"We live in uncertain and unstable times. The job market is contracting due to economic uncertainty, political instability and the increase of AI-driven automation. In my role as a career adviser, I talk to many students and recent graduates who have faced a long and difficult job search. The words and phrases I hear most often in these conversations are "dejected," "soul-crushing," or "I feel like I am screaming into the void.""
"All of this uncertainty can lead to feelings of helplessness and hopelessness. What I hear from students, and in particular our international community at Columbia University, is, "What is the point of applying to jobs if no one will hire me?" Such self-defeating thoughts can lead to inaction and feelings of despair. Yet hope is essential to the success of any job search. Having hope or optimism that something will work out is central to achieving one's goals."
Uncertain economic conditions, political instability, and AI-driven automation are contracting the job market and increasing difficulty of job searches for students and recent graduates. International students face additional barriers as H-1B visas grow harder and costlier for employers to sponsor. Such uncertainty often produces helplessness, hopelessness, and self-defeating thoughts that undermine job-search activity. Hope and optimism are central to successful job searches by sustaining motivation and goal-directed action. Career advisers' hopeful attitudes can positively influence clients' motivation, resilience, earnings, and employment outcomes, as caseworker confidence correlates with improved results. Advisers must manage their own feelings of hopelessness and draw on hope-centered frameworks and resources for guidance.
Read at Inside Higher Ed | Higher Education News, Events and Jobs
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