"I graduated...Now What?" Why the Post-College Job Hunt Feels So Overwhelming for Gen Z

A recent graduate in San Diego worries about struggling to find a job post-grad. They are concerned about the uncertainty of the job market and impressing family and friends.

As I crossed the graduation stage, I recall experiencing a surge of pride, but it was soon followed by a pit in my stomach. What now? The relentless idea that kept buzzing in my head despite all the celebrations, caps in the air, and social media pictures. My life had been centered around academics for years. The template suddenly ended, and I had no idea how to create a life that I could like, much less afford. It was scary.

The "Real World" Has Never Felt More Uncertain

For Gen Z college graduates, the excitement of earning a degree is often accompanied by a deep and very real fear: What if I can’t get a job? What if I can’t support myself?

During a global pandemic, financial instability, rising living expenses, especially in San Diego, and increasing demands for what it takes to succeed in a competitive job market, this generation has grown up. According to a recent Handshake survey, 66% of 2024 graduates said they’re worried they won’t find a job that pays enough to support themselves after graduation. It's understandable why post-graduation anxiety is so high for so many young adults. In addition, a 2023 American Psychological Association study found that 61% of Gen Z adults report feeling stressed about work and money, more than any other generation.

The Pressure to “Have It All Together” Is Exhausting

Academically motivated, productive students frequently experience immense pressure to make their degree "worth it," especially if they were raised in high-achieving families. The path they choose can seem simple to them: graduate, get a good job, and become self-sufficient. The job market, however, isn't always cooperative.

And for many young adults, the emotional fallout of this uncertainty leads to:

• Anxiety about disappointing their parents

• Shame about not having a job immediately lined up

• Constant comparison to peers who seem to have it “all figured out”

• Struggles with self-worth, identity, and confidence

Students who have leadership positions, internship experience, and high GPAs are not protected. We’re seeing it more and more in our counseling sessions with recent grads, the feeling that they’re falling behind before they’ve even had a chance to begin.

A Therapist’s Perspective: Why It Feels So Heavy

At our San Diego-based counseling practice, we specialize in treating kids, preteens, and young adults who appear to be "doing fine" on the surface but are struggling internally. High achievers who struggle with anxiety, perfectionism, and burnout from attempting to live up to unrealistic expectations make up a large portion of our clientele. The tipping point is the unpredictability of the job market.

We help clients explore questions like:

• Who am I without school?

• What if I never feel successful?

• Am I failing just because I don’t have a full-time job yet?

Through therapy, individuals learn to stop worrying, challenge those nervous thought patterns, and begin taking small, confident moves ahead.

What Can Parents Do?

As a parent reading this, you may be wondering how to help your child. You want to help without putting excessive pressure on them. Here are some ideas:

• Normalize their worries. Tell them that even if they have a great resume, it's acceptable to feel uncertain and afraid.

• Encourage the use of professional assistance. Through therapy, they can acquire insight and create coping mechanisms.

• Don't anticipate a straight line. In this day and age, the path to adulthood is complicated. That is reality rather than a failure.

You Don’t Have to Figure It All Out Alone

While many Gen Z students experience confusion, fear, and self-doubt, graduating from college should be a moment of celebration. It can be exhausting to feel pressured to find a job right away, become financially independent, and have everything worked out. However, difficulties following graduation may not necessarily indicate a problem with your child. It indicates that they are a human facing one of the most difficult changes in life. Your young adult can transition from feeling helpless to feeling empowered with the help of family, therapy, and the reminder that they don't need to know everything at this time. Reaching out could be necessary if you see your child exhibiting symptoms of anxiety or burnout.

Our San Diego, California-based counseling practice specializes in helping teens and adults who struggle with anxiety. Through counseling, we help kids and young adults overcome the negative thought cycles, the constant comparison game, and worst-case scenarios that accompany the anxious brain. Additionally, we offer other mental health services, primarily for perfectionists, overachievers or others who don’t feel like they 100% fit in. More specifically we offer treatment for anxiety/OCD, and depression at La Jolla Therapy Center. If you don’t live around San Diego or the commute makes in-person therapy impossible, all of our services are available via online therapy to anyone physically located in California. Therefore, we work with clients from Sacramento to Palo Alto or even Mountain View. You and your family deserve to finally feel less overwhelmed, so let’s get started!