For Gen Zers, finding work after college is often a painful slog

For many young Americans, the struggle to find a job after college is more painful than ever. Angel Escobedo, a 22-year-old graduating from Saint Xavier University in Chicago, is not alone in his frustration. Despite completing multiple internships and a management training program at Harvard Business School, Escobedo has yet to land a full-time job.

The challenges faced by Gen Z job seekers are twofold. Firstly, the job market is experiencing a slowdown, with overall hiring rates declining since 2022. This uncertainty is causing employers to sit tight, waiting for the economy and government policies to stabilize before making any moves. Secondly, the rise of AI-powered recruitment tools and self-recorded video interviews has made it harder for young candidates to stand out from the crowd.

"It's not a new phenomenon, but it's a concerning one," said Elise Gould, a senior economist at the Economic Policy Institute. "Young adults are missing out on the opportunity to jump into the labor market, which is essential for gaining experience and building their careers."

Gorick Ng, a Harvard career adviser, agrees. "The stakes for Gen Z are high. If they can't get the right experience early on, they may struggle to catch up professionally and financially." The nation's overall unemployment rate stands at 4.4%, while the rate for 20- to 24-year-olds remains higher, at 9.2%.

Young job seekers like Alan Gonzalez, a 23-year-old from Massachusetts, are finding it difficult to land their first job in digital marketing. Despite his degree and internship experience, Gonzalez has yet to receive an interview offer. In response, he has started his own clothing brand, HOJA Apparel, with the goal of gaining exposure and building his professional network.

Industry experts warn that fields such as accounting, engineering, and technology are particularly challenging for young workers. Cory Stahle, senior economist in the Indeed Hiring Lab, notes that there are fewer job openings for junior employees than senior-level roles, making it harder for entry-level candidates to break into these fields.

As technology continues to shape the job market, career advisers like Ng emphasize the importance of building relationships with potential employers and starting the job search early. "It's no different," he says. "AI and tech tools have made it easier to apply for internships, but it also makes the bar higher."

For Escobedo and many other young Americans, finding a job after college is a painful and frustrating experience. As the job market continues to evolve, it remains to be seen how Gen Z will navigate this landscape and build their careers in the years to come.

I feel so bad for these kids... I mean, they've got the skills, they've done their internships, but no one's biting . It's like, what can you do? The job market is slow, and AI recruitment tools are making it super tough for them to stand out . I think we need to rethink our approach to career development, you know, give young folks more hands-on experience, maybe even create some programs that help them build their own networks... or at least, get their foot in the door .

It's not just about landing a job either; it's about building those skills and getting that experience under your belt. I mean, 9.2% unemployment rate for 20- to 24-year-olds is crazy high . And it's not just jobs in tech or engineering that are hard to get into - what about digital marketing? That's a field where they've got the skills, but no one's giving them a chance .

We need to support these young folks, you know? Give 'em some resources, some guidance... maybe even a bit of funding for startups like HOJA Apparel. I mean, that kid's taking matters into his own hands, and it's inspiring . Anyway, it's time for us to get serious about creating opportunities for Gen Z... they're counting on us .

I think its pretty concerning that so many young americans are having trouble getting hired after graduation . With multiple internships under their belt, escobedo's situation is especially puzzling. The slow down in hiring rates since 2022 has got to be a major factor here. I mean, who wouldn't want to wait and see how the economy stabilizes before making any big moves?

the rise of AI-powered recruitment tools is definitely making it harder for young candidates to stand out . its like, whats the point of having a degree and some fancy internships if you cant even get an interview? its not just about being able to do the job, its also about networking and building relationships with potential employers.

I think industry experts are right on the money when they say that fields like accounting and engineering are particularly tough for young workers . theres just fewer job openings for entry-level candidates than senior-level roles, making it harder for them to get their foot in the door .

anyway, im not surprised that some of these young americans are taking matters into their own hands by starting their own businesses . like escobedo with his HOJA Apparel brand, its all about building exposure and networking .

omg u feel me?? the whole generation is struggling so hard rn... they're like "hey i just graduated from uni" but nobody's hiring it's not just about college degrees anymore, it's like u gotta have some experience under ur belt 2 even get noticed. and AI tools r making it harder 4 ppl 2 stand out like what r we supposed 2 do? start our own businesses 2 make ends meet?? idk but i feel 4 Escobedo & all the other gen z'rs who r tryin 2 make a life 4 themselves

Man, I'm so worried about these youngins tryin' to get a job out there . It's like they're gettin' lost in the system with all these new tech tools comin' out . AI recruitment and video interviews are already makin' it hard for them to stand out, but now we got automation takin' over more and more jobs .

I feel for Escobedo, man – he's got skills, internships, the whole nine yards, and still can't get a full-time gig . It's not just about him, though; it's a whole generation of young people tryin' to break in. And with the job market slowin' down like it is, it's only gonna get tougher .

We need more support for these kids, you know? More resources for career development, more connections between employers and students... somethin' gotta give . We can't just sit back and watch 'em struggle in a job market that's already bein' shaped by machines .

I feel for these kids ... they're really struggling to get their foot in the door. It's not just about having a degree anymore, you need experience too... or at least some kinda track record to show potential employers that you've got what it takes. These AI recruitment tools are like, super tough to beat, and if you don't have that perfect video interview or resume, forget it!

And the job market just isn't as hot as it used to be... I mean, I'm not one of these young folks, but even from my generation's perspective, it seems like there are fewer opportunities out there. You gotta start networking and building those relationships with people in your field way earlier than you ever would've before.

It's just so tough for them, and I feel bad that they're having to take matters into their own hands... starting their own business, creating their own brand... it's not an easy road, but hey, at least they're trying!

its super disheartening to hear about all these young americans struggling to find a job its like theyre missing out on so much by not being able to get that first foot in the door especially with tech taking over most industries, it feels like its getting harder and harder to stand out and AI recruitment tools are just adding more pressure i mean, alan gonzalez is doing a great thing by starting his own clothing brand, thats entrepreneurial spirit! but its not easy for everyone, and we need more support systems in place for our young adults, like career advisers who can guide them through this

I feel so bad for these kids! I graduated from college like 5 years ago and I was lucky enough to land a decent internship that turned into a full-time job. But hearing about Angel Escobedo's story is just heartbreaking. He's got skills, he's done the whole Harvard Business School thing... it's just not fair that he can't get his foot in the door.

And you know what really gets me? It's not like these young people are asking for much. They're not expecting the world to give them a participation trophy or anything. They're just trying to build their careers and make some money so they can pay off their student loans. But it feels like the job market is moving at lightning speed and they're stuck in neutral.

I think we need to start talking about this more. We can't just sit back and watch these kids struggle for years on end. We need to find ways to support them, whether it's through programs that help with job placement or just offering some general advice on how to build their professional networks. I mean, Gorick Ng is right - building relationships with potential employers is key. It's not just about throwing your resume online and hoping for the best.

And yeah, I feel like AI-powered recruitment tools are a double-edged sword. On the one hand, they're trying to make the job search more efficient... but on the other hand, it's making it harder for human candidates to stand out. It's just not fair!

I think its crazy how much pressure theres on these kids to land a job right outta college... like they havent been learnin nothin in school or somethin lol. AI recruitment tools are straight up killin it for those tryna get in the game tho . Maybe companies shd start offerin more trainin programs or mentorships 4 young adults who wanna get into their field .

I feel bad 4 ppl like Escobedo who put in all that work & still can't get a foot in the door... it's def discouragin . We need 2 see more support 4 these kids, like career counselling or somethin . And can we pls talk about how many internships r actually turnin into full-time gigs?

The US unemployment rate for 20-24 year olds is 9.2% - that's like a major speed bump on the road to adulthood!

Did you know that the overall hiring rates have declined since 2022? That's some concerning stuff, especially when you consider the rise of AI-powered recruitment tools . It's making it even harder for young folks like Escobedo to stand out from the crowd.

I mean, think about it: multiple internships and a management training program at Harvard Business School... and still no job? That's some serious frustration right there!

Now, I know experts are saying that fields like accounting, engineering, and tech can be tough for young workers . But what's the alternative? Starting your own business like Alan Gonzalez did with HOJA Apparel?

I guess the takeaway here is that career advice has to change with the times . We need to build relationships with potential employers and start job searching early, even if it means learning new skills or taking a few risks .

Anyway, I'm just thinking... what's the current unemployment rate for 20-24 year olds in other developed countries? Might give us some insight into whether we're truly alone in this struggle

omg u gotta feel 4 these youngins lol they r goin thru so much! its like, ur supposed 2 land a job after college but its gettin harder & harder 2 even get an interview let alone a job AI recruitment tools r crazy but i guess thats just how it is now. i no ppl who hv started their own biz just 2 try & make themselves stand out tho gorick ng is right btw the stakes r high for gen z & its not just about gettin a job its bout buildin ur career too

it's like they're making us go through all that drama again... remember when my friends and I were trying to find a job after college? we didn't have all these fancy tools and AI recruitment software to deal with. we just had our resumes, some networking skills, and hope for the best

i mean, i feel for this kid Angel, he's got a Harvard Business School under his belt and still can't get a job. that's like me getting rejected from my dream startup because of some random interview .

and don't even get me started on these new-fangled video interviews . back in the day, we just had to be ourselves and hope for the best. no scripted lines, no fancy intro videos... just us and our passion for whatever career path we chose

anywayz, i guess the point is that the job market's a tough nut to crack, even with all these tech advancements . young folks like Escobedo and Gonzalez gotta be resourceful and creative if they wanna make it in this crazy world