The Broken Promise: Devi Sahny on Why College Grads Feel Betrayed

In a recent LinkedIn post, Devi Sahny discusses the growing disillusionment among recent college graduates who feel let down by the traditional educational and career path. Sahny, who speaks with several Ascend Now alumni weekly, highlights the disconnect between the promise of a stable, fulfilling career after obtaining a degree and the reality many young professionals face.

The core of Sahny’s concern, amplified by a recent New York Times article titled “Why College Graduates Feel Betrayed,” is that students are diligently following the expected script – excelling in academics and securing university admission – only to find a lack of well-paying and fulfilling job opportunities. “Too many young people are doing everything they were told to do, only to find themselves unemployed, underemployed, or in jobs that do not require their degree,” Sahny states.

The Breakdown of the Traditional Career Path

Sahny argues that the long-held chronological progression of education leading to a degree and then to a stable career is no longer a reliable model. This breakdown is exacerbated by rising college costs and a shrinking market for entry-level white-collar positions. The implicit contract that a university degree guarantees independence, meaningful work, and security is, in Sahny’s view, being broken.

“Colleges are raising prices, entry-level white-collar roles are dropping, and university is no longer a guaranteed path to success.”

This unmet expectation, Sahny explains, can lead to a profound sense of betrayal for graduates who built their adult lives around this promise. The financial and emotional toll of this situation is significant, leaving many questioning the value of their educational investment.

Rethinking the Approach: Skills Over Credentials

In response to this challenging landscape, Sahny offers advice to current college graduates, urging them to move beyond simply following the established script. The emphasis, according to Sahny, should shift from accumulating credentials to building tangible skills.

Building Skills and Relationships

Sahny encourages graduates to focus on creating projects, developing non-transactional relationships, and honing essential soft skills like communication, adaptability, and problem-solving. The idea is to proactively demonstrate capabilities rather than waiting for external validation or permission.

“Build skills, not only credentials. Create projects, not only résumés. Develop relationships, not only grades. Relationships that are non-transactional.”

As an illustration of this new reality, Sahny shares an anecdote about a student who, despite securing a meaningful but underpaid entry-level role, is actively pursuing multiple part-time jobs, including consulting. This student has already achieved significant earnings through commissions and sales, demonstrating an entrepreneurial spirit that transcends traditional employment structures.

“He is a senior in university. That’s the new reality.”

Sahny concludes by emphasizing a proactive mindset: “Don’t ask permission. Just go. Remember your input = your output.” This sentiment underscores the need for graduates to take initiative and actively shape their own career trajectories in a rapidly evolving professional world.

The post concludes with a call for advice, asking both graduates and the workforce for their perspectives on navigating this new era of career development.