We just wrapped up our fall career fair tour and we had a lot of conversations with students about their next steps. It reminded us just how big the gap can be between what new grads hope for, and what employers assume a degree guarantees.
Almost every student opened with: “I’m getting a degree in X, therefore I’m looking for X.”
X being a role that connects directly to their degree.
And employers? Many want the “right” education paired with two to three years of experience for an entry-level role.
Great expectations for a first step.
And that gap shows up everywhere. Students say no one is hiring. Organizations say no one qualified is applying (see page 17 for one industry’s outlook).
But here’s what we know to be true.
People build great careers doing things that have nothing to do with what they studied. Education matters. It makes you intellectually curious and sharpens the way you think, but it’s not a predictor of where someone will thrive long-term.
Because careers are long and rarely linear.
Your first step isn’t supposed to be the destination. It’s supposed to get you moving.
One of us was a political science major headed toward law school. The other studied engineering. Many of the most successful people we partner with are in roles that look nothing like the degree they earned at 18 or 20.
And that brings us to hiring, and advice for both sides of the table.
For job seekers:
Don’t dismiss an opportunity just because it doesn’t match your degree. Being early in your career means learning quickly, asking good questions, and taking initiative. The fastest growth starts with someone saying yes and then outworking the room.
For employers:
A degree tells you what someone studied, not how they’ll perform. Early-career success has far more to do with how someone learns, adapts, takes feedback, and bounces back when something goes wrong. Those qualities don’t show up in the education line of a resume. Hire for that, and teach the rest.
And if our own paths are any indication, those “I made it” moments aren’t earned by your degree. They’re earned by what you did with the opportunities you said yes to.
Until next time,
Your Spherion South Central WI & Northern IL team