Iowa City, Iowa (RI) — Commencement in Iowa City is Saturday and about 6,000 new University of Iowa graduates will be hitting the job market under challenging circumstances.
Cindy Meis, director of undergraduate career services at the UI’s Tippie College of Business, says many industries across the board are very competitive this year, while recruiting has plateaued.
Meis says she’s reminding students that their first job isn’t their forever job.
Most understand they won’t land their dream job right after graduation, she says, and long-term success often comes from gaining experience, proving you can contribute, and showing you can grow in a professional environment.
Employers in Iowa and abroad are still hiring, Meis says, but organizations are reevaluating budgets, team structures, and long-term workforce needs. She adds that many employers now are using an applicant tracking system, which can make it tough to make a human connection when applying for a job.
Meis says new graduates need to stay open-minded about where and how they start their careers, focusing less on job titles or specific industries and more on being flexible, adaptable, and coachable.
The job hunt can be discouraging, she says, but graduates should remember that finding the right opportunity is a marathon, not a sprint.
KIWA Staff Photo
