How graduates can find work in an evolving job market

Even as the economy continues to rebound from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, there are still challenges facing recent college graduates as they enter the job market. The numbers may be concerning, but there are several resources and practices available to graduates looking for jobs.

Erica Stallings held the executive director position at Auburn University’s Office of Career Discovery and Success for nearly two years. Her main responsibility is to ensure that all students have awareness and access to quality career services.

“That’s done by really empowering and supporting a collaborative Career Services Network and campus community that communicates effectively, collaborates and works well together, in order to create a coordination of services and an integration of career development into the framework of the student experience,” Stallings said.

Stallings said that the community is created in part by having career services support in every college across Auburn University’s campus. Stallings said their work with students begins early as she believes building relationships with alumni and potential employers is very important, even for students not in the job hunt at that time.

“We really try to get students to come in to see us early and often. And the point of that is to help them get engaged with employers and alumni early to build that, what I call a personal board of directors and mentors. I think that’s really important,” Stallings said. “There’s a need to start earlier. And there’s a need to be sure that you’re communicating and articulating your skills effectively.”

Stallings said that the numbers from the NACE shows a decrease in hiring projections for 2024, but she said that is the job market dipping back to normal after a major increase in hiring just three years ago. However, she said they have seen the downturn in hiring from 2023 impact specific career fields.

She said the field of pharmaceutical and medical device sales and manufacturers had a projected hiring increase of 30%, but instead saw a 13% decrease. Stallings also highlighted areas of technology like computer science, insurance and financial services and real estate as ones also seeing a decrease in hiring.

Stallings said for graduates in those areas, there are still opportunities out there, just in places students might not look.

“Consider going off brand, thinking about the smaller companies or the industry adjacent companies, and maybe not the big names that you may really want to work for,” Stallings said. “Sometimes looking outside of the box for those industry adjacent or smaller companies may be where they find that sweet spot and find work earlier that still is in alignment with their major and what they want to do. And sometimes there’s opportunities for advancement faster, and those companies as well.”

Stallings cited, particularly in the tech field, companies like Meta that have seen significant layoffs recently as reason for students to look into those smaller companies where there may be more opportunities. She said her office can help the students find those hidden gems.

According to post-graduation data from Auburn University, graduates from the spring 2023 academic year had a 84% six-month post-graduation placement rate. That information is based on data collected in AU’s First Destination Survey. The data reflects each graduates placement in the months following graduation.

Even beyond that, Stallings said students and graduates alike should focus on a lifelong goal of learning and upskilling.

“It’s very important for our students now, as well as our recent graduates, to look at creating a diverse skill set, an interdisciplinary skill set, with a lot of transferable skills,” Stallings said. “We’re trying to give them lifelong skills for career success and career decision-making. We’re really focusing on developing those transferable skills of critical thinking, communication, teamwork, technology fluency and professionalism.”

There are eight career readiness competencies according to the NACE: career and self development, communication, critical thinking, equity and inclusion, leadership, professionalism, teamwork and technology.

Stallings said lifelong learning and retooling skill sets is going to be necessary for the workforce of the future. She said it is something Auburn University is already looking at in terms of how they can tackle it and prepare students for what they may face due to recent advancements.

“It’s already something that we’re seeing within industry is these kinds of stackable credentials that people are gaining that keep themselves relevant, keeps them in the game,” Stallings said. “As we see these technology advances, and AI continues to be in the forefront, that need to upskill is going to be very important.”

Stallings said that in working with students, their goal is for the students to have a job lined up by graduation or within six months after, but that is not always the case. In the case where students are still job searching, AU Career Services can step in to provide support

Even as students are graduated from Auburn University, there are still several resources available for alumni for up to five years after graduation. Stallings explained that many of the resources available to students, like career coaching, are available for alumni as the Office of Career Discovery and Success can help students find jobs or look for advancement in their post-graduation jobs.

“For those students that for some reason, it takes a little bit longer, or they decided ‘I was pursuing graduate school and now I want to do something different,’ They have a shift. We provide career services,” Stallings said. “We really do provide support for both our students, recent graduates, and those alumni that are three to five years out.”

Stallings emphasized that career services is still there to provide a support system to recent college graduates and help them find their next career destination. More information on the Officer of Career Discovery and Success can be found here.