They haven’t even started working yet—but they’re already exhausted.
Picture this: a college senior finally gets the offer they’ve been chasing. Salary’s decent. The company seems fine. Everyone around them is celebrating…
But they feel nothing.
No excitement.
No motivation.
Just… dread.
This isn’t laziness or entitlement. This is pre-career burnout, and it’s happening to more students than we think.
What’s Going On?
We’ve heard about “quiet quitting”—employees doing the bare minimum to avoid burnout. But a new version is emerging: college students “quiet quitting” before they even land their first full-time role.
They’re overwhelmed, confused, and disengaged… before they even begin.
What the Research Says
- A 2024 Gallup poll revealed that only 36% of Gen Z workers feel engaged at work—before they’ve hit their second year.
- In a recent survey of college seniors, over 52% admitted they were unsure about their career direction, even just months before graduation.
- Career services are often underutilized, and many students say they feel “lost in the noise” of job boards, resume templates, and conflicting advice.
Why It’s Happening
Here’s what we’re seeing inside Minetum:
- Overwhelm & Identity Confusion: Students don’t know what direction to go in—and they feel like choosing “wrong” will ruin their future.
- Fear of Not Being Enough: The pressure to be perfectly polished and immediately successful is crushing.
- Job Search Fatigue: Hundreds of applications. Ghosting. Rejections. No wonder they want to check out before checking in.
- Lack of Support: Many students don’t have mentors, career coaches, or even a safe space to explore who they want to become.
The Consequences
For students:
- Delay in entering the workforce
- Anxiety, burnout, even depression
- Stalled growth and missed opportunities
For employers:
- High turnover
- Low early engagement
- Unprepared hires with unclear goals
The Solution: Career Coaching Before Burnout
At Minetum, we work with students before the burnout hits.
Our 3-month College Career Coaching Program is designed to help students:
- Clarify their strengths, values, and goals
- Build confident and strategic career plans
- Develop skills in personal branding, networking, and interviewing
- Reignite motivation with a sense of purpose
We’ve seen students go from stuck and unsure to inspired, focused, and career-ready—and that’s the kind of shift we need now more than ever.
Take Action Today
If you’re a parent of a college student, or a student yourself wondering “Where do I even begin?”—we’ve got your back.
Book a free consultation to see how Minetum can support your career clarity and confidence.
Or download our Free LinkedIn Profile Guide for Students and start showing up like a pro.
Let’s stop the burnout before it starts. Let’s help students fall in love with their future.
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