Latest news with #ChristineCruzvergara
CNBC
16-05-2025
- Business
- CNBC
College grads face a 'tough and competitive' job market this year, expert says
New college graduates looking for work now are finding a tighter labor market than they expected even a few months ago. The unemployment rate for recent college grads reached 5.8% in March, up from 4.6% the same time a year ago, according to an April report from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. Job postings at Handshake, a campus recruiting platform, are down 15% over the past year, while the number of applications has risen by 30%. Christine Cruzvergara, chief education strategy officer at Handshake, says new grads are finding a "tough and competitive" market. "There's a lot of uncertainty and certainly a lot of competition for the current graduates that are coming into the job market," she the job creation in the U.S. has continued to show signs of strength, policy changes have driven the uncertainty. President Donald Trump has frozen federal hiring and done mass firings of government workers. Evercore ISI, an investment bank, estimated earlier this month that 350,000 federal workers have been impacted by cuts from Department of Government Efficiency, representing roughly 15% of federal workers, with layoffs set to take effect over the coming months. "In early January, the class of 2025 was on track to meet and even exceed the number of applications to federal government jobs," Cruzvergara said. When the executive orders hit in mid-January there was "a pretty steep decline all of a sudden, she said. "The federal government is one of the largest employers in this country, and also one of the largest employers for entry-level employees as well," said Loujaina Abdelwahed, senior economist at Revelio Labs, a workforce intelligence firm. On-again, off-again tariff policies have created uncertainty for companies, with a third of chief executive officers in a recent CNBC survey expecting to cut jobs this year because of the import taxes. Job losses from artificial intelligence technology are also a concern. A majority, 62%, of the Class of 2025 are concerned about what AI will mean for their jobs, compared to 44% two years ago, according to a survey by Handshake. Graduates in the humanities and computer science are the most worried about AI's impact on jobs. "I think it's more about a redefinition of the entry level than it is about an elimination of the entry level," Cruzvergara said. Postings for jobs in hospitality, education services, and sales were showing monthly growth through March, according to Revelio Labs. But almost all industries, with the exception of information jobs, saw pullbacks in April. For new grads hunting for a job, experts advise keeping a positive mindset. "Employers don't want to hire someone that they feel like is desperate or bitter or upset," said Cruzvergara. "They want to hire someone that still feels like there's a lot of opportunity, there's a lot of potential." Here are two tactics that can help with your search: Companies with fewer than 250 employees may offer better opportunities to grow and learn than bigger "brand name" firms, according to Revelio Labs. A new study by Revelio found that five years into their careers, graduates had comparable salary progression, promotion timelines, and managerial prospects — regardless of the size of their first employer. However, people who started their careers at small companies were 1.5 times more likely to become founders of their own companies later in their careers. The study looked at individuals who earned bachelor's degrees in the U.S. between 2015 and 2022, following their career paths post-graduation. While some young workers may have entered start-ups with the goal of starting their own firm in the future, Abdelwahed said there's often an opportunity at smaller companies to be given responsibilities beyond the job's role. "Because the company's small and the work needs to get done, so they just start to develop this entrepreneurship drive," Abdelwahed said. Experts also urge recent grads to reach out to people working in industries that pique their interest. "Take an interest in someone else. Ask them questions about how they got to where they are, what they've learned, what you should know about that particular industry, what are emerging trends or issues that are facing them in the field right now," said Cruzvergara. This approach can help you sound more knowledgeable in the application and interviewing process.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
4.3 Million Gen Z Are Struggling To Find Direction In A Tough Job Market, Handshake Executive Says 'Gen Z Faces A Particularly Uncertain Job Market'
"Gen Z is entering an especially unpredictable job market," said Christine Cruzvergara, chief education strategy officer at Handshake, who emphasized the growing need to align education investments more closely with career outcomes. Her comments during an "Inside Higher Ed" podcast on April 30 follow a report from Measure of America of the Social Science Research Council, which shows that 4.3 million Gen Z adults in the U.S. are not in school, working, or in job training. Don't Miss: Inspired by Uber and Airbnb – Deloitte's fastest-growing software company is transforming 7 billion smartphones into income-generating assets – Hasbro, MGM, and Skechers trust this AI marketing firm — The post-pandemic job market has put young professionals in a tight spot. Kyle M.K., a career trends expert at Indeed, told Fortune that "another 38% feel student loans have limited their career growth more than their diploma has accelerated it." According to a recent survey by Indeed's Hiring Lab, 51% of Gen Z graduates now regret their degrees—compared to 41% of millennials and just 20% of baby boomers. The rising cost of college is one factor driving that regret. According to the Education Data Initiative, the average cost of a bachelor's degree now sits at $38,883. Meanwhile, total student loan debt nationwide has reached $1.77 trillion. The pressure has become so severe that according to the Department of Education, over 5 million borrowers are currently in default as of April, and nearly 4 million more are at risk of defaulting in the coming months. Trending: Many are using retirement income calculators to check if they're on pace — The economic stress hasn't stopped at finances. Many young workers are increasingly unsure whether their degree has any practical use in a market being reshaped by artificial intelligence. Higher Ed Dive reported that 45% of Gen Z respondents now believe AI has made their college education feel irrelevant. Still, employers are responding. In fact, M.K. pointed out that 52% of U.S. job postings on Indeed no longer require a formal degree—suggesting a shift toward skills-based hiring. Yet, even skills don't always guarantee a high return on investment. According to the Education Data Initiative, the average ROI for a bachelor's in education is minus 54.67%, meaning grads may earn less over their lifetimes than they spent getting the degree. Despite these stats, Cruzvergara warned against focusing solely on short-term financial returns. "It's shortsighted to focus only on immediate employment, as that makes the assumption that the value of higher education is only to get your first job," she told Fortune. Instead, she argued, college helps build leadership skills, fosters self-discovery, and creates long-term career in point: Mark Zuckerberg famously dropped out of Harvard, but not before meeting the co-founders who helped him launch what would become Meta (NASDAQ:META). "Zuckerberg's college experience laid the foundation for what came next—even without a degree," Cruzvergara said. And while AI may spook job seekers, it's not the grim reaper of careers. M.K. said AI is "more of an amplifier than a pink slip." While it may replace basic content writing or data entry, creative, medical, and strategic roles remain largely insulated. "AI won't invalidate a solid education," M.K. added, "but it will reward those who keep upgrading their toolkit." Read Next: The team behind $6B+ in licensing deals is now building the next billion-dollar IP empire — 'Scrolling To UBI' — Deloitte's #1 fastest-growing software company allows users to earn money on their phones. Image: Shutterstock Up Next: Transform your trading with Benzinga Edge's one-of-a-kind market trade ideas and tools. Click now to access unique insights that can set you ahead in today's competitive market. Get the latest stock analysis from Benzinga? This article 4.3 Million Gen Z Are Struggling To Find Direction In A Tough Job Market, Handshake Executive Says 'Gen Z Faces A Particularly Uncertain Job Market' originally appeared on © 2025 Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. Sign in to access your portfolio
Business Insider
26-04-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
Federal jobs aren't so hot anymore for recent grads
A year ago, the hashtag "government jobs" was trending on TikTok, with videos of employees hyping up the stability and perks of the field and explaining best practices to get a job. Interest in the industry was surging. Not so much anymore. In a highly competitive year, federal employers were the only industry that saw year-over-year applications decline in the second half of the school year, according to Handshake data shared with BI. The federal government lost more application share than any industry year-over-year, aside from tech, the platform said. Government roles, including state, local and federal sectors, received about 4.4% of the Class of 2025's total applications, down from about 5.5% for the Class of 2024 last year, according to Handshake's Class of 2025 report released Thursday. Last year, the hiring platform reported a significant uptick in job availability and interest from college students to work for the government. At the time, stability was the top priority for graduating students, and government jobs delivered exactly that. "People presumed at the time, there's nothing more secure than a government job," Handshake chief education strategy officer Christine Cruzvergara told Business Insider in an interview. Cruzvergara said the class of 2025 was on track to follow and surpass that trend until a series of executive orders signed by President Donald Trump hit the federal workforce in January. Around mid-January, federal jobs were drawing 2.7 times as many applications as state roles or local roles, despite state and local roles outnumbering federal roles over six to one, Handshake told BI. But by early April, state employers were receiving 1.5 times as many applications as federal employers, and local employers were just below, the platform told BI. "January hits and, all of a sudden, government lost a ton," Cruzvergara said, adding that the federal government specifically "lost a ton of applications." Increased interest in state and local roles While federal job applications dropped 40% year over year in the second half of the school year, local roles increased by 31% and state roles by 35%. Cruzvergara said there's essentially been "a flip" between the government sectors. Prior to the executive orders, students were more interested in federal jobs, and there was some interest in state and local roles. This year, interest in state and local jobs went up after mid-January. That's not a total surprise. Trump implemented a federal hiring freeze just about as soon as he got into office. He also created DOGE, led by tech billionaire Elon Musk, which has been on a mission to reduce the federal workforce and dismantle agencies. Meanwhile, states like New York, California, and Virginia released hiring campaigns within their local and state governments for federal workers. Cruzvergara said that students who were really set on working in government likely ended up looking at state or local positions instead. The priorities of this year's graduating class may have also influenced their interest in state and local positions. While stability was the top priority last year, it came in second this year, behind location, Handshake said in its report. State and local roles allow job seekers more flexibility to choose where they want to work. Back to the private sector Cruzvergara told BI that some job seekers from the class of 2025 who had high intentions of entering the federal government are shifting back to the private sector. Handshake told BI that there was an increase in applications to roles in tech, finance, healthcare, and consulting among seniors who had previously applied to federal roles before the executive orders. "You've got students that are going back into finance, back into tech, back into some of the areas that they were leaving to go to the federal government last year," Cruzvergara told BI. Cruzvergara said that there have also been increases in applications to nonprofits, law, and even real estate, which can also intersect with state and local policy. The choice to reconsider the private sector often came down to practicality, Cruzvergara. The Class of 2025, in particular, is less rigid about sticking to one path and more open to using their skills across different areas. Handshake's report found that out of 57% of the Class of 2025 who started college with a "dream job" in mind, fewer than half still have the same goals.
Yahoo
24-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Internships are elusive, but more important than ever. Here's how Gen Z is responding
Gen Zers face a highly competitive job application and internship process. Many note that opportunity, time, and finances stop them from pursuing an internship. The application process for landing an internship has started to feel like a corporate version of the Hunger Games for many Gen Zers. Young adults looking for a wayinto the workforce face somewhat of a frenzy when perusing job boards. Opportunities are increasingly scarce, leading to heightened competition amongst undergraduates, according to a new report from student job platform Handshake. From 2023 to 2025 internship postings on the platform declined by more than 15%, find the authors. Meanwhile, the average number of applications per internship more than doubled in the same time period. The competitive economic market and simply the nature of internships is creating a high-stress climate, Christine Cruzvergara, chief education strategy officer at Handshake tells Fortune. Older Gen Zers and their peers are tackling a difficult job market wherein nabbing an entry-level gig feels like an uphill battle.. To add to the chaos, it appears that, at least anecdotally, people who have already graduated college are also applying for internships. And the value individuals place on internship experience has increased over-time. 'When you go back a decade or two decades, internships were a nice to have, but now it feels more like a must have,' says Cruzvergara. She adds that the gradual pressure placed on students is exacerbated by employers' increased desire to recruit earlier and edge out competitors for talent. No longer is an internship about grabbing coffee for a big boss: it's seen as a key way to stand out in an already stressful market. Most (72%) students view internships as an avenue for finding out what jobs they want to pursue and an 'essential step' (59%) toward understanding their career goals— according to Handshake's survey of more than 6,000 students and recent graduates. Even so, just around half of recent graduates report that they participated in an internship while in college. Major barriers to pursuing an internship include opportunity (or getting an offer for an internship), simply having the time, and financial barriers. Indeed, internships have been criticized for perpetuating inequality, given that they often underpay — a trade-off privileged individuals are more able to make. First-generation students and those outside Ivy League or prestigious schools (institutions deemed by Carnegie Classification as less selective when it comes to admissions), are more likely to say that they've experienced barriers to pursuing internships. When it comes to inclusive schools 'typically, more of that student population is going to have to work in order to pay their way through school,' clarifies Cruzvergara, noting that while there's been a rise in paid internships there's still industries like journalism or fashion where unpaid positions are common. In certain cases 'you have to make a choice about what you're going to do, and often that choice is going to be, I guess I got to work and I got to do my part time job instead of being able to take the internship,' she explains. Companies that do pay up are likely making a smarter move in the long-term. A striking 82% of interns who felt they were fairly paid say they'd be likely to accept a full-time offer from their job, a number that dropped to 63% of those who didn't feel their pay was adequate. Sure, it's a frenzy, but there's no need to freak out. There's two main peaks of recruitment time for big companies: one in the very early part of fall semester (late August to September) and the other in the start of spring semester (late January to early February), says Cruzvergara. That being said, different industries have different timelines and mid-sized or regional companies recruit year-round, she adds. In other words, there are options even if you're not picked in this round. 'There are other opportunities,' says Cruzvergara. 'You just have to open your mind to them, and you have to be flexible to be willing to consider it.' Despite what a bad mood trolling LinkedIn might put one in, Cruzvergara suggests trying to maintain good spirits. 'There's nothing more important than having a positive, measured mindset going into the job search process,' she says, acknowledging that it's a taxing and anxiety-ridden process. She encourages students to have someone in their community, such as a mentor, that can be their sounding board to give not just advice but cheerleading throughout it all. More than that, Cruzvergara recommends students take advantage of all that they have control over. 'Go to the event. Don't just RSVP for the event,' she says of campus recruitment, adding that it's important to make sure to ask good questions, follow up with employers, and update your resume and job profiles. Do your research on the industry you'd like to join and work in, she explains. With all the pressure it might be hard to forget, but it's good to note that 'your first job is not your forever job,' says Cruzvergara. It's an intro into the workforce but it doesn't necessarily have to be a dream job or a big name as much as a stepping stone into something new, she explains. This story was originally featured on
