New Grads – Top 5 things to know in 2025

As the class of 2025 prepares to sport their caps and gowns, they are entering a rapidly evolving job market full of both exciting opportunities and complex challenges.

Today’s workforce is characterized by technological advances, shifting employment patterns, and a continued focus on agility and adaptability. At TZR we know this can be a stressful, and downright overwhelming, prospect for young professionals.

To help ease the transition from student to employee, here are the top five things new grads should know as they prepare for the next step:

1. Understand the Job Market Landscape

Key trends in today’s job market include:

• High demand for professionals in technology, healthcare, and sustainability sectors.
• Continued normalization of hybrid and remote work models, requiring fluency in digital collaboration tools.
• The ability to adapt to a rapidly evolving environment, from work-styles to skills acquisition, and everything in between

“From new technologies to where and how people work, 2025 is poised to bring continued change to the workforce. And because of this, companies and professionals need to stay adaptable, skill up, and always be looking around the corner.”

2. Perfect Your Application Game

Submitting the perfect application involves creating a resume that can withstand applicant tracking systems (ATS) while highlighting relevant skills and experiences as outlined in the job description.

Maintaining an active and up-to-date LinkedIn profile, as well as leveraging your personal and professional network will enhance your application’s impact and increase your chances to get in the door during the interview process.

While at TZR we deal primarily with C-suite roles and higher-level positions, we have many clients that have been with us for their entire career journey – reaching out to us or a recruiter is a smart way to make sure you always have someone in your corner.

3. Ace the Interview Process

Acing the interview process begins with thorough research on the company and its culture, not to mention the actual role you’re applying for.

Be sure to take time to research potential interview questions – both general and specific to the team you are looking to join. Also, familiarize yourself with behavioral interview techniques to effectively demonstrate your experiences and skills.

Technology plays a factor here, too, so be at the ready for a virtual interview platform such as Zoom or Microsoft Teams, as there’s a good chance you’ll be asked to appear on-screen at some point in the process.

4. Negotiate Like a Pro

When negotiating salaries at any level – but especially for an entry-level position, it’s imperative that you do your research to understand comparable levels of pay within your industry. Come prepared to share your skills and experiences that will justify the salary you’re asking for.

And remember, when deciding on how to approach a negotiation, look at the entire benefits package, including insurance, retirement plans, vacation time, and other on-the-job-perks – which may not be what you think… focus less on if there’s a coffee cart and more on how the company will invest in developing your skills.

“Knowing what you can bring to the table will help you evaluate the type of compensation you should receive. Take note of skills such as your years of industry experience, years of leadership experience, education level, skills, licenses, and certifications. All of these qualifications will influence your salary and benefits.”

5. Keep Learning and Adapting

Professional growth requires a commitment to continuing your education far beyond the college years and is essential for maintaining relevance in your industry.

Seek out certifications, online courses, and workshops to build on your current skills as well as introduce new capabilities.

Balancing personal development with the demands of a full-time job can be challenging, but it also ensures that you remain a valuable member of your team and keeps you top-of-mind when new opportunities arise.

“Learning is an active choice and consciously deciding to place it among your top priorities will make it easier to set goals and reach them. If you already feel that taking time for professional development courses will benefit you, get specific and write down the ways in which taking the time to learn more will help you.”

From starting your first job to starting your own department at a leadership level, we are your strategic partner in building a successful career.

Ready to get ahead of the rest of your graduating class?  Connect with us today.