Florida A&M University college students are facing a tougher job market as local unemployment rises and employment declines, adding pressure to students searching for part-time work, internships and jobs after graduation.
As students compete for these jobs, questions remain about whether the local job market is keeping pace with the growing number of college students entering it.
The struggle comes as Tallahassee’s labor market shows signs of weakening. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Tallahassee metro area’s unemployment rate reached 5.1% in July before decreasing slightly to 4.9% in August. Despite the decline, the rate remains higher than the 4.4% recorded a year earlier.
From submitting countless applications to receiving immediate rejection emails, many job seekers are struggling to even land an interview. Limited job openings, high competition and automated application screening systems can make it difficult for applicants to get their foot in the door.
For some graduates, navigating the job market also means adjusting their expectations about how quickly they should reach their career goals. The transition from college to the workforce can look different for everyone, requiring graduates to learn to be patient with themselves as they figure out their next steps.
“One of the biggest challenges is understanding that finding employment is a process, not simply an activity,” said Tamara Taylor, director of the FAMU Career and Professional Development Center. “Submitting applications is only one part of a successful search.”
For college students and recent graduates, this can be especially frustrating as they try to gain experience and begin their careers but often struggle to get the opportunity to prove themselves to employers.
“I felt like there was definitely a shifting point after graduation, where I had to realize that my timeline isn’t going to be everybody else’s timeline,” said Daniel Johnson, a recently graduated student from the School of Business and Industry. “So, you know that kind of frees me from having to compare myself to others.”
Some searched for jobs that are outside of their major and intended line or work for a temporary source of income, extra money, or even out of desperation and discouragement from not being able to find something directly in their field.
“There were definitely a couple of them that you know, out of desperation or out of you know not seeing too much success in terms of what I was applying for, that I started going outside,” said Johnson.
Other students feel misled by what they were taught about what employers look for in job applicants. Throughout college, students are often encouraged to maintain a high GPA, participate in extracurricular activities, gain leadership experience, and build their resumes to stand out in the job market.
“Having a college degree remains valuable, but employers are also looking for relevant experiences, demonstrated competencies, and evidence that candidates can contribute to their organizations,” said Taylor.
However, even students who meet these expectations can struggle to secure interviews or receive job offers. This leaves some questioning what employers are really looking for and whether academic success and campus involvement are enough to stand out in an increasingly competitive job market.
“I don’t know why they’re not hiring me,” said Zula Oliveira, a current political science undergraduate student. “Maybe there’s just too many people.”
Despite the challenges, some students are choosing to view the job search process and their college experiences as lessons they can carry with them into the workforce. From learning how to handle rejection to improving their resumes, networking with professionals and becoming more confident in interviews, students are finding ways to grow through the process.
“I will say the lessons that I took from it like learning how to be more professional, learning how to communicate, and learning how to handle myself in different environments definitely prepared me for the job market,” said Johnson.
Although the transition from college to the professional world may not happen as quickly as they expected, these experiences can help them better understand the expectations of employers and prepare them for future opportunities.
