Kyla Denwood and Lindsey O'Neal, recent graduates poised to serve in the USAID Foreign Service, saw their long-awaited careers derailed by the cuts in USAID staffing and initiatives under the Trump administration. They had participated in a prestigious fellowship program that offered substantial benefits but are now left navigating a precarious job market. Many young professionals are compelled to reconsider their career paths, shifting focus to the private and nonprofit sectors as they compete for limited opportunities, highlighting the evolving landscape of job security for new graduates.
This is something I've been working toward for years. I was almost there. To just have it blow up is not a good feeling.
During the pandemic, there was one reality one day, and then a completely different one the next day. It was such a stark change. That's how this feels.
Young grads had increasingly been applying to entry-level jobs in government. Now, what was once considered a more secure career path has been upended.
Denwood and O'Neal are now searching for backup plans in the private or nonprofit sectors, where they'll have to compete with thousands of other foreign service professionals.
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