Sonoma State students have officially survived the first half of the Spring 2026 semester. For those graduating this May, the milestone is exciting — maybe even worth celebrating at the Crawl. But behind the excitement of graduation, another feeling quietly lingers for many seniors: fear.
More specifically, the fear of not getting a job immediately after college.
There is a common stigma that once you receive a degree, doors will magically open, and a career will follow shortly after. The expectation is simple: graduate, apply for jobs, and land the “perfect first job.” But the reality is often very different.
Research from the Burning Glass Institute and the Strada Institute for the Future of Work found that more than half of college graduates are underemployed, meaning they work in jobs that don’t require a college degree. For many students, the path from graduation to career is not immediate. It often includes rejection, uncertainty, and learning experiences along the way.
And that should be okay.
Failing to land a dream job within a month of graduation does not mean someone has failed. Rejection is a normal part of the job search process, but many students are not taught how to deal with it or how to navigate the early stages of their career.
As a communications major, I am currently taking the Senior Seminar course, which focuses on preparing students for the job market. In this class, we learn how to build resumes, write cover letters, search for jobs, and prepare for interviews. These are essential skills for any graduating student.
My concern, however, is when we should be learning these skills.
Many advisors recommend taking this class during a student’s final semester, since it is called “senior seminar.” But by that point, many students are only a few months away from graduation, and learning the basics of job applications in such a short time can feel rushed.
In my class alone, I have seen students struggle with writing their first resume, developing interview skills, and managing unrealistic expectations about entry-level work. For some, this is their first time seriously thinking about how to present their skills to an employer.
At the same time, communications students are required to complete four credits of internship experience before graduating. Internships are one of the most important ways to gain experience and build connections in a field.
But this raises an important question: How are students supposed to apply for internships if they have not yet learned how to build a resume or prepare for interviews?
Seeing these issues firsthand, I worry about some of the students in my graduating class. Many of the resumes I’ve seen still need significant improvement – some stretch to six pages when they should be concise and tailored to a specific job.
Others are still learning the basics, like how to dress professionally for an interview, how to answer common questions, and what employers are actually looking for.
There is also the realization that most jobs will not pay “the big bucks” simply because someone has a degree. Employers want to see work experience, transferable skills, and evidence of a strong work ethic.
Teaching these skills in the final semester can create unnecessary stress and fear. Instead of preparing gradually over time, students are forced to learn everything at once while also finishing their final classes and planning for life after graduation.
Career preparation should not be a last-minute crash course.
These skills should be introduced earlier in a student’s college experience, ideally by junior year, so students have time to practice, improve, and build confidence before entering the job market.
Despite these challenges, students are not without support. Sonoma State offers several resources that can help students prepare for their careers, including the SSU Career Center, networking opportunities, and internship programs.
Students can also support each other by sharing advice, practicing interviews together, and building professional connections while still in school.
The transition from college to career is rarely a straight line. It may involve rejection, unexpected paths, and jobs that are not part of the original plan.
But that does not mean students are failing.
Graduation is not the finish line of success – it is the starting point of figuring things out. And sometimes, the most important skill a graduate can learn is how to keep going, even when the first opportunity does not go as planned.
