It's that time of year again, Reader--the time when we push our young people off the well-lit path of school and into the unpredictable jungle of adulthood today.

I don't envy those grads.

'Cause from what I can tell, they're getting loads of advice.

And not all of it's good.

• "Find your dream job."
• "Don't settle for less than you deserve."
• "Do what you love and the money will follow."

That's bananas. 🍌 Old school advice like that keeps us stuck, stalled, waiting, wondering. Or there's this crap, still dished out by many career centers:

• Get your MBA (or grad degree)—more education is never a bad thing.
• Keep tweaking your resume --you've got to beat the algorithms!
• Just keep applying online--the right job is there somewhere.

NO!

That kind of advice belongs to a category I call "productivity fakers."

They sound like we're doing something useful, but too often, they're just us deferring, delaying, or dancing in place.

So I'm loathe to give the graduating class too much advice.

Instead, I'd rather make a few asks.

​Read my article: Advice for the Graduating Class (& What We’re Asking of You Now)​

So what about you, Reader? What's the ask you'd make of the next generation to join the workforce? Hit REPLY and tell me. Or share the advice you've gotten--the good, bad and ugly. As always, I happily await hearing from you.

And if you or someone you love is in the Class of '26--or if you're graduating from one stage of life or work to another--I hope you step into a few of these asks as well. After all, we need you now more than ever in our world of work. Thanks for being here!

Always, Darcy

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P.S. Even though I wrote "Red Cape Rescue: Save Your Career Without Leaving Your Job" for mid-to-late-career professionals who hit a speed bump in their work or lives, I'm told the lessons apply to recent grads as well, as noted in this recent Amazon review (below). If you gift Rescue to your grad, send me a photo and I'll send them a note of congrats-I love hearing from you! --D