The undergraduate class of 2025 has proudly walked across the stages at colleges and universities across the country and received their coveted degrees. The transition from college to career is both an exciting and challenging time. Many students find themselves poised to begin the career of their dreams, but economic uncertainty and a tough job market have made it difficult to secure employment that reflects a field aligned with their degree.
According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers, entry-level hiring will increase by less than 1% compared to a year ago. Overall economic uncertainty is impacting employers’ hiring decisions. With the on again-off again Trump administration tariffs, companies remain uncertain about future operating costs related to the supply of goods and the potential for slowing demand from consumers. Fears of a recession and inflation pressure remain primary economic concerns. In addition to decreased employment opportunities, new graduates are also facing a decline in available internships. As of April, internship posts had declined 11% versus the same time last year. These factors suggest that 2025 graduates may find themselves still job-hunting beyond the average timeframe of three to six months.
Regardless of the time it may take new graduates to secure employment, creating a financial plan after college is essential. Developing good financial habits and building a financial foundation should begin as soon as possible. Working to build a healthy credit score is a good place to begin. A credit score is a three-digit number ranging from 300 to 850 which represents a person’s creditworthiness, or how likely they are to repay a loan or credit card debt. Determining factors for your score are your payment history, amount of unpaid debt, the length of outstanding debt, and new applications for debt. Recent college graduates can build their credit score by managing credit card debt, establishing utility bills in their name, and paying rent on time. It is also important to pay student loans on time. Missing student loan payments may lead to costly late fees, wage garnishment, and damage your credit score. Establishing and maintaining a good credit score is important, as it impacts the ability to secure the lowest interest rates on credit cards, car loans, and other types of credit. Landlords, insurance companies, and employers also check credit scores as well.
Congratulations to the class of 2025! As you continue to celebrate your accomplishments and create your new path, I encourage you to think strategically about your financial future. Planning early is an excellent way to ignite a secure financial future.
