Starting the job search as a new grad might not be a picnic, but you can always turn to BU for help. Photo by Mina Rad/Unsplash

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Job-Hunting as a New Graduate: What You Need to Know

In the midst of a shifting job market, BU career professionals share smart and helpful tips for getting a leg up on your search

When you’re new to the job market, job-hunting can be tricky no matter what. But for 2025 graduates, tricky is just one way to describe what’s happening out there.

They’re graduating into a rapidly changing economy, fueled by trade policy uncertainty and an erosion in consumer sentiment. There’s also the questions posed by artificial intelligence, as more companies experiment with using AI for tasks entry-level employees normally handle, such as customer support, code debugging, or legal document analysis. Add to all of that, the recent cuts in federal government jobs, a normally reliable source of employment for newly minted college grads, and all indications are that this year’s job market is simply more uncertain.

But not everything is bleak.

US employers have been adding jobs. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employers added 177,000 jobs in April, and at 4.2 percent, the unemployment rate remained unchanged from March. Additionally, according to the National Association of Career Builders, a professional association for college career staffers, 89 percent of surveyed employers said they were planning to maintain or increase hiring levels for the 2024-2025 recruiting year. 

Finally: Job postings on Handshake, Boston University’s online recruiting platform, dipped only 3 percent this spring compared to last spring. 

“There’s a lot of doomsday messaging out there, and it’s so hard to understand what it all really means,” says Colby Sim, BU Center for Career Development associate director for career communities and student engagement. “But the real message is that jobs are being added despite increasing political and economic concerns, and unemployment remains relatively unchanged.” 

Networking 101

So what can a new job hunter do?

First and foremost—don’t underestimate the power of the BU network.

“There are almost 400,000 alums in 185 countries who know what Boston University students are capable of,” says Jeff Murphy, Alumni & Friends director of alumni career engagement. “They understand what it takes for a student to get into this institution, to be successful here, and to graduate with a BU degree.”

But what does networking actually entail?

At its core, networking is about forming relationships that could eventually help you land a job. Sim’s advice: don’t approach it like a transactional, immediate payoff situation: “You have to build trust first.” One way to do that is to reach out online to someone you know or who has been recommended and seek advice, such as asking how they got where they are today, what advice they would give someone trying to get a foot in the door, or what skills an applicant needs in a particular field. 

“That approach lets them know that you’re actively searching for a job, but keeps the focus on the advice and getting to know them,” Sim says. After, be sure to keep in touch: if you took a piece of advice, follow up on how it went. 

If you haven’t already, sign up for BU Connects, a LinkedIn-like networking and mentoring platform for the BU community. Approximately 35,000 BU faculty, staff, students, and alumni are already on the platform. It’s the perfect way to dip your toe into networking, according to Murphy. (And speaking of LinkedIn, it’s a powerful networking tool by itself; make sure your profile is updated and professional looking, and take advantage of searching for like-minded people and career opportunities.)

BU Connects also allows users to designate themselves as interested in mentoring. Utilize that, Murphy says: “It’s 100 percent reasonable to message someone and say, ‘Hey, I found you on BU Connects; I struggle with networking and I was wondering if you could help me practice.’” Additionally, “we give users a menu of ways in which they can help other users: coffee chat, résumé review, open doors at their workplace, informational interviews about their industry. There are so many ways to leverage the BU network.” (Alumni & Friends also hosts alumni networking events all over the world. Find info about upcoming events here.) 

As for in-person networking, like at an industry happy hour or networking meetup, it can be awkward no matter what. That’s why it helps to have a practiced elevator pitch, says Heather Fink, director of career services at the College of Communication. 

An ideal elevator pitch should be concise and hit the most important points: who you are, where you’ve been, and what you want to talk to someone about, she says. (That is also relevant for the “tell me about yourself” question in job interviews—think of that as your elevator pitch, too, Fink advises.)

For example: “Hi, my name is Heather Fink, I’ve been in career services for 12 years, and I’m skilled at X, Y, and Z. I wanted to chat with you because you work at the intersection of this thing and this other thing, and I’m interested in learning more about that,” she says. “That’s it—get the most important information out in the beginning, otherwise you start to lose someone.” 

Why does networking matter?

That’s often your foot in the door, Fink says. At a recent networking panel, she learned that on average, employers look at individual résumés for three to six seconds, tops. Passing that three-to-six window—and getting your résumé into a “to read” pile—can often come down to someone vouching for you. 

“If someone at a company says, ‘Hey, this person reached out to me who does X, Y, and Z, and they seem really interested in a role’—if you made a good impression, that could be your difference between getting an interview and not getting an interview.” (Fink’s professional tip: check out Hunter.io, which lets you figure out how most companies format their emails—perfect for reaching out to staffers for advice.) 

Stay flexible, keep learning 

An uncertain economy, a competitive job market—“This isn’t the first moment that college graduates have been up against these types of circumstances,” Sim says. (Remember COVID-19?) “Companies might not be increasing their hiring at the levels they did in the past, but the need is still there for students who are entering the workforce.”

What’s worked in the past? 

For one, staying flexible in your job search. Instead of applying to just one particular type of job, think about which of your skills are transferable across industries. Or, consider broadening your search based on what you’re hoping to get out of a role. 

For example: if you graduated with a degree in data science, don’t limit yourself to applying to Fortune 500 companies. So many fields need data science skills, from healthcare to local government. Or, if your long-term goal is to be a film director, instead of applying exclusively to studios, consider where else you can get production experience—like a PR agency, for instance. Internships and fellowships, too, can provide valuable work experience for recent college grads. 

“The most important thing you want to think about: is this job going to either give me the skills I want to learn or let me utilize my skills so I can grow and take that to my next job?” Fink says. “If you’re getting that [from a role], then it’s a good opportunity.” 

If you feel like you’ve tried everything—reaching out to your network, tailoring your résumé, writing great cover letters—and you’re still not getting calls back, don’t give up on filling out applications. Instead, try pivoting. This is a great time to expand on your knowledge and skills, Sim says.

“Employers are prioritizing skill-based hiring,” she says. Consider beefing up your résumé by taking an online course on something like Java, PhotoShop, or SalesForce, or a certification course—whatever is most relevant to the types of roles you want. You may also want to consider signing up for project-based volunteer opportunities that allow you to gain work samples or industry experience. (Bonus: volunteering is a great way to network.) 

If nothing else, stay up-to-date on industry trends. And, if there’s a particular company you want to work for, pay attention to what they’re putting out—that’s important information to have if you do get an interview.

“There are plenty of ways to be a lifelong learner and demonstrate that you’re using this time [productively],” Sim says. 

Final notes

Know that you can always utilize BU resources, as an alum as well as a student. The Center for Career Development and the career centers at BU’s respective schools and colleges are there to help young alumni in their job searches. The BU’s alumni association, Alumni & Friends, meanwhile, has a dedicated career team.

Finally, remember that your BU degree carries weight. According to survey results from the industry publication Times Higher Education, “BU comes in as number 12 in the United States in terms of employability,” Murphy says. “What that shows is that when BU graduates go into the workforce, organizations are like, ‘Wow—these people are talented, they’re smart, they’re worldly, they’re capable, they’re driven.’ So even in a difficult job market, employers are looking for the kind of talent that BU alumni can bring to their organizations.” 

Find more tips for navigating career challenges in this series of webinars from BU Alumni & Friends.