Expanding pathways from postsecondary to workforce and ensuring a stable financial future for all young adults

When we leave college, we all feel grown. Even while in college, we feel grown-ish. We feel as though we hold the world in our hands. However, as I approach the end of my college journey, I realize that the risk of leaving college unemployed is constantly increasing. Entry-level positions ask for 3+ years of experience, as if that qualifies as an entry-level employee. Internships help, but I don’t have years to be unemployed with the ever-changing economy, and there aren’t many programs to assist students in securing a job.

As a first-generation student and a Black woman wanting to get into politics, all odds seem to be against me. However, I am always met with the same reason for denial: “limited experience.” But how am I supposed to have enough experience for an entry-level position that requires a degree I couldn’t have obtained without first graduating, yet demands 3 years of experience when I just graduated a few months ago? The job market seems to be working against new grads. More opportunities for new graduates would help many individuals.

To make the transition from grown-ish to grown much more adaptable and smooth, employers should offer more internships or create career programs that guarantee a set number of new grad hires or apprenticeships for a year. This would help address the most significant obstacle—experience—while providing possible job offers and secure futures for students, something many long for. When you’re grown, you want a stable source of income and a secure future. This approach would significantly impact the transition from grown-ish to grown.