Recent Arts Graduate Discovers Harsh Reality After Landing First Job

Kaylee Banks, a 23-year-old recent graduate with a double major in English and French, shares the struggles many young individuals face in today's competitive job market. Despite her academic achievements, Banks finds herself working as a dishwasher and serving canapés, far from her dreams of becoming an author or magazine editor.

In a candid interview with Newsweek, Banks expressed her disappointment at the current state of her career. "I always dreamed of writing books, attending press conferences, and traveling the world, but here I am, a dishwasher in the basement of a hotel," she lamented.

While Banks is currently employed as a server at a local catering company and a receptionist at a tanning salon, she yearns for more fulfilling work. She believes that her struggle to find a job in her chosen field is a shared experience among other graduates in her age group.

Recently, Banks posted a TikTok video where she shared her realization about her present circumstances. The video quickly went viral, garnering 2.4 million views and stirring various reactions from the online community.

In the video, viewers saw Banks hard at work in the hotel's kitchen while overlay text explained her educational background in English literature, French language, and sociology. The online response she received was a mixture of support as well as criticism towards her degree choice and career prospects. Unfortunately, this backlash reflects a broader disdain for arts degrees and underappreciation for essential yet low-paying jobs.

Despite facing negative remarks about her career path, Banks remains hopeful. "I love my current jobs and look forward to exploring opportunities in waitressing and applying to bookshops," she expressed. Settling into a traditional nine-to-five job is not her immediate goal, as she hopes to travel, write a book, and finally relax since high school.

Kaylee Banks' story sheds light on the challenging reality that many arts graduates face. Despite their qualifications, they often struggle in a job market where suitable opportunities do not align with their educational backgrounds or aspirations.

According to a survey by Insight Global, nearly 70 percent of job seekers find their current job search more challenging than previous ones, even though the United States added 2.7 million jobs in 2023. Gen Z individuals, born between 1997 and 2012, have been particularly affected by this competitive and exhausting market, with 66 percent feeling burnt out from the job hunt.

Banks mentions how she and her friends have sent numerous applications with no response, highlighting the oversaturation of the job market and the increasing competitiveness of the application process. Networking also seems to disproportionately benefit individuals from affluent backgrounds, perpetuating the gap between the rich and the middle class.

Despite the obstacles, Banks remains optimistic and determined to pursue her passions. Her story serves as a reminder of the challenges faced by recent graduates worldwide, who navigate a job market that sometimes fails to recognize the value of their qualifications and aspirations.