Pandemic-Era College Graduates Face a Tough Job Market: A Call to Action for Lifelong Investment

The Challenges Faced by Recent Graduates

In light of the recent Bloomberg article on the struggles faced by pandemic-era college graduates, I've been witnessing these challenges firsthand. Every day, I receive numerous requests from recent college graduates and soon-to-be graduates seeking help to find internships or full-time positions. Many did not secure full-time offers from their internships last summer, and now, they face significant hurdles in landing their first entry-level jobs, not just in financial services but also in tech.

The Need for Community Support

The demand for support is overwhelming. To better assist, I recently created "Bevon's Mentee Network," a community for students and recent graduates. Within less than 24 hours, the community was approaching 100 members. This rapid response underscores the urgency and scale of the problem. Students and recent graduates are struggling to find opportunities. Some graduates are coming off two-year rotational programs, both those who started post-graduation and those who began full-time roles in the midst of the pandemic, only to find themselves without full-time offers and being told there are no seats for them at the firm.

Economic Conditions and the Job Market

The current economic conditions and the job market, especially for entry-level talent, are particularly challenging. Despite the overall strength of the US job market, the competition for entry-level positions is fierce, and many graduates find themselves navigating a difficult landscape. In this environment, one's social capital and network are more important than ever. Building and leveraging relationships can make a significant difference in finding and securing job opportunities.

A Call to Action for Organizations

Organizations such as non-profits and others that serve young people and place them in internships and job training programs must start thinking more about the end goal, which is a career—a full-time opportunity for these young people. We can't just train them and then not support them when they become alumni of our programs. Alumni tracking and alumni engagement are two very different things. We can't just forget about them. We have to continue to try our best to support them in every single way possible. We can't just invest in them for one summer only. We have to invest in them for a lifetime.

Focusing on Career Outcomes

Similarly, I urge programs focused on getting kids to and through college to keep the end goal top of mind always, which is a career. Scholarships are great and needed, but once done with college, these students need to feel confident that a career is in sight.

Building a Supportive Community

I believe this is one of the key reasons why students flocked to "Bevon's Mentee Network." They feel that in this community, they are all on the same page, seeking the same goal, and functioning as a team. As the leader of this group, I continue to motivate them and keep them going. However, I am only one person and cannot keep up with everyone. That's why I created the group—to use the group to support the group.

I told every member that the reason we are here is to help each other build our social capital, and my goal is for them to become their own social capital without me. I will be there to support them, of course, but at the end of the day, I want them to start helping each other. In this group, there are individuals who have been working for up to five years in financial services and other industries, and I'm asking them to help the younger students. There are even high school kids in this group. The whole point is to create a community that supports each other, sharing opportunities within their own companies with students who are graduating or just graduated and looking for jobs.

How You Can Help

Let's continue to support these young professionals as they navigate this challenging landscape. If companies have opportunities or resources they want to share with these individuals, feel free to reach out to me. If there are students reading this article, whether you're in high school, college, etc., and you want to be included in the group, please reach out to me as well. This is all about connectivity, social capital, and networking intentionally so students and young job seekers can reach the end goal they aspire to. This is a community that supports each other. We lift as we climb.

"Bevon's Mentee Network" is a by-invite-only community. Together, we can help bridge the gap and ensure that these talented individuals find the pathways they deserve.

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