I’m sure everyone has seen the short videos on TikTok and Instagram of younger people — almost all of them recent college graduates — having gripes with the current job market.
While a lot of different people are speaking out, what they are saying is pretty uniform: my field is not hiring.
You also see a lot of people making light of this issue, especially in a field like computer science.
Is the issue really this bad? Or are people crying wolf about the labor market?
A recent article from NPR explains this issue succinctly: a mix of government downsizing, an employers’ market and a lack of opportunities for recent graduates make getting a job straight out of school incredibly difficult.
Recent data released by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York echoes this sentiment, with trends showing that the unemployment rate for recent college graduates aged 22-27 is rising.
Many recent college graduates believe that the rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been stifling the job market as well. It is already making an impact on the job market. A recent study conducted by Stanford economists found that “early-career employees in fields that are most exposed to AI have experienced a 13% drop in employment since 2022.”
That being said, it is not just the working world’s fault. Students — at least at Oakland University — have been told, time and time again, that internships and experiences are key.
However, not every internship is created equal, it’s been found that a lot of unpaid internships do not lead to a fresh job in the future. It is often true that in Michigan, you have to sell your soul to the auto industry in order to get that foot-in-the-door position.
This is the position I’ve found myself stuck in. I really only have two options: stay in Michigan and work communications for an automotive business, or move out of state and try to find that coveted journalism job.
I would like to think I have a pretty gnarly resume. One internship, two and a half years at my school’s student newspaper, a part-time promotions job in the radio world — all of this has been excellent experience for someone in my field.
I am still scared stiff about whether or not I can find a job once I graduate this semester.
I have to be realistic about this issue. A job in my dream field is not just going to appear out of thin air or fall right into my lap once I get my diploma. The advice I have for people in the same position that I am is this: be brave.
Bravery and boldness is something that a lot of employers appreciate. It is the boldness to approach an employer at a job fair, the bravery to ask for that business card and the wherewithal to push through, despite the possibility of failure.
Be brave, be bold, be golden.
Best Wishes,
-Chelsea Bossert
