Latest news with #graduates
CNA
5 hours ago
- Business
- CNA
CNA938 Rewind - Mind Your Money - Leveraging AI for a Fresh Grad's job search
CNA938 Rewind As they step into one of the most competitive job markets in recent years, the job hunt has become tougher for fresh graduates. How can AI help them with their job search, and even unearth jobs that they would have not otherwise considered? Cheryl Goh speaks with Serla Rusli, a Career Expert at LinkedIn, about the new AI tools to help graduates navigate their first steps in the working world.
Yahoo
13 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
AI in the workplace and the courtroom
Artificial Intelligence might be about to shake up the job market. This week a top AI CEO warned of a potential 20% unemployment spike within 5 years as automation surges. This week we talk with Brena Siri about the challenges recent college graduates face in this AI driven economy and what it means for their future.
Fast Company
3 days ago
- Business
- Fast Company
A third of Gen Z feels ‘pressure' to become social media creators—and most say their schools encourage it
Graduating from high school is a huge rite of passage, but entering the working world, especially in uncertain economic times, can be intimidating. According to a new study, a big chunk of high school graduates say they don't exactly feel prepared for post-school challenges, especially when it comes to a few necessary life skills. And many feel pressured to lean into influencer culture as a way to make ends meet. The national survey, which was commissioned by K12, an accredited online K through 12 school, asked 300 recent high school graduates and 200 parents about how confident they were upon entering the real world. Notably, less than a third (32%) of recent grads said they felt their high school years had equipped them. Teen boys felt less prepared than girls, with 23% rating their 'real world' confidence at 3 or below on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the most confident. Meanwhile, 16% of female grads said the same. Questions on where their confidence was lacking highlighted a few areas where recent grads felt most insecure, which, somewhat surprisingly, seemed to be the very rites of passage that young adults once looked forward to: 34% said they didn't feel confident about managing their own money, 27% didn't feel ready to live independently, and 26% cited communicating effectively as a concern—perhaps a display of how online communication has peaked in recent years in lieu of in-person communication. Recent grads' biggest fears echoed those insecurities, with 44% saying that they were worried about becoming financially secure. In addition to a challenging job market and an uncertain economy, those grads largely felt that their high schools didn't equip them with some key life skills—mainly, financial skills. A staggering 62% said they wish they'd learned how to do their taxes, 60% said the same of being taught about credit scores and loans, and 51% also noted that they wished they had learned how to invest. Given many high school grads don't feel quite ready for the real world, it makes sense that most teens said they plan on attending college after graduation: 90% said college is in their future. However, there was another notable trend that grads are likely to lean into after high school: becoming an influencer. More than a third, or 34% said they felt pressure from social media to become content creators or entrepreneurs, which is hardly surprising given just how common the side gig, or even full-time career, has become. But interestingly, it's not just social media that's steering teens toward content creation. According to the report, 56% said their high school actually encouraged students to 'explore alternative career paths.' Those alternatives were things like trades, gig work, and yes, content creation. Given the lives of young adults today are so broadly shaped by social media and influencer culture, the pull to dive into content creation makes perfect sense. Still, teens are rightly worried about whether or not they have the financial literacy to turn influencing into income.
Fast Company
6 days ago
- Business
- Fast Company
These are the 3 steps that every new graduate should take
You've just graduated, and it's time to get ready for your first adult job. This feels different from your summer jobs and internships—yet it's not. Take a pause, two deep breaths, and realize: you are not flying solo. Remember: in the workplace and throughout your career, a 'we, not 'me' mentality makes all the difference. None of us gets anywhere alone. Not even fiercely independent believers in rugged individualism. Many graduates think they don't have a personal board of directors and that they're starting their careers with an empty table. But I'm here to tell you that nobody starts from zero. It can be hard to recognize at first, but you already have a group of people invested in you and your professional journey. These are your go-to people: those you trust, respect, and who have demonstrated their commitment to your professional growth and success. Think of the 'board' as a figurative way to describe the individuals you turn to for guidance, support, input, radical honesty, and feedback. How to establish your board of directors First, start by setting some ground rules for your board: there are always open seats, and there are no term limits. Some people may only be on your board briefly; others may stay for a lifetime. These relationships shouldn't be transactional or one-way. They are respectful, thoughtful connections that you must nurture. Here are three actions you can take to strengthen your relationship with your current board members. 1. Start with an audit Ask yourself, who's already sitting at your table? Think about the people you call when you're in a personal or professional crisis, the ones who make you feel better just by talking. Think about the friends you trust to discuss school, career decisions, fashion dilemmas, or family stresses. Don't forget about teammates, club members, or organization peers whose advice you value. Reflect on those who have once sat you down to walk you through a critical decision. Even family members who offer solicited (and sometimes unsolicited) advice can be part of your board if you trust their input. These are the people who are already serving. 2. Be open to changing your board members Second, roll people off when necessary. Not everyone is meant to stay forever. As you grow and evolve, it's natural for board membership to change. Sometimes it's them, they might have life commitments that shift, which decreases availability. Sometimes it's you. You develop new priorities or outgrow the relationship. Sometimes, a person might break your trust, and a once-valued board member no longer feels like a safe person. Whatever the reason, honor the evolution. The right board changes over time to meet the needs of the person you are becoming. 3. Show gratitude Third, show gratitude. Ask yourself if you've truly done the work to nurture these relationships. Once you finish reading this, reach out to a few board members to say thank you. Whether you send a handwritten note, a text, an email, or make a phone call, be intentional. Share an update—let them know you've graduated and are starting your next chapter. Express your gratitude with a specific example of how their support helped you reach this milestone. And tell them that you'd like to stay in touch, if they're open to continued communication. This isn't a transaction—it's the ongoing work of maintaining and valuing real relationships. As you begin your new job, remember that there are always open seats at your boardroom table. Think about who you'd like to join next. What areas of growth could benefit from more support? For example, when I graduated from medical school, I wished I had someone to help me with financial literacy—someone who could have guided me through paying off debt and making smart financial decisions. Books, podcasts, and newsletters are helpful, but nothing replaces having a real person to call or email when questions arise. The most successful professionals don't achieve everything at once. They build careers by learning and applying micro skills—small, intentional behaviors that compound over time and can be implemented in real time. Congratulations, graduate. You already have a board. People are serving on it. Now it's time to reinforce, grow, and celebrate the support.
CNA
7 days ago
- Business
- CNA
Fewer private university graduates employed, though salaries inch higher: Survey
Fewer graduates from private education institutions got jobs within six months of graduating, marking a decline for the second straight year. Among those who were employed, less than half secured permanent employment, even though median salaries have increased to S$3,500 from S$3,400. This is according to a survey conducted by SkillsFuture Singapore among 3,500 fresh graduates from the cohort of 2024. Able Cheong, Head of Corporation at the Singapore Human Resources Institute, talks about whether employers view degrees from private educational institutions as inferior. He also discusses if employers are more keen to hire those who have completed stackable courses, rather than a private degree.
