Big Dreams, Bigger Challenges: What’s Driving the Class of 2025

Tuesday, June 10, 2025

9:15 AM - 10:15 AM EDT

Location: Terrace Ballroom 4

Moderator(s)

Christine Cruzvergara (she/her/hers)

Chief Education Strategy Officer
Handshake
San Francisco , California, United States

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Panelist(s)

FJ

Fathima Jaffer

Vice President, North American Early Talent
TD Bank Group, United States
RT

Randy Tarnowski (he/him/his)

Director of Research
Handshake, United States
MV

Mario Vela

Assistant Vice-Provost and Executive Director
The University of Texas at San Antonio
San Antonio, Texas, United States

The Class of 2025 has big goals for their careers, but they’re also facing daunting challenges. This session will unpack the factors influencing new grads’ decisions, the resources they’re seeking from career services and employers, and the approaches that work to connect with them on their terms.

Learning Objectives:

Understand key factors impacting the Class of 2025’s job and career decisions, from their ambitious long-term goals to immediate challenges like student loan debt and a competitive entry-level job market.
Gain insight into the resources and support this class is seeking from employers and career services teams, and how they want employers to respond to larger economic and social trends.
Develop practical strategies to connect with this class on their terms, whether you’re a career services leader helping them navigate the job search or an employer aiming to stand out.