Grads Are Entering a Chilly Job Market. The Big Five Has Some Advice.

Graduating into the “real world” is tough enough without the job market looking like a frozen tundra. But that’s what the Class of 2025 is facing. While the U.S. job market appears strong on the surface, with overall low unemployment rates, new grads are struggling to land jobs. In fact, 5.8% of recent college grads aged 22 to 27 are unemployed, according to research from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. A May 2025 report from Oxford Economics indicates that 85% of unemployment since mid-2023 is concentrated in new market entrants who can’t find work.

Add in slow hiring rates, job cuts, AI taking over entry-level positions in certain sectors, and a substantial drop in the number of internships, and you can see just how tough the landscape is for new graduates trying to launch their careers. We’re also in a period of job market stickiness, meaning employees aren’t quitting their jobs or job hopping like they were before the pandemic. 

With all of these contributing factors making the job market particularly harrowing for new grads, it’s essential to stand out if you’re entering the workforce. Applying to every open job might seem like a win in a pure numbers game, but the reality is, it may be better to get more specific about the types of jobs you’re applying for to increase your chances. 

The Big Five personality system—a widely used model that measures five key dimensions of personality—offers a practical, grounded approach to understanding your strengths, challenges, and natural workplace preferences. Knowing your traits can give you a significant edge, helping you stand out in your applications and ultimately secure a job tailored to your strengths.

Curious about your Big Five traits? Take the free Big Five test to discover your unique profile.

High Openness: Focus on Innovative and Problem-solving Roles 

People high in Openness enjoy using their imagination and have a naturally curious mindset. If you scored high on this trait, you love exploring new ideas, picking up new hobbies, researching unfamiliar topics and considering different perspectives. You thrive on examining complex issues from multiple angles. For you, nothing is quite black and white, and you tend to be more unconventional than others.

Because of these traits, try looking for jobs and work environments that:

• Value innovation and flexible thinking.
• Offer a variety of tasks to keep you interested.
• Encourage creativity.
• Involve exploration or research.
• Are emerging fields with a lot of evolution ahead.
• Are nontraditional and offer flexibility.

Here’s how to job hunt smarter as a high-Openness grad:

• Don’t box yourself in. Many jobs may have interdisciplinary needs where your diverse skills are a valuable asset, so don’t stray away from multi-faceted roles.
• Look beyond job titles. Like judging a book by its cover, you might do yourself a disservice by ignoring jobs with vague titles like “Consultant.” Look beyond initial titles to uncover the creativity required for a job.
• Highlight your creative nature and versatility. In your application materials, include content that showcases your versatile, creative side. It’s a good idea to include any creative side hustles, hobbies or projects in your resume or cover letter. 
• Don’t rule out non-linear job paths. Yes, you want your dream job, but your path to it might not be straightforward. Keep an open mind and look for short-term freelance gigs, contract work or even startup jobs that could boost your skillset.
• Embrace your curiosity and network with people in similar fields. You never know where this might lead or what you might learn.

High Conscientiousness: Lean Into Your Structured, Organized Strengths

Folks high in Conscientiousness tend to be highly organized, reliable, self-disciplined, responsible and goal-oriented. If that’s you, you stick with it through difficult tasks, going above and beyond with the details.You are a natural self-starter who always meets your deadlines.

Because of these traits, try looking for jobs that:

• Require strong attention to detail and laser precision.
• Promote an independent work ethic.
• Emphasize high-responsibility tasks that require little supervision.
• Offer stability and growth.
• Involve planning, logistics or systematic thinking.
• Reward hard work, loyalty and reliability.
• Have a highly structured environment.

Here’s how to job hunt smarter as a high-Conscientiousness grad:

• Highlight your reliability. Employers crave consistency, so use your application materials to highlight how you meet deadlines, manage long-term projects and keep teams on track, all while getting things done right down to the smallest details.
• Balance your perfectionism with clear goals. You’re a planner, so you might wait to submit applications until you feel they’re “perfect.” This may not be the wisest strategy in the current market, so set a goal for submitting several applications a week so perfectionism doesn’t bog you down
• Prioritize workplaces that value organized self-starters. Some roles require employees to manage themselves with minimal supervision. These are the types of roles most suited to you.
• Use your Conscientiousness to spot red flags. Read job postings carefully—if the role lacks clarity, structure or measurable outcomes, it might not be the best fit for your work style.
• Prepare thoughtful questions for interviews. You can and should ask questions during a job interview to assess whether the position is a good fit for you. Take time beforehand to come up with a list of questions about workflow, the daily expectations and structure. These help you assess whether the environment fits your methodical nature.

High Extraversion: Highlight Your Sociability and Love of Fast-Paced Environments

If you’re high in Extraversion, you thrive on human interaction, such as networking, and have a high-energy enthusiasm. You’re the type who enjoys working in teams, thinking out loud and taking action. Your strengths include your sociable nature, confidence, positivity and love of fast-paced environments. You’re also quite gregarious, which can get you far when building a rapport with your boss, clients or co-workers.

Because of these traits, try looking for jobs that:

• Involve collaboration, teamwork or frequent social interaction and networking.
• Value strong communication skills and charismatic enthusiasm.
• Provide fast-paced, dynamic environments with ample stimulation.
• Include client-facing responsibilities or relationship-building.
• Include mentorship, training or leadership opportunities.
• Let you take the initiative.

Here’s how to job hunt smarter as a high-Extraversion grad:

• Network, network, network. You love making connections, so don’t hesitate to reach out to alums, former colleagues, professors or anyone who may help you in your job search. Use your social media accounts (such as LinkedIn) to bolster your reputation through regular posts, networking and showcasing your skills.
• Target people-first companies. Look for workplaces that emphasize collaboration, a strong culture and team dynamics. Extraverts tend to excel in roles where interaction is key.
• Attend events, volunteer or take short-term freelance roles. Waiting for responses can be frustrating. Keep your energy up by attending events, volunteering or freelancing while job hunting.
• Highlight your teamwork skills. In your application materials and during interviews, emphasize how your social skills have helped teams succeed or projects move forward, even if these examples were in college clubs.
• Use career fairs and in-person events to your advantage. Networking doesn’t have to be limited to online platforms. Attend career fairs and in-person networking events to meet new people. A great conversation could lead to everything from career advice to a job lead.

High Agreeableness: Leverage Your People Skills

If you scored high on Agreeableness, some of your greatest strengths include your compassionate nature and consideration for others. You care deeply about your relationships, including those in the workplace. You’re always willing to lend a helping hand. You’re also trustworthy, cooperative and sensitive to others' needs. Your compliant, warm, people-forward nature is a powerful asset you can leverage in your job search. Many employers seek employees who possess high emotional intelligence, as it enhances team morale and facilitates smoother, more empathetic communication.

Because of these traits, try looking for jobs that:

• Require strong interpersonal or emotional intelligence skills.
• Let you contribute to a mission, cause or people-centered goal (or at least involve collaboration in some capacity).
• Require active listening, patience and people-first problem-solving.
• Involve helping others, either directly or behind the scenes.
• Have clear-cut expectations for pleasing your employers.
• Value harmony, collaboration and human connection over competition.

Here’s how to job hunt smarter as a high-Agreeableness grad:

• Look for mission-driven, values-based companies. These jobs will feel more fulfilling and align with your compassionate nature. 
• Research workplace culture. Go beyond just scanning what the company says in its job posting. You can also search for reviews from former employees and ask about team dynamics in interviews.
• Avoid overly competitive roles. While you can handle pressure, you may struggle in jobs that reward aggressive tactics or individual achievements over collaborative efforts.
• Know your boundaries. Being highly Agreeable means you may sometimes ignore your boundaries to please others. To avoid setting up a dynamic where you feel taken advantage of, recognize your needs upfront. If possible, skip job openings that have a poor work-life or lack of support.
• Mention your people skills in your application materials. Your resume and LinkedIn are great places to highlight your volunteer work, past collaborative projects and your empathetic nature. During interviews, mention your experience with client or boss relationships and conflict mediation.

High Neuroticism: Use Your Sensitive Nature to Your Advantage

Those who score high on Neuroticism are more sensitive than others, which is not always a negative in the workplace. Sensitivity allows you to experience the full range of emotions. You are likely to be self-aware, deeply introspective and recognize threats or bad intentions before anyone else does. When harnessed, your fear of failure and inner alarm system keeps you well-prepared for what could go wrong and able to bring unrealistic plans down to earth. 

Because of these traits, try looking for jobs that:

• Have minimal chaos, unpredictability or high-pressure decision-making.
• Reward empathy, thoughtfulness and emotional depth.
• Offer mentorship and training, in addition to clear-cut expectations.
• Don’t prioritize competitiveness in the workplace. 
• Encourage thoughtful, careful work over speed or risk-taking.

Here’s how to job hunt smarter as a high-Neuroticism grad:

• Build a job search routine with breaks. Your emotions may run high during your search. Remember to give yourself a break between applications or interviews.
• Fight your imposter syndrome before interviews. It’s normal to experience imposter syndrome. But before an interview, it’s best to prepare by giving yourself a confidence boost. Write down your recent accomplishments, practice affirmations and quiet your inner voice so you can perform your best.
• Seek roles that align with your values. You’ll feel most grounded in careers where your work matters, employers view empathy as a strength and you get to employ your emotional depth.
• Prioritize environments that offer stability, structure and collaboration. You’ll feel more confident in roles where expectations are clear and you have a stable, emotionally supportive team.
• Look for emotionally intelligent leadership. Don’t be afraid to research a company’s leadership dynamics. During interviews, ask about team dynamics and management styles to gauge whether the environment is supportive and compassionate.
• Be honest about your emotional needs. You may want a less stimulating work environment, a company that prioritizes mental health days or a remote job without a supervisor breathing down your neck. Recognize and list your emotional needs, then tighten up your search.

Mastering the Job Market 

In a tough job market, it’s easy to feel like you’re navigating stormy, murky waters. But you might notice a considerable difference in your job search when you start targeting roles that match your Big Five personality traits. You likely have a combination of high traits and low traits, so prioritize where your strengths lie in your high percentages, while keeping your lower percentages in mind. For example, if you’re low on Extraversion, you’ll know that you want the opposite of what someone high in Extraversion does.

Using the Big Five can help you narrow your focus, highlight your authentic strengths and target environments where you’ll stand out and land interviews. This will not only help you feel more aligned when you do land the job you want, but it will also prevent you from taking a position you’ll regret later. Whatever your journey looks like, remember you aren’t alone in the struggle. Eventually, you will find the right role for you, even if you have to take a temporary detour.