As the class of 2025 celebrates their graduation and tosses their caps into the sky, I can’t help but feel a sense of recognition. Leaving college is always a bittersweet moment, the end of one chapter and the start of another. It’s a time of parting ways with familiar faces and places you’ve come to know as you welcome in a new phase of life. But in a period clouded by economic uncertainty, your journey ahead may not unfold as you once anticipated.
The questions 2025 graduates are contemplating as they close the chapter on their academic career and enter a new chapter of their lives — “What does this job market mean for me?” “What will I do next?” “Are my people feeling overwhelmed, too?” — remind me of the questions I asked myself as I stepped into my post-graduation life.
This moment, filled with unknowns, feels similar to my own graduation: it was the Spring of 2020.
Job offers were retracted and job postings were nowhere to be found. For me, a hiring freeze and a shuttered world meant that the life that I had anticipated transformed into an unwritten story. The narrative we’d been fed — work hard, get good grades, develop a professional network, and a fulfilling career awaits — felt like it no longer applied.
Initially, a feeling of isolation washed over me, as if I were the first to face such uncharted territory. But eventually, a comforting truth settled in: I was far from the first to feel lost and discouraged in the face of post-graduation uncertainty.
Are you feeling the weight of uncertainty? New beginnings can bring the positive, negative, and everything in between. Here’s my advice for adapting when graduating into the unknown:
Collaborate with your people
Graduation shifts the landscape of your campus community, but the connections you’ve created are far from over. Now is the time to actively nourish those relationships. Consider forming a working group with friends to tackle the job search together – sharing applications, practicing interview questions, and offering mutual support during moments of discouragement can make a significant difference. Don’t hesitate to reach out to mentors for a virtual coffee chat or connect with individuals in roles that intrigue you for informational interviews and advice via email. Your network remains a powerful resource.
Find the value in your experiences
Have you tried to look at your college experiences through a fresh lens? The skills and qualities you developed in clubs, Greek life, volunteer work, and even navigating campus life are incredibly valuable and transferable to various professional settings. Don’t just list your roles; instead, reframe those experiences to highlight the problem-solving, teamwork, communication, financial management, and leadership skills you honed. Think about specific challenges you overcame, initiatives you led, or collaborations you were a part of. By recognizing the value and transferable nature of these experiences, you’ll unlock narratives that demonstrate your capabilities to future employers in a language they understand.
Invest in your wellness & invest in yourself
Your well-being is a cornerstone of success, both professionally and personally. As you embark on this new chapter, actively nurture your physical, mental, and emotional health. Engage in your personal life, pursue hobbies, and cherish your relationships. Build things for yourself that are independent of work, in the same way you developed a personal life outside of classes while in school. Being well-rounded isn’t a distraction from achieving your career goals; it’s what allows you to show up as the best version of yourself in every aspect of your life — including your professional life!
Remember you’re learning & don’t compare
Extend grace to yourself as you navigate this new terrain. Resist the urge to measure your progress or compare your starting salary to those around you. Each journey unfolds uniquely, and focusing on external comparisons can hinder your own growth. Allow yourself the space to learn, adapt, and develop at your own pace, celebrating your individual milestones rather than measuring them against others. Your road to success will be uniquely yours, filled with your own hard-won victories.
Figure out the right move for right now
Navigating your next step can feel overwhelming, with a ton of advice pulling you in different directions. The truth is, the “right” move is deeply personal and context-dependent. Sometimes, rejecting a job offer that isn’t the right fit is the wisest strategy, while other times, seizing that initial opportunity can be the perfect professional momentum. And don’t discount the value of pressing pause and picking up a job outside of your field — immediate income can provide financial stability while you work towards your long-term goals. The key lies in self-reflection and truthfully assessing your current situation and immediate needs.
For more professional support, check out Cause & Career. Cause & Career offers resources for exploring mental health careers and job opportunities. It is designed to help you turn your passion for mental health into a profession and guide you through every step of the job search process.
