I took a huge risk after graduating college. You should, too. | Your Turn

The Great Recession, the COVID-19 pandemic, the rise of artificial intelligence – college graduates and other young people who are fresh to the job market have faced a lot. And they are definitely experiencing headwinds at this moment.

So, to try and help them navigate a unique and difficult time in history, we asked you, our USA TODAY readers, as well as our columnists, to offer some advice. The responses were meaningful and heartfelt and included leaning on your friends, taking the long view and even leaving the country.

Below is a sampling of some of those bits of wisdom. Want to weigh in? You can still do it by going to usatoday.com/forum, leaving us a voicemail at (202) 655-3923 or by dropping a note at [email protected].

Build on what is meaningful to you

After I graduated from college, I went to Beijing to teach English to Chinese children. I stayed there for six months. This meant a lot to me as a woman of color. I knew I wanted to be more cultured and learn about backgrounds other than my own.

Mistakes I made that I wish I could take back are trying to be what people expected of me, and the fear of not just going for it. Living in China gave me the courage to take a huge risk. I switched from trying to become an elementary school teacher for 10 years to becoming a professional poet in June 2020.

The opportunities have never stopped since then, but my biggest "yes" was last year. I submitted my poetic style letter to the Letters to America project. This project highlighted America's 250th anniversary from a Black woman’s perspective. My letter, along with submissions from two other Black women writers, was composed into a song. It was sung by soprano Karen Slack at Carnegie Hall on March 11.

The advice I wish I had received after graduation is to build on what is meaningful to you and watch it grow. The poetry is meaningful to me because I use it to advocate for others who have no voice and to raise awareness of people in need. This took a willingness to connect with those who also believe in what I am trying to accomplish for humanity. Collaboration is not something mentioned enough, but it plays a big role in the growth of what is meaningful to a person.

I present the same advice I needed to the Class of 2026: Build on what is meaningful to you and watch it grow. Everyone is unique, and every story is different. We win together, not apart. Each individual needs to find a community that will help change take place in impactful ways. I believe this is the generation with a strong desire for change, yet it cannot happen without uniting.

The biggest tip I have for anyone searching for a job is to be assertive and approachable. Most of the time, phone calls or emails are not as personal as physically showing your face at the job you want. Employers need to see people who are willing to take charge. What better way to exhibit that than by making yourself known on the job!

Recent graduates should also be mindful of how they talk to others who work on the job besides the manager and/or supervisor. When you are respectful to everyone, especially those who are already working on the job, someone could put in a good word for you just by your conduct. How a recent graduate handles those on the job will probably show how the person would handle a client or customer.

When you build on something meaningful to you, it will grow. I am super excited and hopeful for the future. I know what I do now is going to leave positive effects on the next generation and those to come.

— Traci Neal, South Carolina

Your resume isn't enough. Networking is key.

One of the most underrated pieces of advice is to network in the "real world." A lot of young adults think their resume, GPA or even work ethic will be obvious to new or potential employers, but I've found time face-to-face to be the most helpful to career advancement.

Maybe they're not a potential employer, but reach out to a mentor or someone you admire in your field. Take them out for coffee and ask how they became successful, or what nuggets they might pass down. Honor their time and thank them – then nurture these contacts as time goes on. You never know what lies ahead and how you can help one another. 

— Nicole Russell, USA TODAY columnist

Your journey is different from everyone else's

I graduated college in 2022 and after many job rejections in my home state of Tennessee, I decided to take a leap of faith and do a volunteer service year in Minnesota with Jesuit Volunteer Corps. For an entire year, I served and worked closely with the unhoused community, and it made me realize the kind of work I want to do with my life. Afterwards, I went to graduate school at Georgetown University for two years and graduated in May 2025. Take a leap of faith and take more calculated risks. You never know how it can change your life for the positive

The only advice that I wish I received when I was in college was "know that your journey is different from everyone else's journey." You'll reach your goals in due time, just stay in your lane and continue to root for others.

I heard something like this at my undergrad graduation ceremony and also from one of my favorite graphic novel series of all time: Takehiko Inoue's "Vagabond." The quote went like this: “Preoccupied with a single leaf, you won’t see the tree. Preoccupied with a single tree, you’ll miss the entire forest. Don’t be preoccupied with a single spot. See everything in its entirety, effortlessly. That is what it means to truly ’see.’”

Basically, don't get so caught up on doing one thing or wanting to be in one city or one job. Life happens and things don't go as planned no matter how much you want it to. Be open to pivoting. If I hadn't decided to do a volunteer service year in Minnesota, I wouldn't have found a calling for human rights writing and advocacy.

Network (if you haven't already done that), start taking courses to boost up your professional skills, volunteer, freelance, do some exercise/hobbies and remain hopeful. Lastly, be kind to yourself. The job market is tough right now and don't take the rejections too hard. Someone/someplace will see your worth and will hire you. It's not "if" but "when."

Despite graduating with my master's degree in journalism last May, I still haven't secured a full-time job. I am grateful for the support and encouragement I get from family and friends, but It's been hard to remain hopeful. It's hard not to compare yourself to friends and peers you see move along with their lives (i.e., engagements, marriage, new jobs, etc.) while you're still unable to get a job because of the job market. Countless rounds of interviews and skill tests have been draining to say the least. My birthday is coming up in June and all I want is a full-time job in a place that I can grow and flourish (with good health benefits too).

— Kahwit Tela, Tennessee

Lean on your friends. They may surprise you.

I graduated from my alma mater without a job lined up, reluctantly accepting a career in freelancing while working at the hot dog joint I’d been a server at in college. A friend reached out to me about a month into post-grad, telling me he was leaving his part-time job at the local alt-weekly and would recommend me for the role if I wanted. I eagerly agreed, and that part-time job turned into a journalism career. Years later, that same friend helped connect me with an opinion editor in the USA TODAY Network when I was applying for the job here.

My advice to college kids? Lean on your connections, even people who are your age. Sometimes, the friend who tried teaching you how to skateboard in a parking deck will be the person who jumpstarts your career.

— Sara Pequeño, USA TODAY columnist

Serve a greater purpose

If I could give just one piece of advice to any recent grad who is struggling to find work, it would be this: Do something.

I am not talking about sending in one more job application. I’m talking about taking action that serves a greater purpose, whether that is helping another person or organization, forging a meaningful human connection or creating something that someone might find useful.

Find someone who needs what you have to give, and go there. Ask how you can help. Show them what you can do. It probably won’t be your dream job. It may not pay the bills (yet). But taking small steps toward meeting the world’s needs with what you have to offer is a powerful act of trust and generosity that is bound to have positive consequences for you and for others.

Don’t wait for the right opportunity to find you; go out and make it happen.

— Julia Lapan, Virginia

The road is long and winding, but you are not alone

I know what it’s like.  

Similar to many of you, I graduated high school amidst the COVID-19 pandemic and recently graduated college into an unforgiving job market. Luckily, I was able to find an amazing opportunity to start my post-grad career, but I realize not everyone’s story is the same.  

Everyday, I go on LinkedIn and Instagram and X and see post after post of people my age struggling to navigate our bleak reality. Their job applications are met with rejection or are completely ignored; their attempts to network only lead to dead ends and empty promises; their hope for the future dwindles with the realization that they are doing everything right – yet have nothing to show for it.  

I also recognize that the road to success is long and winding; roadblocks may lead to more roadblocks. But one day – maybe tomorrow, maybe five years from now – you'll reach a destination. It might not be exactly what you envisioned but it’s step closer to where you’re meant to be.  

In the meantime, just know you’re not alone.

— Kofi Mframa, USA TODAY columnist