Mass federal government layoffs and President Donald Trump’s controversial tariff plan have created an air of economic uncertainty as the class of 2025 prepares to graduate from college. However, one expert has an optimistic outlook for the new grads.
WWJ’s Beth Fisher recently spoke with Shannon Edlinger of business consulting firm Robert Half about what these graduates should expect when they are looking for jobs this summer.
“Now, to know if you are in a good job market, that really depends on your research and what you've graduated in,” she explained. “So, according to new research from the National Association of Colleges and Employers, nearly 90% of employers anticipate increasing or maintaining hiring levels for the class specifically of 2025.”
That’s good news, but graduates should understand a few things as they embark on getting work. First. Edlinger noted that they shouldn’t plan on relying on their GPA. Instead, she said they should focus on highlighting their skills when pitching themselves to potential employers.
“Nearly two-thirds of the employers report using skill-based hiring process,” Edlinger told Fisher. She said that has been the trend over the past decade.
In order to have a competitive resume that focuses on skills, Edlinger recommends that graduates highlight their internships, summer work and volunteer work. Students who are still in college should also think of ways to add those experiences to their resumes.
“They want to see that you've worked within a team, that you know how to collaborate,” she further explained.
According to survey results released last month by Robert Half, 35% of the nearly 1,000 U.S. professionals said they entered the workforce without an internship or other relevant work experience. Additionally, 34% felt that they “couldn’t make an immediate impact with the skills they possessed.”
As for where recent graduates can get jobs, Edlinger said that the information technology (IT) and engineering fields are the top, at least in metro Detroit. While she said that some companies might be holding off on hiring due to uncertainty regarding tariffs and the economy, she also said that grads are in a uniquely strong position in this environment.
“Robert Half research showed that nearly 80% of new hiring managers are looking to add those internship positions, and a lot of industries really depend on interns to really get them through the summer months when they are having that pause on hiring possibly due to budgetary reasons,” Edlinger said.
Another important tip she offered to job candidates was to develop an online presence – and to clean up their social media presence before they start applying. With online resources such as LinkedIn, job searchers can seek help from their teachers, coaches, neighbors and others to help build their recommendations. For those who have a degree but aren’t yet sure what type of career they want, Edlinger said working with a staffing agency might be the best way to kick things off.
“Robert Half or other staffing agencies in the area who specialize in specific industries, they can contract out, meaning maybe you are doing a three-month assignment and we move you on to the next contract assignment,” she said. “It could be a totally different industry, area of practice, using different tech ability. So, you can kind of try it out on the contract end until you literally fall in love with what you would like to do and move your career forward.”