How to Help Your Recent Grad Who Isn’t Having Success Job Hunting

If your child recently graduated and hasn’t landed a job yet, you’re not alone — and neither are they. Many grads spend months searching before securing their first role. As a parent, it can be tough to watch your child struggle and not know how to help. The good news? There are ways you can support them without taking over their job search.
Here are five practical ways to make a real difference:

✅ 1. Listen Before You Advise
Your graduate may already feel discouraged. Start by asking how they’re feeling about the process. Sometimes, the best gift you can give is a safe place to talk through the stress. Resist the urge to jump straight into advice until you’ve heard their perspective.

✅ 2. Encourage Structure
A job search can feel endless without routine. Suggest that your grad treat the search like a part-time job:
- Spend a few hours each day applying or networking.
- Take breaks to recharge (to avoid burnout).
- Set weekly goals (e.g., “apply to 5 jobs” or “connect with 3 alumni”).
You can gently hold them accountable without micromanaging.

✅ 3. Be a Connector
Your network may be more valuable than you realize. Ask colleagues, friends, or alumni
connections if they’d be open to short conversations with your grad. A warm introduction can often lead to opportunities that job boards never show.

4. Focus on Skills, Not Just Applications

Encourage your child to keep building skills while they job hunt. This could mean online
courses, volunteering, freelancing, or part-time work. Even short-term experiences help fill gaps on a resume and give them more to talk about in interviews.

5. Balance Support with Independence
It’s natural to want to step in, but resist doing the work for them (like rewriting their resume or filling out applications). Instead, offer to review a cover letter, role-play an interview, or proofread a LinkedIn profile. Your role is guide, not driver.

A Final Thought
The first job out of college is often the hardest to land. Reassure your grad that rejection is part of the process, not a reflection of their worth. With persistence, structure, and support from people who care about them, they will get there.

Tip for parents: If you’d like extra guidance, consider resources like career coaching or
structured job search programs. Sometimes an outside voice is exactly what a grad needs to gain confidence and momentum.