Copyright Forbes
Graduating into a job market where both hiring and firing are slowing can feel unsettling. Today’s college grads are entering the workforce at a time when budgets are tight, AI is reshaping job roles and employers are prioritizing skills that often take time and experience to develop. This combination has made competition for entry-level positions especially tough and traditional career paths less predictable than they once were. Still, this environment also presents opportunities to think differently about how to build experience, demonstrate value and stay adaptable. Below, 20 members of Forbes Coaches Council share actionable tips to help recent graduates keep their careers on track in a challenging economy. Network Intentionally, Not Randomly Be intentional with your networking. Identify the companies or people in which you are interested. Turn into your own private investigator. Work your network to find individuals who work for those companies, then connect and share your value and your connection to their company. Avoid being random. This is much more interesting. With purpose and value, you will make a meaningful connection. - Ellen Lail, Lail Coaching, LLC Continuously Build Your Résumé Keep building your résumé. Take courses. Volunteer. Read. Join an alumni group that is focused on career topics. If one doesn’t exist, launch one! (And you will also demonstrate leadership skills.) And don’t forget to exercise. That is the most important strategy for reducing anxiety and depression. Looking for work is stressful, but you can manage it. I believe in you! - Antonia Bowring, ABstrategies LLC Consider All Situations Opportunities A lingering job search can be discouraging. I encourage college grads to look at every situation as an opportunity. Hiring managers like to see experience on a résumé. Part-time jobs demonstrate a drive to gain experience in basic skill sets and customer service. It shows determination, responsibility and dependability. Part-time jobs include retail, food service, lawn care or internships. - Diane Hudson, cpcc-careercoach Forbes Coaches Council is an invitation-only community for leading business and career coaches. Do I qualify? Bolster Your People Skills Focus on what is changing while getting extremely good at what is not. AI is getting more complex and also cheaper; soon, most companies will have access to the same or similar resources, so their real competitive advantage is going to be the quality of their culture and the creativity of their employees. Focusing on people skills in a digital world can be their best secret weapon for success. - Csaba Toth, ICQ Global Prioritize Building Relationships Relationships are paramount. Prioritize building genuine connections over endless scrolling on social media. Whether you’re seeking a new opportunity, valuable advice, mentorship or simply aiming to broaden your network, cultivating authentic relationships is always the right approach. Remain curious about others’ journeys and reach out sincerely to forge meaningful connections. - Sohee Jun, S.J. Consulting, LLC Seek Out Continuous Learning If you are not growing, you’re standing still. Being a lifelong learner is an important attribute for both personal and career advancement. In these times, it’s easier than ever to obtain knowledge, whether it’s from what I call “YouTube University,” Audible, trade publications or other outlets. Additionally, continuous learning gives you content to share with mentors as you sow value into those relationships. - Dianna Moore, Moore Joy Group, LLC. Establish A Strong Personal Brand Focus on building a strong personal brand. In a slow hiring market, you must attract opportunities, not just apply for them. Use platforms like LinkedIn to create content related to your desired field. Write articles, post projects or share analyses. This showcases your expertise and passion, making you visible and credible to recruiters and industry leaders, ensuring you stay top of mind. - Lori Huss, Lori Huss Coaching and Consulting Expand Your Options And Land A Role Expand and land! Expand your search options and land a role—even if it’s not the “ideal” one. Then, hit it out of the park! Getting your foot in the door lets you prove your value, build experience and earn strong references for future opportunities. This is a journey—play the long game. The market will improve, and you’ll be an even stronger candidate. - Steven Dealph, Dealph Consulting Partners Leverage Your DISC Personality Type A key step for a new graduate is to understand their DISC personality style and leverage it to target roles that fit their strengths. Dominant types should pursue high-impact projects. Influential types should network actively. Steady types should seek supportive teams. And Conscientious types should focus on structured skill-building. This aligns their strengths with specific opportunities. - Ran Biderman, RB International AKA Coach Ran Biderman Reach Out To Past Supervisors And Mentors One key step every new graduate should take right now is to stay visible and stay connected. Even if the job market feels slow, relationships move faster than hiring cycles. Reach out to professors, mentors, internship supervisors—anyone who’s seen your work ethic firsthand—and let them know what kinds of opportunities you’re exploring. Most jobs come through personal connections, not applications. - Kathryn Lancioni, Presenting Perfection Gain Practical Experience However You Can New college graduates should focus on building practical experience—through internships, contract work or volunteer projects—to strengthen their skills and network. This keeps them visible and adaptable while positioning them for full-time opportunities when the market improves. - Brent McHugh, Cherith Explore Volunteering And Consulting Take stock of your skills, passions and experiences, and seek opportunities—paid or volunteer—that connect you with like-minded professionals and potential employers. Explore who might pay for your expertise as a consultant. Stay grounded through mind-body-spirit practices to stay focused, purposeful and resilient in a slow economy. - Sharon Washington, Sharon Washington Consulting, LLC Get Busy Visibly Building Momentum Build momentum before you build a résumé. In a slow market, the best move a new grad can make is to become visible while becoming valuable. Volunteer, intern, contribute to open-source projects, create content and shadow someone. Basically, be out there and do stuff that gets you moving, learning and known. You are not stuck; you are in play. The job might be delayed, but your growth does not have to be. - Thomas Lim, Centre for Systems Leadership (SIM Academy) Seek Out A Mentor One key step for new graduates is to find a mentor early on. Seek someone experienced who can offer perspective, feedback and honest guidance. A mentor helps you navigate uncertainty, avoid common mistakes and spot opportunities you might miss. In challenging times, having a trusted guide can accelerate your growth and confidence far more than going it alone. - Veronica Angela, CONQUER EDGE, LLC Develop A Micro-Project Create a micro-project or app using no-code or AI tools (this can be passion-driven versus career-aligned). This builds your AI proficiency and adaptability while teaching validation, branding and customer service. You become the candidate who helps employers navigate and leverage emerging tech. Worst case: entrepreneurial experience that makes you dynamic and differentiated. Best case: profitability. - Marissa Brassfield, CTOx Strategize Your Professional Identity When you understand systems, you create opportunity. New grads should really consider building a professional identity beyond the résumé. Learn how to navigate platforms, communicate value and align with industries that match your strengths. In a tough market, clarity wins. Don’t just apply—strategize. Learn to do work you can enjoy. - Dr. Ari McGrew, Tactful Disruption® Be Responsive And Personalize Your Communications My mentees report that the organizations they are applying to are unresponsive. Applicants, especially those new to the job search process, assume that means the hiring organization isn’t interested. More likely, the hiring manager is overwhelmed. Responsiveness and a personalized communication style can help a candidate move to the top of the proverbial résumé stack. - Edward Doherty, One Degree Coaching, LLC Identify Your Strengths, Values And Interests In a slow market, the differentiator isn’t speed; it’s self-awareness. Rather than chasing every opening, graduates should pause to identify their strengths, their values and what truly energizes them. That clarity transforms a scattered job hunt into a focused pursuit of roles where they can purposefully thrive. - Rahul Karan Sharma, RahulKaranSharma.com Future-Proof Your Skills; Share The Journey In a slow market, focus on future-proofing your skills. Identify what’s rising—AI literacy, critical thinking, storytelling, sustainability—and build projects around those skills. Don’t wait for permission. Instead, share your learning journey publicly. Employers won’t just look for experience—they’ll look for curiosity, adaptability and signals you can learn fast and remain relevant in a dynamic world. - Arthi Rabikrisson, Prerna Advisory Focus On Alignment To Make The Right Decisions
