Story by Sierra Willis
The struggle for soon-to-be graduates is finding a full-time job after commencement May 11, 2024.
According to a November 2023 article in “The Washington Post,” although with a surprisingly open job market, recent college graduates have a more difficult time finding work than the rest of the population.
These issues are coming from both ends, employers and recent graduates.
Senior Samuel Bowles said he has experienced companies not being forward with him when it comes to an internship and job search.
“The job market is so difficult to get into right now,” Bowles said. “A lot of people aren’t getting responses from employers, they’re not getting a response about a resume, and I just attended a career fair. No response from anyone.”
Young adults may also have a challenging time finding good, well-paying jobs. The job market is extremely competitive, as more and more Americans earn college degrees.
According to the Census Bureau in 2022, the proportion of individuals holding a bachelor's degree or higher remained consistent compared to the previous year, at approximately 37.7%. The statistics indicate that Americans continue to value higher education. This figure is more than 104 million Americans holding degrees.
Further, employers require professional experience and qualifications for an entry- level position. This makes it difficult for recent graduates to compete in the job market.
Senior sports administration major Corey Williams said he knows first hand of the issues of finding a well paying job.
“Jobs won’t pay what the living wage is currently,” Williams said. “Companies don’t want to pay the college students who may have less experience but have the knowledge.”
An “entry-level” job search on job sites like LinkedIn or Indeed shows many jobs are looking for one or more years of professional or relevant experience.
According to LendEDU, a 2023 survey found that less than half of all college graduates are confident about their career choices and prospects after leaving campus. Forty percent of the graduates said their colleges did not teach them the skills to navigate the post-graduate transition.
According to a survey conducted by Intellident, 38% percent of employers admit to avoiding the recruitment of recent college graduates. Additionally, 58% of managers, directors, and executives in the United States expressed concerns about the readiness of this demographic for the workforce.
“People are going away from degrees, which I don’t get,” Williams said. “People are being hired right after high school and are being taught the way the employer wants rather than what a university is teaching.”
To find jobs and internships, Bellarmine students have access to the Career Development Center.
According to their website, “The Career Development Center at Bellarmine University serves all current students and alumni with a variety of career exploration and preparation services, such as; job search strategy, self and career assessment, résumé review, mock interviews, employer on-campus recruiting events and classroom presentations.”
Career Development Center Director Jackie McNatt said she has a different view when it comes to seniors and the current job market.
Bellarmine’s website states that 99% percent of graduates report working or continuing education within six months of commencement. Ninety-seven percent of graduates are engaged in full-time opportunities in their career field of interest.
“99% rate seems like a high number,” Bowles said. “I don’t know if it is an accurate representation.”
McNatt said these first destination statistics are measured six months out after graduation. She said she hopes the high statistics rates will ease the nerves of the graduating students and that they will find jobs in their desired field.
“It doesn’t always happen before you graduate," McNatt said. “Job searching is a job itself, and if you can’t find a job right now, don’t be discouraged. It doesn’t mean you’re failing.”
In comparison, the University of Kentucky’s website states that 39.9% of post- graduation students are currently employed, 29.9% of students are continuing their education, 27.6% of students are seeking outcomes from their degree, while 1% is not seeking any type of education or job.
McNatt said she advises struggling seniors or any student to come to the Career Development Center, build a network, and “cast a wide net when it comes to possibilities.”
“It takes a village to do this,” McNatt said. “Not one person can do it alone, and if you do it in isolation, it makes it even more difficult.”
Bellarmine students can visit the Career Development Center during drop in hours from Monday to Thursday 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. Students can also schedule an appointment via Handshake: https://www.bellarmine.edu/studentaffairs/careercenter/
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