The job no new grads want

Hey there! A Gen Z career hack we’ve been loving: “Be delulu.” AKA, delude your way into your dream job by going after it unabashedly.

💼 See a job that requires experience you don’t have? Apply anyway.

🙆‍♀️ Spot your dream mentor on LinkedIn? Message them.

💰 Want a 20% raise? Just ask.

“Being delulu” sounds silly, but it’s all about advocating for yourself—and that’s something we can definitely get behind.

 1   College students aren’t down to teach 🧑‍🏫

Five decades ago, 20% of bachelor’s degrees were earned in the field of education. But today, that number has plummeted 50%, despite a 150% increase in college students since 1970.

Why aren’t college students pursuing education as a career? A few reasons…

1. Money. The average K–12 teacher earns $65,090 per year. That’s a decent salary for most parts of the country, but…teachers first need to spend 5–6 years in school in preparation (including 600 “clinical” hours of often unpaid apprenticeships) which costs time and a lot of money.

2. Opportunities. 50 years ago, education was one of the few “acceptable” career paths for women. Fast-forward to today and (thankfully) women have more options.

3. Respect. Long working hours, low pay, little support, and unrealistic expectations leave teachers “disrespected and dissatisfied.”

This is a problem. In 2022, all 50 states reported a teacher shortage in at least one subject. Curious to hear what teachers have to say about their pay? Go here.

 2   Disability unemployment hits historic low, but… 🧐

The employment-to-population ratio for people with disabilities recently hit a record high of 22.4%. 🎉 

Experts say it’s because of:

• WFH’s flexibility

• A steady labor demand

• Decreased stigma around remote work

But that number isn’t telling the full story. People are still hesitant to disclose their disability status to their employers. Only 4.5% of workers self-identify as disabled despite representing a quarter of the workforce, according to Disability:IN.

Whether it be fear of discrimination or retribution, workplaces still have ways to go before they’re inclusive to all. Listen to our interview with a disabled worker here to hear their perspective.

 3   Companies want you in a business etiquette class 👔

Bad news for Gen Z: Class isn’t over just yet. 60% of companies are requiring employees (particularly Gen Z) to enroll in business etiquette classes to learn soft skills they missed out on during the pandemic, per Resume Builder.

Here’s what’s on the curriculum:

✔️ How to engage in appropriate office banter

✔️ How to dress appropriately

✔️ How to write professional emails

Fun fact: These workshops can be pricey. Business Training Works offers a two-day on-site business etiquette class for 36 employees for…$14,100. 🤯

Sponsored by Capitalize 

Do You Have an Old 401(k) Account Collecting Dust?

Don't leave your retirement funds behind when you switch jobs. Give yourself peace of mind and let Capitalize roll over your old 401(k)s into an IRA for free! Take it from our founder, Hannah: she used Capitalize before launching Salary Transparent Street to roll over her 401(k) into an IRA of her choice, completely free. Get started here.

“My total comp is $275,000 a year and I work 100% remote.”

No, you’re not dreaming—this is Symoné’s setup as a senior federal technical account manager at a cybersecurity gov tech startup.

In our latest interview, Synomé shares all her secrets:

• Which cybersecurity certifications she recommends

• How job hopping internally helped Synomé go from $72K to $250K in 2.5 years

• How to increase your salary by job-hopping without quitting your job

• How to get a government security clearance

Watch her interview here!

• Here’s a deeper dive into how “being delulu” can accelerate your career. 🤪

• Negotiating your salary is critical. But don’t forget to negotiate your benefits, too. Here’s our how-to guide.

• An illuminating perspective on why the “lazy girl job” trend might be problematic.

• Microsoft is not on people’s good side right now. Here’s why.

• Did you know you could pay $700 for a class that teaches you how to become an influencer? 🤳

Thanks for reading! Last week, we asked you: “Do you want a so-called lazy girl job?” and 46% of you voted “Yes, please.” 💁‍♀️ But those of you who voted in favor had some fascinating reasons as to why:

Clearly, there’s more than meets the eye when it comes to the lazy girl job.

See you next Tuesday!