or Skype to help prepare your children for their interviews. Compile a list of relevant questions and responses you can ask your child and help them come up with appropriate answers.
While some might think this is excessive, ignoring the outside noise and considering how important it is to help, your child feel comfortable and prepared for the day they are scheduled to meet with a hiring manager or company executive.
Guide them with proper planning and scheduling
Now that your children are soon-to-be employees you must take some time to assist them with proper planning and scheduling that can help them overcome feeling overworked and stressed.
While your child might’ve had a good idea of how to properly schedule their classes while at college, juggling a full-time job with additional responsibilities can quickly become overwhelming for some people, and sometimes, a helping hand is all someone needs.
For parents, this can be an excellent way to learn about digital calendars and how to use them across all of your devices properly. It might also be a time to learn how to synchronize your entire family’s schedules to align with yours, allowing you to plan better for future events.
Just as you would’ve done for your children when teaching them about finances and how to work with their money, teaching them how to manage their time properly can be a valuable skill they can use for the rest of their careers.
Give yourself time to learn — and your child may need time to learn about job search, too
Before your child returns home from college, allow yourself enough time to learn everything you feel will benefit their job search. While it may be another several weeks or perhaps a few months before they start job hunting, you want to be on top of your A-game, knowing all the latest trends and how to use different tools to make the process feel less stressful for them.
Scheduling enough time will allow you to learn new trends and stay updated about the changing workplace environment. You can learn how to effectively communicate with your children about their needs and career prospects and how your guidance can help put them on the right path toward near-term career success.
Giving yourself enough time will help you become more supportive of your children, and they might regard this as highly valuable as they begin to transition into a new phase of their lives.
Be supportive
As a parent, you naturally want your child to succeed and overcome their biggest challenges. Throughout their lives, you’ve been a supportive figure who has helped them reach certain milestones and achieve most of their goals. During this time, things might be different, so it’s essential to show your support as they progress to becoming adults.
While the world they’re entering differs entirely from the one they grew up in, showing your support will help them feel motivated to pursue their goals and go after what they want in their career.
Being supportive of your child as they begin their career or even still trying to figure out what they want to do for a job, your assistance will help them reach their goals, whether directly after college or several years into their career.
Should I Be Assisting My Child With Their Job Search?
There is no right or wrong answer, and depending on the type of parenting style you’ve raised your children with, you will most likely find that recent college graduates entering the job market will have to deal with a lot of new challenges and obstacles coming their way before they land that dream job.
While it’s important to support your children and provide them with the guidance they need, keep in mind that this is a significant moment in their young adult lives. Many recent college graduates are already in the process of finding their feet and laying the foundation on which they will build their careers.
As a parent, you want to see your children succeed. While your guidance can help them achieve their goals faster, sometimes it’s best to know when to take a backseat and allow them to take charge.
Remember to create a feeling of support and give them space when needed. Trust that the process will work out, and your child will eventually end up in a career they’re passionate about.
Featured Image Credit: Andrea Piacquadio; Pexels
Carma Khatib
Carma Khatib is a passionate innovator and product manager with significant experience driving digital products from conception to launch. My mission is to find and create solutions to real-world problems that ultimately impact a company's triple bottom line: People, Planet, and Profit.