The slump that recent graduates sometimes sink into usually happens at the bridge between graduating and embarking on the next journey. After the excitement ends and the pressure kicks in comes the question of what’s next. College students from all over have expressed many worries about their future as the job market dwindles. As the continuation of job cuts rages on, recent graduates continue to sink into the post-grad slump.
This stems from many reasons, the obvious one being fear. The unemployment rate for recent graduates continues to rise along with hiring freezes, causing the spike in fearful students to increase with it.
When struggling in a tough market, having a bachelor’s degree can feel like the equivalent to having a high school diploma. This leads to the age-old, quarter-life crisis question of whether one should apply for graduate school, in hopes of increasing their chances of landing a position in the industry they are wanting.
This can also be a direct effect of late-stage burn-out. After spending the first quarter of your life in academia, leaving it can leave your mind in a fog. When one’s identity is no longer attached to being a student, the lack of direction can leave some stuck and sifting through options. Most students look into graduate studies, while others struggle with work within their focus and branch out altogether. However, the lucky ones find exactly what they’re looking for.
Naarah Holloway, a 2024 graduate in International Business, is a success story as far as struggling recent grads go. However, before landing a role she faced adversity.
“I started applying for full-time positions my senior year during the last semester,” said Holloway. “Two were positions at previous internships that ended in rejection. I made it past the first stage of interviewing at multiple companies but those ended in rejections. By summer, I had submitted over 100 applications with no luck, despite having done three internships during my undergrad years. I started to become depressed and wanted to give up every month.”
Upon graduating, Holloway considered a few other career paths before ultimately securing a position at a management consultant firm.
“I tried to start my own marketing agency, but that didn’t work out. I thought about doing freelance or working at a daycare again. Those were options but, for me, it was either my intended field or nothing.”
Holloway says she is aware that though it took her months to find a job, it was still a shorter time frame than others who are still searching.
Among the sea of relatable content posted onto social media are those who share their experience seeking employment. TikTok user @serissnaps shares her experience applying with no positive end results.
“It has been the most exhausting experience of my life constantly applying, emailing people..interviewing and then rejection. Over and over and over again.” she states in video. In her comments are a multitude of former students with common issues.
“I’m not even getting interviews so be encouraged,” one user commented.
It is a momentary sense of relief knowing this slump isn’t a singular dilemma. Though it isn’t a fix to an issue, there is comfort in realizing you aren’t alone. During a time when it feels like all hope of finding yourself is lost, finding a community that relates can be beneficial to your well-being.
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