Welcome to live with Dr. Andre Jerry, your prime
time destination for bold conversations. unfiltered
truth, and real life inspiration. I'm your host,
Dr. Andre Jerry, broadcasting live from San Juan,
Puerto Rico. Tonight's episode is proudly sponsored
by Indeed .com, a leading platform dedicated
to helping people find meaningful employment.
So whether you're a recent graduate entering
the job market or a professional navigating a
transition in your career, Indeed is going to
provide the tools and resources that you need
to apply, connect, and get hired. faster and
more efficiently. And we'll share more about
our sponsor later in the show. Okay, so we're
two weeks into the month of May. And as I'm sure
you've seen from all of the graduation pics on
your timeline, graduation season is in full effect.
And so in light of that, I'm dedicating this
week's episode to the class of 2025. So really
a big congratulations to all the graduates who
made it to the finish line, made it across the
stage. and have advanced to the end of your academic
career. You guys made it through all the virtual
classes, the economic chaos, the political shifts,
and really generational burnout. And now you're
walking across that stage with your heads held
high and your diploma in your hand. And so that's
not just a win, that's a true testimony of you
guys' endurance and resilience. So I really want
you to take in this moment and celebrate this
huge achievement in your life. And I don't care
if you're graduating from an Ivy League university,
HBCU, a state university, community college,
or a tech school. Following any course of study
through to completion is definitely a big deal
that's worthy of your celebration. All right?
Because for every graduate that's walking across
that stage, just think about it. There are thousands
that either dropped out, flunked out, quit. or
didn't bother to pursue their education at all.
So seriously, I hope you guys take a pause to
just reflect on all of your hard work and dedication
that led up to this moment. And if you have a
graduate in your family or in your social circle,
take a moment to congratulate them and give them,
you know, a graduation thumbs up on their post.
You know, these young people worked hard. They
really did, and they definitely deserve a pat
on the shoulder. But let's talk about what happens
after all the fanfare and the celebration phase,
right? The real question is going to be, OK,
what do I do now? So tonight, we're going to
talk about some real talk. And without all the
fluff, that's why I titled this episode Real
Talk Class of 2025, because somebody's got to
break down what's really waiting for you guys
on the other side of that diploma, the economy.
You know how it's going right now, the job market,
the salary expectations, all the rejection, and
the opportunities also that are out there. But
most importantly, we're going to talk about your
strategy. And I'll also share a little bit about
my own story. We'll talk about some of the highs
and the detours and the grind and how I pivoted
from graduate to having an incredible career
in the defense sector. All right, so class of
2025, I want you to grab your notebook or open
your notes app. because this episode is all about
you. All right, so like I said, I'm super proud
of this graduating class, and I'm going to tell
you why. You guys aren't just walking across
that stage with a degree. In my estimation, you're
walking across that stage with a battle record.
Because all of you have had to navigate a five
-year stretch, really unlike any other generation
in modern history. Because, I mean, think about
it. Look at what you guys have lived through
during this academic journey. The first thing,
it was COVID, right? The global pandemic, it
shut everything down, your campuses. It flipped
your entire learning experience upside down.
You guys were forced into remote classrooms and
virtual labs. I know you got sick and tired of
Zoom. Definitely got some Zoom fatigue. You had
internships that were canceled. And a lot of
your friendships and social connections became
a lot more distant as well. And so really what
was supposed to be the best years of your life
sort of felt like you were in survival mode.
There's a lot of isolation and uncertainty going
on in the world. And you guys had to adapt to
a new normal that we all haven't had to adapt
to before. And so while all of that was happening,
then there's the economy and how it took a while,
right? We had the inflation that's still happening.
There were interruptions to our supply chain.
There were layoffs in every sector. You watched
your families, your communities, maybe even your
own job be impacted. And we talked about food
prices. In one of our recent shows, food prices
went up significantly. Rent skyrocketed. And
don't even get me started on student loan debt.
That's been a roller coaster for years between
deferments and... the student loan interest and
the promise of BIC cancellation that was going
to come about, that was kind of dangled in front
of you like a carrot by the last administration.
That fell flat. So I know a lot of you may feel
like the system played you a bit. So when you
factor all of that stuff in, and not to mention
all the pressure with the coursework, the finals,
just trying to stay focused, it was a lot. But
you guys adapted and you did whatever you had
to do to stay afloat. You know, a lot of you
door dashed Uber. You worked double shifts. Pilled
things down at home or just found any type of
way you could to keep everything together. And
for that, you really do deserve some serious
credit. And then there's the political chaos
that you guys lived through. It was one of the
most divisive presidential elections in recent
memory. And you know, for years now, the news
cycle has been just a constant repeat of nonstop
misinformation, performative politics, debates
over your rights, by the way, from voting, student
loans, reproductive freedoms, basic civil liberties,
all of this stuff. And you guys were just trying
to finish your undergrad degree or finish your
senior year capstone. And then boom, enter AI,
generative AI exploded on the scene and really
changed a lot of things about how the world works,
how we communicate. how we approach our work
and our projects, even how a lot of these companies
that you're applying to, how they hire. And see,
right now, you guys are graduating into a job
market where companies are trying to figure out
if they want to hire you or they want to hire
a bot. That's really what it's come down to.
So really think about that. What impresses me
the most about you guys, class of 2025, you guys
didn't fold under all that pressure. You didn't
drop out. You didn't disappear. You didn't let
all that stuff I mentioned bury you. You adjusted.
You stepped up. You logged in. You went to your
courses. You got on Zoom 100 times. You pressed
forward. You finished. You lived through a global
pandemic, economic shifts, this mass culture
of Racial stuff that's going on technological
disruption You know, we're just in a really unstable
world right now But somehow you guys made it
all the way to the finish line and it tells me
something really Important about you guys. It
tells me that you don't just have knowledge.
You've got it Okay, you don't just have potential
you have the proof of your potential So you guys
just don't deserve success. You you're definitely
fully equipped for Because listen if you could
complete your education during all of that stuff
Then you've already proven that you have what
it takes in this unique job market that we're
in So hats off to you, you know the fact that
you're here right now tuned into this show You're
ready to face the next phase of your life that
speaks volumes You know, you're not the lost
generation that a lot of guys are making you
out to be I think you guys are awesome So today
I'm saluting you and we're gonna get into the
hard truths about the job market and all of that.
But just remember, you've already proven that
you have what it takes to navigate tough terrain.
So now let's just get you ready to own it, all
right? So listen, if you are graduating with
your master's degree, then great. Congratulations.
You're stepping into the workforce with a clear
competitive edge, right? You've gained relevant
experience. along the way, hopefully. And really
earning a master, it signals to employers and
recruiters that you're bringing a lot more to
the table than book knowledge. You've developed
specialized skills along the way, some strategic
thinking, and just a level of professional commitment
that's gonna set you apart from your contemporaries.
And this is especially true in high -growth fields
like... data analytics, finance, health administration
also, technology, any technology related field,
and also in education. These are all sectors
where advanced degrees, yeah, they're respected,
but they're also expected for you to have those.
According to the U .S. Bureau of Labor Statistics,
professionals with a master's degree earn about
$240 more per week than those with only a bachelor's.
So think about that. Over the course of an entire
career, that's going to add up to a lot of money,
almost a half a million dollars in additional
lifetime earnings. So it's not just a credential.
That's actual leverage. And what that means is
that a master's degree is going to pay for itself.
So you're not going to just be breaking even
if you invest in yourself and get your master's
degree. You're going to be building equity in
your earning power over the years. and you're
going to be opening doors to leadership opportunities
and much higher salaries and really increase
career mobility over time. But I want to speak
directly to my bachelor degree students for a
moment, because earning your undergraduate degree
is definitely a major achievement. It is. So
yeah, go out and get those reps in. Pursue the
entry level positions. Build your resume. And
just do whatever you can to find your rhythm
in this workforce that we're in. But while you're
doing all of that, I want you to start thinking
about what your next move is going to be. And
I strongly encourage you to consider pursuing
your master's degree. And why do I say that?
Because, like I said earlier, in today's oversaturated
market, a bachelor's degree is going to give
you an edge. really the bare minimum. I always
say the bachelor's degree is like the new high
school diploma. According to the National Center
for Education Statistics, over two million bachelor
degrees are awarded in the U .S. every year.
And really what that means is when you apply
for a position, even one that just says bachelor's
required. You're likely going to be up against
a long list of applicants who have their MBAs.
They have portfolios. They have a long list of
certifications. They have their relevant experience.
You see? And companies like, you know, especially
your Fortune 500 companies, they aren't just
hiring based on degrees. They're going to be
hiring based on impact potential. They're going
to want to hire analysts and strategists and
project leaders. So these are going to be your
candidates who sort of rise to the top. They're
going to be the ones who have combined education
and can execute projects. So let's talk about
some more statistics here because these are really
important and drive the point home. The 2024
GMAC corporate recruiter survey says that 92
% of global employers plan to hire MBA graduates
this year. And the average US starting salary
for MBA grads is 125K. So that's more than double
that of bachelor's only candidates. So you see
the gap there. It's kind of more of a canyon
than a gap. And I know a lot of you are thinking,
look, I need a break. I can't really afford grad
school right now. I don't know if I'm ready.
I get all of that. I really do. But let me offer
you this. I don't want you to wait until you
feel like you have it figured out, everything
figured all out. You can work and you can pursue
your masters. And that's what I did. When I finished
my undergraduate degree at Mercer University,
and a shout out to the Bears, Mercer Bears. I've
seen a lot of graduation posts about my students
who go there. But when I finished my undergraduate
degree, I didn't take a year off. I wanted to.
I was tired. But a few months before graduation,
I attended an MBA information session that they
had on campus. And I'm really glad that I went
to that because it broke everything down. They
talked about the various concentrations that
I could take with my MBA. They talked about the
timeline, how long it was gonna take, the cost
associated with it, and then also the value of
pursuing and achieving your MBA. So at the end
of that information session, I walked out of
that room knowing that, wow, if I want to stand
out in this job market, I really need to keep
going. So I did. I took probably two months off.
I took just enough time to catch my breath. And
then I enrolled in grad school. I pursued my
MBA full -time. I also worked part -time. But
I put my focus on my MBA. I was also running
my own tax prep business, Metro Tax Group. which
I still have. And I was also delivering for Jason's
Deli, which, by the way, was one of my favorite
jobs. It really was. Most of my deliveries were
to corporate boardrooms. And I remember thinking
one day, I'm just not going to be delivering
to these boardrooms. I'm going to be sitting
at the head of the table. And that vision actually
came to pass. So it just reminds me of that scripture,
as a man thinketh, so is he. I believe that.
And the Lord eventually blessed it to manifest.
So this is what I'm going to tell you. Don't
despise the day of small beginnings. OK, don't
buy into the pressure of image and comparison.
If you've got to Uber or Barton stock shelves
at Target, do whatever you got to do to buy yourself
the flexibility and the focus that you're going
to need to advance your education. Because trust
me, it will. pay off. Now, like I said, you can
pursue your degree full -time, part -time. Most
people do it online now. That's fine. There's
also fellowships that you can leverage. There
are employer tuition reimbursement programs.
There are a bunch of scholarships. The point
is, if you're intentional and if you move strategically,
then you can elevate in your academic career
without drowning in a lot of debt. So I'll say
it one more time, if the bachelor's degree is
something that you're graduating with now, then
that's a strong start. But don't let it be your
finish line. If you want to future proof your
career, if you want to go from applicant to asset,
if you want to lead instead of just labor, then
I really want you to consider enrolling in a
master's program this fall. So don't just enter
the workforce, elevate in the workforce. Because
we're in a world where everyone's got a degree
now. So what are you going to do to make yourself
stand out? All right, let's talk about the reality
of the market that you guys are walking into.
I wish I could tell you that everything is going
to be green lights and signing bonuses, but it's
just not going to be that. The truth is you're
going to be stepping into what Forbes magazine
called a frozen job market. And that really sucks.
I've been reading some reporting trends. A lot
of the hiring for the entry level positions are
slowing down across all the industries. And it
just seems like every day more and more employers
are slashing job postings. They're delaying onboarding.
They're consolidating roles. And unfortunately,
that's hitting you guys the hardest, the recent
graduates. Let's talk real quickly about salary
shock. Okay, so for years, the standard narrative
in the industry has been, look, go get your college
degree, secure your bag, but it's just a lot
different now. Forbes is averaging that entry
-level salaries are declining and will continue
to decline over the years, especially in non
-STEM majors. And in a lot of industries, wages
are flatlining, even though the job descriptions
and what you're expected to do the job expectations
are growing heavier and more weighed down. And
here's the kicker, a lot of these so -called
entry -level jobs, they require two to three
years of experience. So if you're fresh out of
college, you got your degree in hand, you're
ready to hit the ground running, it's like already
the system's telling you you're not enough. You
know, it's what I call the entry -level paradox.
You need experience to get the job, but you need
the job to get the experience. And see, here's
where things get even more real, because the
job market is so iffy and tight right now. A
lot of these entry -level jobs, which are meant
for the recent grads, they're being scooped up
by people who already have their MBAs and already
have several years of work experience under their
belt. You see, normally those candidates wouldn't
even be applying for those jobs. They'd be applying
for mid -level or leadership roles. But in this...
weird economy that we're in, they're just trying
to get in anywhere they can. So if that means
taking a step down just to get their foot in
the door, that's what they're gonna do. And so
that's gonna create this saturated market like
we're seeing now. You know, there's a lot of
overqualified applicants that are competing for
jobs that you're supposed to be getting. And
the companies... They're just doing the math,
and they're saying, hey, well, listen, why not
hire the MBA with the three, four, five years
of experience instead of the new grad that doesn't
have any job experience at all, right? So it's
not personal. It's just all about survival. The
applicant is just trying to secure a place in
the company. They're trying to get a job. They're
trying to hope to level up from the inside. And
the employer, they're just trying to get the
most value for their money. Because their point
is, if they can fill an entry -level position
with a well -qualified MBA candidate, you know,
paying the same entry -level salary, then that's
a huge savings for the company. But for the recent
grads, it kind of sucks. It creates a nightmare
scenario. Because you've done what everyone has
told you to do. You've checked the boxes, right?
But now you're... sort of standing in line and
it just keeps getting longer and longer and the
bar keeps moving higher and higher. So that's
why I say don't just meet the minimum requirement,
beat it. And that underscores why credentials
like your master's and your certifications and
your internships, they just aren't bonus points
anymore. They're almost becoming barriers to
entry, things that you have to have in order
to be competitive. So that's what I said earlier.
Don't despise the day of small beginnings. Right
now, it may make sense for some of you to go
after that more low -hanging fruit, the opportunities
that other people think that they're too good
for, right? Because pride is not going to pay
the bills. It's not going to pay your tuition.
You know, I know some folks probably looked at
me sideways back in the day and was thinking,
why is this dude delivering sandwiches for Jason's
Deli? But, you know, forget them. I love that
job. And, you know, I had an end goal in mind
and I was making solid money back then. You know,
on a bad day, I brought home $100 cash and that's
not including my hourly pay. And I ate pretty
good. You know, Jason's Deli kept me fed. It
kept me focused. And I was able to. fund my way
all the way through grad school. So just let
people talk all the noise that they want they
want to talk. You know what's important is that
you support yourself you pay your way through
your MBA program and when it's time for you to
pivot and level up you'll do that. You know no
one job is is your identity. You know some jobs
especially the ones that you get right out of
college those are vehicles they're going to serve
their purpose for an intended period of time
and you know you'd be grateful for it and you
just when it's time for the season to be over
you move up to the next thing but don't let anyone
shame you for where you start especially if where
you're headed is somewhere they could never go
okay now let's pivot and talk about small businesses
for just a moment because how they're faring
in this economy right now is interesting because
a lot of small businesses believe it or not that's
where New opportunities for graduates were a
lot of times, but opportunities with them are
also starting to tighten up. I read a report
a couple of days ago from the Boston Globe, and
it kind of gives them more context to this. It's
saying that the economy is still in recovery
mode, and we've seen that. And it's really been
in recovery mode since COVID -19. There were
a lot of shutdowns, and like I said, tech layoffs.
a lot of banking instability. So a lot of companies
are still in this mode of cutting costs, looking
for ways they can further cut costs. And unfortunately,
that translates to a lot of hiring freezes and
opting for more seasoned workers who can do more
with less. And just a few more stats on this.
According to Gusto's new hiring report, a lot
of small businesses are hiring at a slower pace.
And that's also because of inflation and automation
and the economic uncertainty that's going on
with the tariffs and other things. So many small
businesses are choosing to automate what job
positions they can. A lot of these administrative
positions and junior roles, normally that would
have went to you guys, but they're choosing to
use AI and automate wherever they can instead
of hiring people to fill those jobs. You know,
so the takeaway is this, the job market, it just
isn't competitive. It's cautious right now. Employers
aren't hiring out of optimism like they used
to. They're hiring right now out of necessity.
What positions do they actually need to fill?
So that means you'll need more than just your
diploma to stand out. You're gonna need some
type of strategy, okay? Now, let's talk about
what employers want versus what graduates expect
because that's where things get kind of a little
bit more interesting. There was another survey
that I read by Charles Rushell, and it was talking
about a growing gap between what Gen Z graduates
want from their careers and what employers are
actually offering. So I want to break this down
a little bit because I noticed that there was
a huge disconnect and disparity here. Gen Z,
and I love this about y 'all. I really do. But
you guys prioritize mental health and work -life
balance and flexibility. You also want to feel
like your work has a purpose. You know, you want
your job to mean something. You want space to
breathe. You want to feel like you're doing more
than just being a cog in a machine. But on the
other side, on the employer side, They're still
operating by that old playbook. They want reliability
over flexibility. They value experience over
what your potential is. And they really want
someone with a solid work ethic versus someone
who is concerned about their wellness and their
mental health. And so none of these values are
really inherently bad, but what happens with
this disparity here, it creates this friction
between young professionals who are entering
the workforce, who are expecting mentorship,
they're expecting coaching, they're looking for
collaboration, but instead they're running into
this steel rigid hierarchy and these expectations
that are unrealistic. And there's also a huge
expectation gap when it comes to salary. So understandably,
a lot of graduates are coming out of college
expecting salaries in a range of 60, 70, 80 ,000,
maybe even 90 ,000 starting out, especially if
they've taken on a lot of student loan debt.
But what I'm seeing is that the market is not
necessarily reflecting that. Outside of tech
and finance, it may be a little different, but
typically, offers are coming in around 40, 50,
up to the $60 ,000 range. And that's even if
you're fortunate enough to get an offer. Okay,
so like I said, there's a disconnect there. It's
leading to a lot of disillusionment, really.
And that's not a good thing because what's happening
is that you're finding yourself starting to second
-guess yourself and your choices. You'll be thinking
things like, did I make the right choice in the
first place? Did I pick the right major? You
know, is going to college even worth it? You
know, this feeling that you're being set up to
fail. So I want to reassure you, you're not wrong
for wanting more or expecting more. You just
need to learn how to navigate this gap in between
what your expectations are and then what the
current realities of today's workplace are. And
so that's the whole goal of this episode this
week is to sort of help you bridge that gap.
All right. So let's continue to explore this
topic from the employer standpoint. Because it's
really important to understand how the recruiters
are thinking, the people that are on your hiring
teams. How are they approaching hiring in this
current market? According to Forbes, Nearly 90
% of employers say that they are reluctant to
hire recent graduates who lack experience. That's
a really tough truth because, like I mentioned
earlier, how are you going to get experience
if no one is willing to give you experience?
So that's one of those things where, you know,
your degree will get you in the door maybe, but
you're going to have to hustle to make sure that
you get hired and get placed somewhere. My good
friend, Reggie Bullock, has a really dynamic
book called It's All About the Hustle. I really
recommend you read that. In it, he talks about
developing a mindset of achievement, going after
the things you want in life, and harnessing the
energy that's required for you to be successful.
So it's a good read. But in terms of what the
employers are looking for, let me just sort of
translate what they're meaning here. To get that
experience that you may be lacking and to, you
know, be on par with your contemporaries, you're
going to have to volunteer, you know. Volunteer
and offer your services pro bono if you need
to just to build some experience. You can start
a blog. You can start a special project or even
start a business, you know. Anything to give
you a track record of performance. Like I said
before, there are plenty of internships and freelance
opportunities that will enable you to build a
portfolio. You can even join communities and,
you know, attend different webinars and get certifications
that will complement the knowledge that you,
you know, got when you were in college. So the
point is just to do whatever you have to do to
manufacture momentum. because if you're waiting
on permission in today's market, you're just
gonna be unemployed and just overlooked really.
So the point that I'm driving at is that your
degree is just a baseline, okay? So you got to
think about what else are you bringing to the
table. And if no one has handed you a roadmap
on how to fill that gap between graduation and
being ready for this job market, then like I
said, this is what this episode is about. So
I'm going to give you a set of tools that can
help you in this regard. Maybe look into exploring
some applied learning platforms like Forage where
you can complete some real world business scenarios
that come from top companies. A lot of companies
look at this type of thing and if they see where
you have experience with helping to resolve problems
that they see in their business on a regular
basis, then that's going to set you apart from
your contemporaries. You can also use things
like Coursera and Google career certificates,
LinkedIn learning. All of these will help you
gain some practical industry -recognized skills
from project management to all types of stuff.
I know a lot of you are probably thinking, look,
I just got out of school. I'm not trying to take
any classes right now. I understand that. I really
do. When I finished my doctorate, I didn't even
want to open my laptop, let alone step into a
classroom. But you got to do what you got to
do to differentiate yourself in this current
job market. So just hang in there with me and
take note of some of the stuff that I'm telling
you. If you've heard of handshake .com, you may
want to create a profile on that platform. It's
a job platform that's built specifically for
college students and new graduates. And if you
have skills like graphic design or if you want
to get into consulting, you can offer your services
on Fiverr or Upwork and start already building
a portfolio that you can show employers and demonstrate
on your resume. But just remember that you're
going to have to hustle. Hustle is a multiplier.
It's going to build your confidence. It's going
to build your credibility. It'll help you build
connections. And then all of that combined is
going to give you a momentum. And that's going
to go a long way in making sure that you get
noticed by your hiring managers and your recruiters.
And it's just a tough market. It's a tough market
out there. The competition is really real. But
your options are as well. But you have to be
willing to work towards those and make yourself
more competitive. All right, we're going to pause
right here and take a quick commercial break
and hear a word from our sponsor for this week's
episode. But stick with me because when we come
back, we're going to dive into what to do when
the job market doesn't meet your expectations.
And I'll also share results from a recent poll
that we did where I asked the following question.
If you could go back and give your younger self
advice about your first job, what would it be?
So we got some really good responses from that.
Some of the answers might even surprise you,
so be sure to stick around. We'll be right back.
All right, Class of 2025, let's talk real quick.
If you're out here applying for jobs, getting
ghosted, overwhelmed, or just straight up tired,
hey, I've been there. The search can feel like
a full -time job with no paycheck. That's why
I always recommend indeed .com to folks just
starting out. It's simple, clean, and gets straight
to the point. You set your filters, upload your
resume once, and you're off. No fluff, no hoops,
just jobs that actually match what you're looking
for. And listen, don't let the job boards intimidate
you. You don't need it all figured out to get
started. Just take the first step. If you're
ready to stop scrolling and start applying, check
out Indeed .com. It helped me, a lot of others,
and I know it'll help you too. Log on to Indeed
.com today. Hi, this is Rhea Fry. Check out my
new book, Until I Find You, available now wherever
books are sold. You can learn more at RheaFry
.com. That's R -E -A -F -R -E -Y .com. And you
are listening to the Artist First Radio Network.
You asked for it and now it's official. Live
with Dr. Andre Jerry is moving to a brand new
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Live with Dr. Andre Jerry. With Dr. Andre Jerry.
Welcome back to Live with Dr. Andre Jerry. If
you're just tuning in, we've been talking about
the real challenges facing the class of 2025
from the frozen job market and the salary shock
to the growing gap between what grads expect.
and what employers are actually offering. Now
that we've unpacked sort of what I call the storm,
let's shift gears a bit. In this next segment,
I'm gonna talk about how you can navigate through
this storm with strategy, survival, and self
-discovery leading the way. So we're gonna talk
about how to survive it and thrive in it. Now,
earlier this week, I asked a question to my network,
and I gotta say, some of the responses were honest
and insightful, and really relevant to what's
happening. So the question I asked was, if you
could go back and give your younger self one
piece of advice about your first job, what would
it be? So here is what a few of our listeners
had to say. This first comment is from Tasha
G. She's a marketing director out of Atlanta.
She said, I would tell myself to stop trying
to impress everyone and start learning the business.
Too many of us focus on looking busy or trying
to be liked when the real power is in understanding
how the organization actually works. And I really
appreciate that comment, Tasha. Definitely focus
on understanding why things happen, how decisions
are made, and who really holds the influence
at your job. You know, that's a good point. Learn
the system and learn how to move through it.
Okay, comment number two from Michael R, HR consultant
out of Chicago, Illinois. All right, he says,
negotiate your salary, even if it's your first
job. I didn't, and I spent three years trying
to catch up. The company didn't undervalue me,
I undervalued myself. I've been there as well.
And Mike, thank you for that comment. He's exactly
right. have to set the tone for your future earnings.
So I know you may feel like you're in a lesser
position because you're new to the workforce,
you're new on the scene, and you're just graduating.
But always negotiate your salary. It may feel
uncomfortable negotiating. I still am uncomfortable
negotiating my salary on some things. But being
discomfort is way better than being underpaid.
So just do your research. Research what the average
salary is for that position. And just know what
your number is. And be firm about it, but also
be respectful. Okay, comment number three. This
is from Andrea S. And she's out of Washington,
DC. Andrea says, take the job seriously, but
not personally. Yes, yes. You'll get feedback.
You'll make a lot of mistakes, and sometimes
you'll be overlooked. It doesn't mean you're
a failure, it means you're learning. That's good
wisdom right there. You know, a lot of you guys
are gonna be coming in with, you know, ambition,
vision, and all of that's great, but just be
sure you don't crumble the first time your idea
gets rejected, or sometimes your idea will actually
be on point, and it'll get usurped or stolen
from someone else, and they'll get credit for
it. All that type of stuff happens. But yeah,
just try to hang in there and don't let that
stuff get to you. Comment number four. This is
from Jordan M. He is a tech product manager out
of Austin, Texas. So Jordan says, I tell my younger
self, build relationships early. I focus so much
on tasks that I forgot people promote people.
People promote people and people they know and
trust. Your work ethic matters, but so does your
visibility. And that's absolutely true. That's
why I talk about networking a lot and building
a connection. Just little things like having
coffee with your coworkers and joining committees
that are voluntary, showing up to events. You
know, those relationships that you build early
on in your career, they'll definitely open doors
for you later. I found that myself. This next
comment is from Danielle F. out of New York City.
Danielle says, don't be afraid to leave. My first
job taught me that just because it pays the bills
doesn't mean it's worth your piece, yes. Learn
the difference between quitting and choosing
better. Yes, yes, yes, absolutely. Loyalty is
good and all of that, but don't let it come at
self -sacrifice. And remember, you guys are not
married to your first employer. It's going to
feel like, oh, I love this place. I'm going to
retire here, and I'm going to work here for years.
No, you're not. You're not. You're going to stay
there long enough to learn, to grow, get what
you need. But never be afraid to move on when
it no longer serves you. OK? So yeah, that's
some real talk from folks who have obviously
been in your shoes. They've walked the walk.
Thank you again, everyone who submitted comments
to our graduates. Those are some gems. Those
are, you know, good advice. And it sounds like
it's some lived experience that's going to help
a lot of you all. So thank you again for that.
And if you're listening and you've got some advice
or lessons you want to share, then use the hashtag
LWDAJ. And just leave a comment on one of our
social media platforms, or you can email me at
livewithdrandrejerryatgmail .com. And who knows,
I might just read your insight or your comment
on an upcoming episode since we're doing weekly
episodes now. So there'll be opportunities to
highlight your thoughts and your comments on
subsequent shows. All right, so like I said,
we talked about the storm. We talked about the
state of the job market. We talked about salary
shock. What's next? Because, well, I know this
economy is terrible. And here's the thing, we
may not be able to control the economy or the
hiring freezes or everything that's happening
in government, but we can control how we respond
to these things. So I'm gonna get into four survival
strategies that will hopefully help you to stand
out and stay in motion and start building momentum,
okay? All right, so strategy number one. All
right, so the number one thing employers... say
that keeps them from hiring new graduates is
a lack of experience. So your mission now, get
experience any way you can. Volunteer, freelance
on fiber, run some social media ads for your
church if social media marketing is your niche.
Like I said, start a blog or newsletter. You
can tutor high school students, undergraduate
students. You can help out with a family business,
start your own business, but you really need
to do something to fill in that gap if you don't
have a solid work history to show on your resume.
And don't sleep on being a volunteer, you know,
because that's one of the best strategies that
you can use to gain some solid hands -on work
experience, especially if you're still building
your professional foundation. So I don't care
if it's a nonprofit, a local business, it could
be a church. You could help a friend start their
startup, but these volunteer roles can help you
develop the skills, expand your network, and
then prove that you have value in terms of your
work performance and what you are bringing to
the table. It's also going to give you something
tangible to put on your resume, which brings
me to my next point. So I mentioned this in a
couple of shows back, but volunteerism is a great
way to cover what otherwise would look like a
gap in your employment. Gaps in employment can
be a kiss of death on your resume if it's not
addressed. But if you can say, well, during this
time I volunteered as a communications assistant
for XYZ company, or I help manage logistics for
community food drive, you see how that sounds.
You're no longer just unemployed. You're engaged.
You're active in the community. You're growing.
contributing. That's the type of energy that
recruiters and employers are going to pay attention
to. So stop worrying so much about whether it's
the right experience and start just focusing
on what I call stacking your reps. You don't
need permission to build your portfolio, just
take initiative, just get it done. All right,
strategy number two, network like your life depends
on it. Like one of the comments said, people
hire people. not just paper. So if you're not
actively working to build relationships and putting
yourself out there, you're really at a disadvantage.
You might have a great resume, but if nobody
sees it, it's not going to matter. So start setting
up informational interviews. Do 15 -minute virtual
coffee chats with people who are doing the same
type of work that you want to do. Slide into
people's DMs on LinkedIn. A lot of people are
open to you know, connecting on LinkedIn and
being socially active and networking. So just
ask thoughtful questions. Follow up. When someone
adds you to their network, send them a brief
note saying, hey, thank you so much for connecting.
I look forward to connecting with you in the
future or talking more about XYZ. You know, ask
for insight on certain things that you're curious
about. And don't forget mentorship. Find someone
that's already a few steps ahead of you. someone
has been exactly where you want to go. Ask them
how they got there. Be coachable, and be consistent,
and most of all, be curious. And I'll say this,
if you're not on LinkedIn, fix that today, okay?
Clean up your profile. Make sure your profile
picture is not a selfie. Please, okay, add a
professional headshot. Post your thoughts. Engage
with people in your field about you know, topics
that are related to your field of expertise.
Because networking in 2025 is not gonna happen
at the career fairs. It's all online now, okay?
And I know we've all heard this, but your network
is your network. So build it with intention.
All right, strategy number three. Be flexible,
not desperate. Okay, and I'll break this down.
There's a big difference between being flexible
and being desperate. When you're flexible, it
means that you're going to be open to taking
a detour if you need to. You know, even if it's
not your dream job, like with me, the opportunity
with Jason's Deli, that definitely wasn't my
dream job. I enjoyed it a lot more than I thought
I would. But that was a detour. But because I
wasn't constantly in meetings, I didn't have
a demanding work assignment. It gave me the flexibility
I needed to study. and get through my MBA program
quicker than I would if I would have went to
for working for Blue Cross and Blue Shield or
Aflac or something. So be flexible. And yeah,
take that customer service role. It's going to
help you build your people skills. Say yes to
a short -term contract because that's going to
help you get your foot in the door. So just be
open to certain things and just ask yourself,
what can I learn from this? What does this role?
How is it going to develop my skills? And can
this lead somewhere meaningful? How can I leverage
this? So you don't need to start perfect. You
just need to start in a strategic way. The first
job is the launch pad, not a lifetime sentence.
So don't get caught up in all of that. But just
be purposeful. All right? Strategy number four,
learn to sell yourself. Now, this one is big.
Your value is not just your GPA. No one really
cares about your GPA That's just the truth if
you got 3 .5 or higher awesome Love it, you know,
but it's gonna be your story. It's gonna be your
skills. It's gonna be how you Articulate what
you bring to the table in those interviews So
you got to learn how to speak your wins? Not
in a cringy braggy arrogant type of way, but
just in a way that projects confidence So start
with stuff like this. Talk about what problems
you solved. What tools you used to solve those
problems. What was the outcome? If you led a
group project, say I coordinated a five -person
team and I delivered a strategy presentation
that earned client approval, X, Y, Z. If you
worked in retail, you can say something like,
I don't know, I managed customer issues. I tracked
daily sales and consistently exceeded. upselling
targets, things like that. Get your elevator
speech down, 30 seconds, where you can quickly
tell someone who you are, what you do, what you're
all about, what's up next for you. So you're
not just selling a person with a degree, you're
selling the person behind that degree. You're
learning how to position yourself and, you know,
hoping that someone else will not define your
worth for you. You have to define it for yourself.
All right, we're... I'm running out of time here,
but look, I know what's coming next for a lot
of you guys. A lot of what you're gonna go through
is gonna require a mindset reset. I don't want
you to graduate and just log on to social media,
Instagram, TikTok, and watch how everyone is
thriving. Everyone online is so -called thriving.
Someone's gonna move to LA for a fellowship.
It's going to be someone's first day at Google
and all of that, and someone's getting married.
And meanwhile, you might be at home just trying
to figure out whether you should apply for a
job that's going to pay you $42 ,000. But let
me just tell you something that's going to save
your mental health. If it looks like everyone's
winning, remember, you're only seeing the highlight
reel. So all this social media stuff, I know
you guys know this, but sometimes you need a
reminder. All this stuff is just a curated collection
of peak moments. You're not gonna see, people
are not gonna post about, oh, I got rejected
from this job, or here's my student loan bill,
or I cried myself to sleep last night, or I had
a nervous breakdown after five rejections. You
know, they're not gonna post that type of stuff.
So don't get caught all up in that. You're not
behind. You're not failing. You're not off track.
You're just living in real time. You're living
life in real time, not on a feed with all these
filters. Okay, so stop comparing your journey
to someone else's destination. Let them worry
about all that. Let them post their highlights.
But focus on your next right step, not what your
next photo op is gonna be and trying to make
it look like this or that. Okay? So remember,
you're not gonna... You may not, you may, some
people land their dream job right away, but you
probably won't. I didn't discover my dream job
until I was 45 years old. And that was after
already dedicating over a decade in a career
field I didn't really like, I didn't really feel
connected to. So like I said, don't sleep on
that first job or first few jobs. Don't try to
go for the fancy title that you get it great,
but if your first job is not glamorous Don't
worry about it. You know do your best Don't go
overboard with Trying to get everything to be
so fancy and all of this remember your purpose
and It's not going to be limited to your paycheck
and your value is not going to be defined by
your your job title Okay, so just keep going
keep applying keep showing up Don't lose sight
of your goal. If you have to take a detour, it's
fine. It's no big issue, you know? And if you're
looking for a blueprint or something practical
that you can read that's going to give you some
more in -depth tools, then I want you to go on
Amazon .com and check out my book, Unlocking
Your Best Life. I wrote it just for moments like
this when you're in transition. And when you
don't exactly know what's next, you want to see
some changes in your life, but you don't know
how to get started. You know, you're trying to
figure out how to move forward, and it feels
like the world keeps knocking you down. In that
book, I give 10 power moves that you can make
right now. It's not going to cost you any money.
The stuff you can start doing right now is start
building momentum and shifting your life in the
right direction. And, you know, having a life
that's full of purpose and peace and power. Like
I said, you can grab it on Amazon. It's quick.
There's no fluff in it. It's a quick read. But
it might just be a thing that you need to jumpstart
your life in this season that you're in, OK?
All right, so before I let you go, here's what
I want you to do next. If this episode resonated
with you, I want you to share your post -grad
story using the hashtag that I mentioned earlier,
LWDAJ. You can always leave me a comment or shoot
me an email at LiveWithDrAndreJerry at gmail
.com. Tell me where you are. Tell me what's your
next move, how you're navigating right now, because
your story might be very encouraging to the next
person or someone else who may need to hear it
and need encouragement. Okay? You can catch all
of our episodes and our updates on our show web
page. Just go to www. Look at me. I'm showing
my age. Who says www anymore? Go to artistfirst
.com and you'll see a list of shows. Just look
for my face, Dr. Andre Jarrett. Click on that.
It'll have a list of all of our shows. Or you
can just go to YouTube or Spotify. They're all
there. But just remember that tassel was worth
the hassle. You made it through, but the real
test is going to begin now. This is going to
be your new beginning. This is going to be your
runway. This is your launch season. All right,
so make it count. All right, guys, I'm going
to get out of here. This has been live with Dr.
Andre Jerry. I'll see you next Wednesday, same
time at 6 p .m. Eastern. Until then, stay focused,
stay faithful, stay ready, because your next
opportunity is already looking for you. All right.
Peace. I'll see you next time.