Amid slowed economic growth, and growing concerns of a recession in the United States, global economic uncertainty is adding pressure to job seekers. For many Willamette students and alumni navigating the job market, the economic headwinds make an already challenging process even more daunting. However, Willamette University’s Executive Director of Career Initiatives, Anne Lapour, offers a message of resilience: stay the course.
“Job searches are always emotional. They're always a roller coaster,” Lapour says. “But it's important for students and job seekers to stay focused on their goals and try not to get wrapped up in what the headlines are telling them they should be feeling.”
Rather, Lapour encourages students to leverage the fundamentals of a successful job search: careful preparation, networking, and leveraging the transferable skills they have learned during their time at Willamette.
The first key to a job search in a time of economic uncertainty is to learn about the industry and carefully target applications.
“Especially in these times, quality over quantity is important. Knowing yourself, knowing your goals, and then being willing to engage in a highly thoughtful networking and application process is going to be the best way to garner success,” Lapour says.
A great resource for job seekers is the Willamette alumni network. Lapour encourages students to identify alumni in their desired field or career through tools like LinkedIn. Alums can be a great source of informational interviews and networking, which can give crucial insight into who is hiring and what they are looking for. An informational interview and connection to someone already employed at a company can help an applicant stand out from the crowd.
“If there's a particular industry or organization where a Willamette alum works, it doesn't mean that an informational interview is going to give you a job, but it will make you a better candidate when a job comes along,” Lapour says.
Students need to be ready to tell their stories of who they are, what their Willamette experience has prepared them to offer, and what their goals are for the future. Students and graduates can point to specific courses, projects, or accomplishments to articulate their fit with what a company is looking for.
Ultimately, Lapour encourages students to remember that a first post-graduation job does not determine an entire career path — especially in a challenging economy.
“Whatever this first job is, it's not forever,” Lapour says. “Whether it's the job you wanted, whether you had to compromise, whether you love it or whether you hate it, you will learn something from it and you will be in a better position for the next job.”
With all these tools in hand — a vast alumni network, rich career development resources, and the transferable skills provided by a Willamette education — Willamette graduates will set themselves up to succeed, no matter the economic outlook.
Three things Willamette students and graduates can do right now:
- Access the power of the Willamette alumni network. There are thousands of alumni on LinkedIn, and they can be a great resource for networking. Lapour also recommends watching for career and community events through the Office of Alumni & Community Engagement.
- Schedule an appointment with Career Development. Willamette alums and students have access to advising, resume critiques, and interview practice — even after graduation. Never built a LinkedIn profile before? Lapour says summer is a great time to reach out to schedule a consultation. Beginning in fall 2025, the newly-expanded Renjen Career Center will offer students a professional hub for those seeking to pursue a high-impact field or career.
- Pursue informational interviews. Reaching out to arrange informational interviews can be a great way to learn about a field and what hiring managers are looking for. These experiences can provide interview practice and can help an application stand out from the rest.
