Many parents, families, or friends have been with students throughout the college experience, from the applications to move-in day and family weekend, all the way to the finish line—graduation day.

Throughout a student’s college career, parents may offer advice or suggestions on how to make the most of the experience. However, when graduation comes, some parents are unsure how they can help now if their student does not have a job lined up.

A common misconception is that parents just need to push their new graduates to get a job, remind them of the bills they have to pay, or say things like, “You’re in the real world now.” While the intentions are good, the execution can cause strain between parents and their new graduates, even when their goal is to push them forward into the next stage of their careers.

To best understand what actions you are undertaking, if it is the right approach, or if another method could be more valuable to support a student you care about, check out Jobs for Recent Grads: How Parents Can Help (or Hinder) by Beth Hendler-Grunt, author of The Next Great Step.