TAMPA, Fla. — Recent college graduates are among the job seekers struggling to find positions.
ZipRecruiter says postings for entry-level jobs fell as low as 73% at the end of May. ZipRecruiter says those positions popular among new college graduates have recently recovered, the most recent number it's reporting, down 53%.
University of Tampa graduate Alexandra Lentz feels that frustration as she searches for a job in the world of sports.
"It was rejection after rejection after rejection," said Lentz.
The 23-year-old graduated in 2019.
"I most recently was an intern for the Tampa Bay Lightning and then worked for the Dunedin Blue Jays in the box office, so primarily I would like to stay in sports," says Lentz.
The graduate took a step back from searching and the coronavirus pandemic happened to hit when she resumed her job hunt.
Add the pool of 2020 graduates, all these candidates are competing to enter a lean job market, especially for entry level positions.
"It’s a little disheartening at times," said Lentz.
Doug Meyn, Career Counselor at University of South Florida suggests graduates get back to the basics in their job search.
He offers some tips to help:
- Back to the basics
- Have a plan
- Network
- Broaden search scope
- Develop Plan B
Meyn says persistence and patience are key; he says that backup plan doesn't necessarily mean a different career path.
"It means staying busy and that’s important because this can be challenging and a little discouraging,” said Meyn.
Lentz's Plan B has been retail and now a second job at a public relations firm.
While the improving numbers can be encouraging, the challenge continues.
"It gives me the hope that eventually companies will start taking more chances on recent graduates and even graduates from 2019 to allow us, no matter what industry we’re in, to get our foot in the door and start hopefully or future careers,” said Lentz.
It helps to have a positive attitude and be a persistent graduate.
"Your success story isn’t linear," said Lentz. "There’s gonna be a lot of different deviations and I see this as as stepping stone."
That stepping stone will hopefully lead to her dream job, which Lentz says is to hopefully work as a color commentator for either a hockey or baseball team.
ZipRecruiter described the posted entry-level jobs typically filled by graduates as listings requiring college degrees with the words entry-level in them.