I’m working with several recent graduates right now who are looking for their first professional job.
They tell me they have friends who graduated in May who are working in retail stores or coffee shops while they keep applying. These are smart, capable people with degrees in many different majors from computer science to marketing. They did what they thought they were supposed to do and it hasn’t worked out the way they expected. Now they grow more discouraged as the months go by.
Here’s what I want you to know: The market has shifted dramatically, and the traditional approach, get good grades, attend a couple of job fairs and land a job isn’t how it works anymore.
The good news is that if you’re still in school, you have time to do things differently. And even if you’ve already graduated, it’s not too late to change your approach.
What’s happening in the entry-level market
The 2026 job market for new graduates is the toughest it’s been in over a decade. Entry-level job postings have dropped significantly while applications per posting have skyrocketed. Some roles are getting hundreds of applicants.
New grad unemployment is at levels we haven’t seen in years, and it’s staying elevated longer than in past cycles.
Companies have cut their campus recruiting budgets, so more is being done on line. They’re using AI screening tools that filter out lots of resumes before a human ever sees them. Many organizations have decided to replace entry level roles with AI and automation.
And the roles that do exist? They’re going to candidates who convince the hiring managers they are able to do the job on day one. Experience, even a little bit, has become a primary filter.
This is a real shift. I’m not saying this to scare anyone. I say it to emphasize the fact that doing what previous graduating classes did won’t get you the same results. You need a different approach.
Most companies right now are in “pause or careful growth” mode. They’re not posting jobs widely—they’re hiring through people they know or people their team knows. The students who land roles in this market are overwhelmingly the ones who built a connection that turned into an opportunity. A professor made an introduction. A former internship supervisor reached out about an opening. Someone they met at an event remembered them when a role came up.
These warm connections are worth exponentially more than cold on line applications. But they take time to build, which is why you need to start now and be consistent about it.
Three things that will make a difference
- Get experience—starting now
The single biggest factor I see separating graduates who find jobs from those who don’t is they can point to something concrete they’ve done and the result they achieved.
It’s an employer’s market so they have the luxury to seek out graduates who have worked. Your college studies give you knowledge. Working gives you experience. Employers aren’t looking just for potential anymore.
If you’re still in school, now is the time to get this experience. Look for a campus job with real responsibility, a research assistantship where you contribute to actual projects, a part-time role where you can improve something measurable, a significant class project that creates something usable, or even a volunteer position where you own a meaningful outcome.
If you’ve already graduated and have not worked at all, it’s not too late, but you need to try to find a way to get some experience now; not keep applying and hoping. Consider: volunteering your skills to a nonprofit, asking a former professor if you can help with their research, reaching out to small companies to see if they need project help (even unpaid at first to build your portfolio), or creating your own project that demonstrates your abilities.
The key in all of these: you will be able to explain to hiring managers the outcomes you had and the skills you built, not just duties you performed.
- Build a LinkedIn presence that makes people want to help you
Most entry-level jobs aren’t filled through online job boards. They’re filled through referrals, networking, and building relationships. Someone meets you, likes you, thinks you’re sharp, and then either helps you find a role or introduces you to someone who does.
Your LinkedIn profile is what those people look at before they meet you. When you have a great informational interview or coffee chat with someone, chances are they already checked your profile. When someone thinks “hey, my team might have an opening, let me see if that person I talked to would be a good fit,” they’re going to go back to your LinkedIn page.
If your profile is vague or looks like you’re not really sure what you want to do, you’ve lost the first opportunity to impress.
So your LinkedIn should do two things: show that you’re serious about a specific direction, and demonstrate that you’ve done something relevant.
Use clear, keyword‑rich headlines and bullet points that mirror the skills and responsibilities in actual postings for they types of roles you seek, then highlight outcomes from your projects and experience that match.
Then back that up with evidence. If you’ve done projects, built anything, created work samples you can add links. A portfolio site. A GitHub repository. Writing samples. A case study from a class project. A presentation you’re proud of. Let people see what you have done, not just read about your coursework.
- Be strategic, organized and consistent
Finding a job in 2026 is going to take time and consistent, strategic effort. You need to treat this like a project.
Set weekly or bi-weekly goals that keep you moving forward in multiple ways. For example: 3 carefully tailored applications where you’ve customized your resume and cover letter for the specific role, 3 conversations with people working in your target field 3 LinkedIn messages to alumni, and something you have learned or done every three or four weeks that makes you a stronger candidate
Track this in a spreadsheet. This does a couple of things. It keeps you focused, and it makes you feel good because you can see you’re making progress even when you haven’t gotten an offer yet.
Also shift as much energy as you can toward building relationships. Join professional associations or early-career communities in your field. Go to alumni events. Participate in online communities where people in your target industry gather. Ask thoughtful questions, share what you’re learning, be genuinely helpful where you can.
You’ve got this
I know this probably sounds like more work than you thought finding a job would be.
So, Start with one thing. Update your LinkedIn to be specific about your direction. Reach out to one person for a conversation about their career.
You don’t need to have everything figured out right now. You just need to start building the foundation that’s going to make your search work.
And if you want help thinking through a plan for your specific situation—what experience makes sense to pursue, how to position yourself, how to build a search strategy that fits your goals—that’s exactly what I do. Send me a message. I’d be happy to help.
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