How to bridge the employment gap as a recent college grad

Students graduating this year are entering one of the toughest job markets in recent years. Job searches are taking longer, according to data from the Center for American Progress, which means new grads will likely need help bridging the gap from college to adult life. 

If you need ideas or you’re wondering how to support the recent grad in your life, consider sharing this column to start a conversation about career plans.

Take advantage of career services

If you’re a graduate of one of the Universities of Wisconsin, check out career exploration services and get connected to your school’s career resources. Most campuses offer career advising, online assessments and alumni networking. Even if you plan to move home after graduation you can schedule virtual advising appointments and join alumni communities on social media. 

The Wisconsin Technical College System also offers a variety of career placement resources at technical schools across the state, where students can access career services and join the Handshake app to get connected with employers looking for skilled talent.

Universities are also a resource for finding jobs. UW-Milwaukee’s Center for Student Experience & Talent has a newsletter where they share internships and career resources for students and alumni. UW–Madison also has Jobs at UW, where they post university job openings across the state.

Volunteer – or boost – your skills

If you find yourself with downtime while job searching, try getting involved in your community.

Find a volunteer project that needs your skills and strengths. See if you can give a couple of hours a week to volunteer for a local cause or nonprofit.

Volunteer work will give you something tangible to talk about in job interviews, and you’ll build connections that could lead to a future job opportunity.

You could also use this time to boost your resume. Start learning a language with the Duolingo app or complete certifications for tools like Salesforce or Google Analytics. 

Revise your idea of success

Climbing the corporate ladder is an outdated and, frankly, limited view of success. 

The traditional 9-5 job has its benefits, but it’s not the only way to make a living. Lots of professionals find success independently, whether through consulting work or starting a small business. 

Consider the upsides: Remote contract work would allow you to travel and live anywhere. Or, a part-time position at a nonprofit would give you consistent income so you could pursue your art and sell at local craft markets.

When you think about your career as a portfolio of skills instead of a ladder to climb, your range of career possibilities becomes much wider. 

You’ll also see how your education is part of a lifelong learning journey that could include stops along the way to pursue an advanced degree, take a continuing education course or design your own personal curriculum. 

For now, all you need to do is focus on the next right thing, whether that’s scheduling a career advising appointment, doing volunteer work or diving into a passion project.