As graduation time draws near, a surprisingly large number of college seniors are stepping into the next stage of life without a job secured. A recent survey conducted by Resume Templates finds that 75% of spring graduates don’t yet have a job to report—and 34% haven’t even begun their search.
Experts also note that this is the period to be looking for a job. With the process of hiring taking weeks or even months, it is important to apply early.
Career counselor Julia Toothacre, who worked primarily with college students, was surprised at some of the reasons the grads gave for postponing the search. “One of the most common was needing a mental health break,” she said. “What surprised me most was how many said they were going to move back home and didn’t feel a sense of urgency about finding employment.”
Other reasons were plans to travel, go back to school, or challenge the current job market due to economic uncertainty.
Toothacre recommends students make use of the career center at their college. “It’s included in your tuition—use it,” she said. “Get your résumé reviewed, explore job options, and attend campus recruiting fairs.”
Career fairs are also the time to go now, when employers actively recruit for entry-level jobs and offer free on-campus interviews.
Most of them found work on LinkedIn, which is becoming increasingly popular among students despite its reputation as a network for seasoned professionals.
Toothacre credits professors, parents, and career centers on campus with urging students to use LinkedIn. “In one of the classes I teach, having a LinkedIn profile is actually a requirement for an assignment,” she said.
Where starting pay is concerned, expectations are varied: 40% of the graduates surveyed expect to make between $50,000 and $80,000, 12% over $80,000, with some anticipating six-figure salaries.
Toothacre observes those numbers might sound optimistic—but not necessarily out of reach. “When students take students to do a cost-of-living comparison based on where they want to live, it kind of opens their eyes. Those salary dreams make sense now.”
The Resume Templates survey, conducted in April, garnered 378 responses from students at four- and two-year colleges.
