Graduating Into This Unpredictable Labor Market? Here Are 4 Tips On How to Navigate It

Students graduating this spring are entering an uncertain labor market, but experts say there are ways to navigate it.

Many of those graduating in the coming weeks are more stressed than usual about finding a job after graduation. They are entering an unpredictable economy where some businesses report holding back on investments like hiring because of tariff policies.

If you are one of those graduates feeling unsure, here are four tips from experts that could help you secure a job.

Grow and Open Your Network

As grads enter the job market, a crucial step is to let their network know they are looking for work.

More than 70% of professionals are having a difficult time getting an interview or even getting their resume seen, according to Robert Half. In some cases, former coworkers, classmates, or mentors can connect grads with jobs that aren’t listed online yet, said Brandi Britton, executive director at the human resources consulting firm.

“Make sure that everyone that you know knows that you’re looking for work, whether it’s a professor, mentor, your parents, or your parents’ friends,” Britton said.

Be Flexible and Open to Jobs

Experts said graduates should be open to job opportunities, even if they don’t tick all the boxes.

Sam DeMase, job hunting site ZipRecruiter’s career expert, said that recent and soon-to-be graduates are encountering salaries that are significantly lower than what they expected and there is less remote work than they wanted.

“When you have an opportunity to interview, take it; you never know where that’s going to lead you,” Britton said. “It’s important to get your foot in the door, and then, as time progresses in that role, you can start to ask for more things like remote work or hybrid role, but really focus on getting that opportunity in the beginning and just be a little flexible right now.”

Consider Contract Work or (Another) Internship

About 40% of recent grads thought their internship would lead to a job. Yet, only 9.7% saw their internship turn into a full-time job, according to ZipRecruiter.

“Internships are not converting and not helping recent grads’ job plans the way they used to,” DeMase said.

Although an internship may not directly lead to a job, contingent work like internships and contract roles can still provide experience that some entry-level, full-time jobs require.

“A lot of times, what contract roles do is they give you exposure to industries that maybe you didn’t think of, or positions that you didn’t think of,” Britton said. “Because it’s a contract role, you’re getting to try it out.”

Emphasize Your Skills In The Interview

Being clear about how you will add value to the company you are interviewing at and potentially being up-front about your weaknesses, will likely make the decision to hire you easier for the interviewer, experts said.

“I think a lot of these rising grads and recent grads make the mistake of overstating why they want to work there, or why they want the job, and understating why they’re going to add value and how they’re going to add value,” DeMase said. “So just being really clear and saying, ‘I know you’re looking for someone who is a builder, and in my last role, I was able to build XYZ,’ or ‘In my internship, I innovated ABC.'”