What a Career Really Means: The Stats Behind Your Schooling and the Reality of the Job Market

You've finished school and are now ready to take on the world. You're feeling confident, empowered, and excited. But what's next? Where are you're going to start your career? Should you go to grad school or get a job right away? There are many questions that come with the decision of whether or not to enter the job market. Statistics show that starting your career immediately after graduation is more common than ever before--in fact, the average age for first-time employment has dropped below 24. Although there are benefits to this (including working at a company like Amazon), it might not be the best choice for everyone. Here are some reasons why delaying your career might be worth it.

Statistics of average age for first-time employment

If you enter the job market after your education, you'll be entering a much more competitive and selective pool. Just a few years of experience could be enough to help you become a top candidate. And, in an economy like this, if you're at a lesser-known school or don't have the list of degrees a recruiter would want to see, you'll have a much harder time.

If you only have one chance to make an impression on a job seeker, you'll want to make that impression count. One thing that often happens is that people rush into jobs before they're truly ready. If you take a little time to train and learn the basics of your job, you'll have a much more fulfilling career in the long run.

Graduating without a clear career path

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, employment for those between 25 and 34 years old declined in 2015 compared to 2007. This means that those working in this age group may not have the career security of a full-time job. Many employees today are forced to find jobs from multiple companies or even just a single company. But by being in your twenties, you have plenty of time to find a job before any instability can really start affecting you. After all, most jobs will offer a possibility of moving on or even switching departments. If you find that your dream job doesn't work out, your career path can always change again.

Why starting your career immediately might not be the best option

The weather: One study by Kronos, an HR software company, found that 60% of people quit a job because of the weather and that 40% of those who leave a job, for this reason, take another job within a year. What a coincidence! - Working at McDonald's: The average age for first-time employment has dropped below 24.

What are the odds that working at a fast-food restaurant might damage your career development? - The scary timeline: While many young adults feel like they're only a few years away from their full-time career, taking on the time to establish an income that will support you throughout your working life might be wise.

What delayed entry into the job market means for you

Not only will you enjoy more freedom, but you will have more flexibility. After all, your real-world work experience could be key in deciding the direction of your future career. If you're a finance major, you could decide to go into investment banking. Or, you could do consulting, potentially finding your dream job in the process. But the reality is that every job isn't always right for everyone, and delayed entry into the job market opens you up to more possibilities.

If you're an education major, you could go on to become a college professor instead of entering the job market directly after graduating. And if you're interested in a career in the medical field, you could still go on to school to learn more.

Benefits of delaying your career

Working years: Beyond all the financial reasons to delay, it makes sense that working years make up a bigger proportion of your entire career than just one. For women, the average career might end at age 41. By that point, many other reasons might start to outweigh the advantages of starting your career earlier in life. Women also experience slower rates of growth as their careers progress compared to men.

Delay your career further, and the numbers get even worse--women working in their thirties will experience a 1 percent growth rate, while men working in the same age range will see a 4 percent growth. If you delay even further to age 40, you'll see a 6 percent growth rate, which is still not much, but there are definitely benefits to be had.

The timing of delayed entry into the job market affects you differently

You might be able to take advantage of career opportunities while you're in school. Many schools offer students opportunities to work on campus, as well as internships or paid work on campus. If you have internships or student jobs to complete, you can apply for them and work for your school while you're in school. A lot of people who work while attending college are also employed while in school, as they are also taking time to study.

While you're in school, you might also be able to network with professors and others who are working in your field. You might be able to find a job working in a lab or area of research within the subject matter you're studying. Or, you might be able to work at the school where you're in school.

Choosing when and how to enter the job market after graduation depends on a lot of factors, and while there may be no one right answer, it's important to do some research and to think things through. At the same time, a career in tech could be right for you; whether it is or not will largely depend on what you want to learn and where you see yourself in five years.