Meanwhile, just 25% of graduates in previous years—such as their millennial and Gen X predecessors—struggled to land work after college.
In fact, nearly 40% of previous graduates managed to secure full-time work in time for their graduation ceremony—but just 12% of recent Gen Z grads can say the same, making these young job hunters three times less likely to have something lined up out of school.
“The journey from classroom to career has never been straightforward,” the researchers wrote. “But it’s clear that today’s graduates are entering a job market that’s more uncertain, more digital, and arguably more demanding than ever.”
The Kickresume researchers advise young people to just get on the career ladder as soon as possible, instead of holding out for that dream job in their field of study: “We often tell graduates not to stress too much about their first job. It’s just a starting point, not a life sentence.”
While baby boomers may have chased a job by walking into an office and handing over their résumés directly to a hiring manager, Gen Z are having to get crafty to gain employers’ attention.
During her breaks, she’d float her CV by at least 30 to 40 people, asking for feedback, but hoping for an opportunity. Shortly thereafter, she landed a job at LinkedIn.
