Here’s to you, new grads 🎓

Hey hey! Today’s newsletter is a special one—it’s dedicated to all you new grads out there! 🎓 To celebrate your achievement, we’re covering everything you need to know as you enter the “real” world—the status of the job market, how to write a cover letter that isn’t cringe, and LinkedIn red flags. Congrats, class of 2023! 🎉

P.S. While this is a new grads edition, there’s plenty in here for those of us who are new grads at heart! Enjoy and see you at the bottom.

 1   Soon-to-be-college grads 🤝 work-life balance

Not your typical workforce. Gen Z’s top concern about getting their first “real job” isn’t money-related, according to a survey from software company A.Team. They’re more worried about finding a job that 1) won’t burn them out and 2) they’ll actually be passionate about.

One hypothesis for why? Gen Z saw their older colleagues—or their own parents—burn out…and they don’t want to follow in those footsteps.

Employers are listening to Gen Z, considering their generation will account for 27% of the workforce in developed economies by 2025.

 2   U.S. employees are more satisfied than ever 😎

Ready for some good news? A recent survey from The Conference Board found that U.S. employees’ job satisfaction is the highest it’s ever been since the survey began 36 years ago.

There are ✌️ reasons why:

1. Supply and demand. In a tight labor market, employees have the leverage to command better pay, benefits, and working environments.

2. Greater flexibility. WFH gave people the freedom to construct their days to suit their needs.

Another reason why now’s a great time to enter the workforce: The U.S. job market is the strongest it's been in 70 years, per CBS. Time to send out those cover letters, amiright?

 3   ChatGPT is raising the bar for entry-level jobs 🤖

Is ChatGPT your friend..or foe? Ryan Craig, a work futurist (which, BTW, very interesting job title 👀) cautions that AI might make entry-level jobs scarce.

Why? AI can do the manual labor that dominates entry-level jobs. Employers are searching for graduates capable of what AI can’t do: strategizing, networking, analyzing, etc.

To stand out, consider adding “ChatGPT pro” to your résumé: 90% of U.S. business leaders said it was a plus when searching for candidates. You can find tons of AI courses online, from Udemy to The University of Michigan.

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Day in the Life of a Dental Assistant

Did you know dental assistants can make over $70k without a degree?! Not only is it a great introductory role to get into the dental industry, but it's also a great career for anyone who likes to work with people! Watch the video above to learn what a typical day as a dental assistant looks like, and click here to find dental assistant jobs near you.

Let’s chat about negotiating. Although it can be a scary conversation, not negotiating your salary could cost you up to $750,000 over the course of your career. 😳 

Here’s what the people of NYC had to say about salary negotiations when we interviewed them a few months ago. 🎤

• A software engineer negotiated his salary up to $130,000.

• After NYC passed its Pay Transparency Law, this senior HR manager was able to negotiate his salary to the higher end of the pay spectrum: $85,000.

• This engagement manager got her salary up to $115,000. Her advice? “Always ask for the range and the budget.”

Just remember—a company’s first offer is almost never their best offer. 84% of employers expect you to negotiate, which means you have nothing to lose by asking for more.

• The top three cities for college grads are Lubbock, TX; Bloomington, IL; and Kalamazoo, MI, according to CNBC.

• Here’s how to write a cover letter that’ll actually be fun to put together.

• Recruiters might be scrolling past your LinkedIn profile if it has any of these five red flags. 🚩

• The interesting interview with a 22-year-old who’s working two remote jobs to earn $144,000 a year.

• Before you start your job search, ask yourself these six questions to better understand which career would be the right fit for you.

Thanks for being here! Before we part ways: Remember, new grads: Your life is a blank canvas. Whether you decide to go down the corporate route, become a freelancer, or start your own business (hey 👋) there is no right or wrong decision.

This chart by author Tim Urban will help you visualize just how many possibilities lie ahead. Good luck on your journey!