After reading the recent Sun article “Unemployment Is a 'Full-Time Job’: Recent Grads Struggle to Navigate A Difficult Job Market,” I want to take a moment to bring attention to a couple of Cornell-related data points and to career resources Cornell offers students and alumni.
While applying to jobs after graduation can be a daunting and time-consuming process, it’s important to note that the percentage of Cornell undergraduates still seeking employment six months after graduation fell to 3.8 percent in 2024, down from 4.6 percent the previous year, and remains far below the national average of 11.3 percent.
Additionally, the average starting salary for a Cornell undergraduate in the class of 2024 was $85,719 — 25 percent higher than the national average.
Taken together, these two data points demonstrate critical advantages Cornell students have in the job search:
- The academic rigor of our programs makes Cornell graduates competitive and prepares them to make valuable contributions across industries.
- The Cornell alumni network plays a critical role in ensuring students’ lifelong career success.
For alumni, two resources are worth bookmarking now: Cornell Career Services Alumni Community and Alumni Affairs Career Support. Alumni retain access to many of the same platforms and systems you had access to while you were a student, including Handshake and CUeLINKS, and thousands of alumni are actively using these resources. Our career fairs (both virtual and in-person) are also open to Cornell alumni. As a recent graduate, you can continue to meet with career coaches from the central career office or your college. For current students and alumni alike, please make an appointment if you’re struggling with the job search, applying to graduate or law school, or making an early career pivot.
As a career educator, I have worked in this field through multiple periods of economic uncertainty, I can tell you that networking is the differentiator in the job search. You can submit hundreds of applications and play the numbers game, but with the rise of AI and job application bots, that strategy is proving to be less and less effective. The applicant pools are flooded. However, referrals from current employees you have networked with are the game changer!
Current students should start building relationships now. Attend employer information sessions and introduce yourself. Reach out to alumni in your field. Meet with a career office to create a networking strategy and identify potential contacts.
Alumni: keep building your networks. Reach out to fellow Cornellians at companies you want to work for and start building relationships.
It's important for current students and alumni to keep in mind that careers are long. A job is a singular moment, but a career unfolds over a lifetime. Your first job after Cornell will not be your last job. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2025), the average person holds 12.7 jobs in their lifetime. Think critically about what you’re looking for, but also be open to opportunities that come to you by happenstance. Your values should inform your job search, as you look for the best fit for what is important to you. When the economic outlook is uncertain, or the rhetoric around hiring is creating anxiety for job seekers, the best thing you can do is build connections, be prepared to pivot, and be open.
Erica L. Kryst, PhD is Executive Director of Cornell Career Services. She can be reached at ek727@cornell.edu.
