The truth is, a college degree, extra certification, or an impressive list of activities may no longer be enough to get employers to notice a young person. 

In this episode of College & Career Clarity, Lisa Marker-Robbins shares insights from her work with teens, college students, and young adults to explain what employers are looking for and how young people can start building a career-ready professional identity before they enter the job market.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

• Why double majors or minors, workplace credentials, and activities may not improve job prospects for young adults
• The role of AI know-how, proven skills, and human abilities in career readiness
• Starting career preparation early through relevant experiences and skill building
• Supporting career discovery and development from high school through the early years of employment

Key Takeaways: 

• Young people need to understand how AI can support and adapt to work, while developing communication, collaboration, problem-solving, agency, and the ability to influence outcomes.
• Skills gained through internships or independent research become more compelling when young people can demonstrate what they can do and connect those abilities to a wider range of careers.
• Before pursuing another certification, minor, or graduate degree, assess whether the real gap is technical knowledge, proof of skills, human abilities, or how existing strengths are communicated to employers.
• High school students can use classes, extracurriculars, and free time to build a foundation, while college students should assess their strengths and gaps and deliberately develop the experience and evidence they will need after graduation.

“[If] you’re in high school. Don’t panic and don’t start resume stuffing. Use the experience to begin building the skills, the humanness, and the evidence.” – Lisa Marker-Robbins

Episode References:

• Join the newsletter to get weekly clarity tools, insights, and family conversation prompts straight to your inbox: flourishcoachingco.com/newsletter
• Learn more about Launch Career Clarity at https://flourishcoachingco.com/course

Get Lisa’s Free on-demand video: THE CAREER IDENTIFICATION COMPASS: How To Be Certain Your 15 To 25 Year Old Is On The Right Path to Launch With Confidence–Not Confusion: flourishcoachingco.com/

Connect with Lisa:

Website: https://www.flourishcoachingco.com/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@flourishcoachingco

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/flourishcoachingco/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/flourishcoachingco/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/flourish-coaching-co

Access the episode transcript here