Many graduates dream of landing their perfect job and taking those precious first steps in their career.

Although many might think they're ready for the world of work, there is one aspect that Maria Crowe was not prepared for when she started working full-time.

For much of her adolescence, Crowe, 21, has worked in the food and beverage industry and loved being around customers. She told Newsweek that "building those connections" was one of the highlights, but deep down, she was so excited to finally kickstart her career.

She graduated college in May 2025, and just one week later, landed her first professional role as a sales coordinator for a luxury hotel. It felt like such an exciting time as there was so much possibility at her fingertips—until reality set in.

As much as she enjoys

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