Finding Your Footing After College: Redefining Progress in an Uncertain Job Market
What happens when you do everything you're told to do after college, but the opportunity you're looking for still doesn't come?
As a member of the UIUC Class of 2025, I've spent the past year and a half navigating that question. I don't have all the answers, and my experience is still a work in progress. But I wanted to share what I've learned so far, especially with other recent graduates who may be facing similar challenges. I'd also love to hear from others about what helped them find their footing and move toward a career they were excited about.
I remember feeling particularly lost and defeated in the fall after graduation. I wanted what seemed like a natural next step: a full-time job and a clearer sense of direction. I applied through job boards like Handshake and LinkedIn, reached out to experienced professionals for coffee chats, and worked through multiple rounds of assessments and interviews. Yet, despite the time and effort I put in, I struggled to make progress toward the opportunities I wanted.
It was difficult not to feel behind when it seemed like everyone else was moving forward. The constant cycle of applications, preparation, waiting, and rejection became exhausting. I found myself wondering when my own opportunity would come.
My perspective began to shift when I landed my first seasonal role as a tax preparer. It wasn't necessarily the end goal I had envisioned for myself after college, but it was a tangible step forward. The opportunity actually came through a friend's uncle who was looking for someone to help with tax preparation during the busy season. It wasn't the conventional path I had imagined, but it reminded me that opportunities can come from places you might not expect.
It wasn't the conventional path I had imagined, but it reminded me that opportunities can come from places you might not expect.
Eventually, that experience helped me pursue my next opportunity as a Premium Auditor. In this role, I've continued learning about accounting and working with clients through phone calls, financial statement reviews, and visits to client locations. Each role has given me a different perspective and new experiences to draw from, even as I continue searching for the right long-term opportunity.
Looking back, one of the biggest lessons I've learned is that not every conversation or application will lead somewhere, but you never know which connection might open a door.
I've also learned not to take every rejection personally. Sometimes, a company may not have the capacity to hire, the right opening, or the resources to bring someone on at that moment. A rejection doesn't necessarily mean you're not capable; sometimes, the timing or circumstances simply aren't right. That doesn't make rejection any less disappointing, but it has helped me approach the process with a little more perspective.
I'm still working toward better opportunities, and I wouldn't say I've figured everything out. I still have days when I question whether I'm doing enough or whether I'm on the right path. The difference is learning to understand that progress simply means continuing to learn and putting yourself out there even when you don't know what will come next.
If you're a recent graduate going through something similar, I hope you know that you're not alone. You don't have to have your entire career figured out right now, and not having landed your ideal role yet doesn't erase the work you've already put in. Keep building on what you have, stay open to opportunities, and give yourself room to grow along the way.
I'd love to hear from others: What helped you navigate the uncertainty after graduation? Was there a particular experience, person, or unexpected opportunity that helped you move forward?
About June Sirichusinwong
June Sirichusinwong is a 2026 AdaMarie Fellow whose career spans chemistry, economics, sustainability, and artificial intelligence. A graduate of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, she has explored venture capital, corporate sustainability, consulting, and AI — most recently through the Handshake AI Fellowship, where she worked to build adaptive AI models that improve accuracy across different user needs.
