On the surface, the future looks bright for spring’s college grads, with employers planning to hire nearly 15% more candidates from the class of 2023 than in the previous year, according to the National Association of Colleges and Employers. Dig a little deeper, however, and the outlook gets murkier, cautions career coach Beth Hendler-Grunt.

“College graduates struggle to find jobs due to competition, lack of work experience and not understanding employer expectations,” she said. “And their parents are frustrated. They want to help, and they’re not sure how. Many parents haven’t looked for a job in over 20-plus years, and things have definitely changed in that time.”

How can parents help? What should grads do?

Hendler-Grunt’s new book, The Next Great Step: The Parents’ Guide to Launching Your New Grad Into a Career, gives parents a simple, step-by-step plan for successfully guiding their young adults through the transition from college to career.

Filled with tips, job aids and insightful stories, The Next Great Step addresses everything from how parents can help their young adults get “unstuck” and navigate the hiring process, to how students and grads can stand out from the rest of the graduating class. Hendler-Grunt shares the secrets of how to “network” the right way and excel in interviews, and how parents can offer solid career advice to their grad.

The Next Great Step provides insights from three key perspectives: the concerns of the parent, the thought process of the student and the expectations of potential employers.

“Navigating the post-college job world is all about developing and implementing the right strategies,” Hendler-Grunt said. “This book is required reading for families looking to navigate a changing world from college to career. Companies need new grads. It’s just a matter of connecting the dots.”