Graduation season is quickly approaching, and many college seniors hope to land that perfect job. Research from the Wall Street Journal shows that first post-grad jobs can affect a young adult’s career for nearly a decade and impact a grad’s long-term salary. Furthermore, half of college graduates end up in a job where their degree isn’t even needed.  So how do parents fit into all of this? Do they fit into this? How do parents help their kids navigate this major milestone?  Beth Hendler-Grunt, founder of Next Great Step and author of The Next Great Step: The Parent’s Guide to Launch ..read more

How do you know if a job posting is a scam? The job market is competitive and many early job seekers are eager to get their foot in the door. Getting a live interview can be difficult and scammers prey on vulnerable job seekers who are so eager for the opportunity that they fail to see the warning signs.  Here is a story from one of our clients. Dara, a graduating college senior, just told me about a digital marketing job that she thought was real, but it was a scam. She has her “Open to Work” banner on her LinkedIn profile and a recruiter from a Digital Marketing Agency reached out. They ..read more

Beth Hendler-Grunt, author and founder of Next Great Step, was an expert guest on two NBC News Daily segments on January 16, 2024, discussing prepping your high school student for college. The Modern Parenting segment was hosted by anchors Morgan Radford and Vicky Nguyen hosting from 12-2 PM, and from 2-4 PM Kate Snow and Zinhle Essamuah. According to a recent study from the nonprofit organization the Kauffman Foundation, seven in ten high school students feel high school will only somewhat prepare them to succeed in college. And once they’re ready to find a job in the real world, 77% of emplo ..read more

As winter break unfolds, many college students find themselves contemplating the pursuit of a summer internship. While it’s common knowledge that numerous internship programs fill up during the fall, the season doesn’t mark the end of opportunities. Contrary to the belief that everyone is on vacation, the slowdown in activities can present an ideal time to establish connections and secure a summer job. Companies often use this period to make decisions about their hiring needs for the upcoming year. If you’re still on the lookout for a college internship, consider these updated do’s and don’ts ..read more

It’s Thanksgiving week. Whether your kids are home for school break, or your graduates are with you and celebrating the holidays, by spending time together the conversation will inevitably arise about the job search. The Class of 2023 graduated 6 months ago and many are still looking for work. The Class of 2024 is looking for a post-grad job and has 6 months to go. And sophomores and juniors are thinking about internships for next summer. We speak with families every day and we find that this time of year is a “pivot” point… either to motivate and ramp up the job search efforts or to take inve ..read more

I’m still wiping away the tears from dropping off my youngest son at college and hugging my older son tight as he drives off to his second year of grad school. I’ve done this before, but it doesn’t get easier. This is the season of change…. kids are back to college, new grads are starting jobs, and families are trying to navigate this transition. My phone has been ringing off the hook from parents calling with concerns: “My recent college grad is panicked that he is the only one of his friends who has not landed a full-time job.”   “My son is applying to hundreds of online jobs with no r ..read more

The end of summer marks a significant milestone for college students who have recently completed their internship. Whether you were a rising junior or senior, this college summer internship may have provided you with valuable opportunities to learn new skills, collaborate with colleagues, and gain exposure to the real-world dynamics of your chosen field. Or maybe the experience was less than what was anticipated. You may have sorted a database, filed papers, or done mundane tasks. These tasks may not feel important but you contributed to the organization’s success.   You want to refl ..read more

A mom reached out that her daughter, Jenna, is in a tailspin. She’s a rising senior at a competitive university and is convinced that “everyone” has an amazing internship this summer… except for her. She tried to get an internship this summer, but it just did not happen. The mom asks “Can you help her? How will she land a job after graduation if she does not have an internship?” Deep breaths everyone. Would it be helpful to have an internship? Yes. Is it a requirement to land a job after graduation? Not necessarily. We have learned that companies like to see real-world or practical experience ..read more

How do you know if a job posting is a scam? The job market is competitive and many early job seekers are eager to get their foot in the door. Getting a live interview can be difficult and scammers prey on vulnerable job seekers who are so eager for the opportunity that they fail to see the warning signs.  Here is a story from one of our clients. Dara, a graduating college senior, just told me about a digital marketing job that she thought was real, but it was a scam. She has her “Open to Work” banner on her LinkedIn profile and a recruiter from a Digital Marketing Agency reached out. They ..read more

How will the Class of 2024 grads fare in this job market? We are constantly on top of the news and job reports to make sure Next Great Step understands the trends that are affecting our graduates looking to enter the job market. We also hear from parents, students, and grads every day and have first-hand accounts of what our early job seekers are experiencing. Here is our summary: Challenges: Overall hiring for the college Class of 2024 is projected to dip by 1.9%, according to results of NACE’s Job Outlook 2024 survey. Technology, finance, and consulting have been cutting costs and consolida ..read more