With the recent decline in college graduates being able to find jobs, many concerns and frustrations have arisen. The question still remains unresolved as to what the main cause of this is, whether it be the difficulty of the labour market, students’ inability to pivot their job search, or another factor.
Some Loyola students have voiced their frustrations about the lack of jobs available to them post graduation, setting optimistic career goals while emphasizing the stress that weighs down on them regarding their own job searches.
Grace Fischer ’26 is looking forward to her future professional life while highlighting the nervousness that comes with all of the unknown.
“I love being in school, which is why I want to pursue higher education post-grad. I love learning, and know that I want to teach in the future. I’m kind of scared about what’s happening in the middle of all of that,” Fischer said.
However, Fischer also notes the career planning and preparation resources available through Loyola’s Rizzo Career Center.
“I do know that Loyola has resources for me to be able to consult, where I can even use those resources post grad to help me gain control with what something that I love looks like,” Fischer said.
Assistant Director of Partnerships and Recruiting at the Rizzo Career Center Douglas Jones feels that it is important for students to make full use of the facility.
“One, it’s a free, lifetime service. Take advantage of that. Second, we’re here to help students and alumni navigate the anxieties they may come across in their career journeys. Whether it’s transitioning from school to the workplace, navigating the workplace ladder, or making a career change, a visit to the Rizzo Career Center could help align some things on your plate or provide some insight into a topic on your mind. It’s nice to have a helping hand,” Jones said.
According to Michael Nardiello, president of Global Property and Casualty at CNA Insurance, some employers see the benefit of hiring recent graduates. These employers are drawn to candidates with experience in risk management, emphasizing the importance of implementing risk management into schools and universities across the globe.
Harvard Business School defines risk management as the systematic process of identifying, assessing, and mitigating threats or uncertainties that can affect your organization.
Nardiello shared why risk management can be key to students’ successes when entering into the workforce, relating the field to his insurance background.
“In my day to day, I come across Loyola grads all the time. Many schools’ risk management programs have grown tremendously over the years, and I’m so happy that Loyola has opened one. They’re turning out graduates who have done so well, specifically in [the insurance] industry,” Nardiello said.
Nardiello shared measures he feels students who are still in college should take to ensure they have a job lined up post-graduation.
“Be open to opportunities, especially when you don’t know what you want to do. It’s also a visibility game. We live in such a digital era. Make sure you are proficient at those presentation skills, and whatever the subject matter is, make sure you know it,” Nardiello said.
It can be a challenge not knowing where your professional career is going to take you, but there are resources available all over campus. Students are encouraged to participate and learn as much as possible.
To learn more about career planning and guidance, visit Loyola’s Rizzo Career Center.