Only 43% of the Class of 2026 had a job offer by graduation day.

Not long ago, it looked very different. NACE called the Class of 2019’s market the best for new college grads since 2007. In 2018, the unemployment rate for recent grads hit a low of 3.6%. Today it’s about 5.6%.

So it’s no surprise we keep hearing the same question from college students and recent grads: “Do you work with people just starting out?” The answer is yes.

What changed

Not long ago, a degree and a few campus interviews meant a job lined up before graduation. That’s no longer the norm.

• Fewer are landing in their field. Just 30% of 2025 graduates secured a full-time job related to their degree, down from 41% the year before. A third were still unemployed and looking (Cengage Group).
• Many are underemployed. 42% of recent grads are working in jobs that don’t require their degree (Federal Reserve Bank of New York).
• Entry-level hiring is tight. 76% of employers are hiring the same number of entry-level workers or fewer than last year (Cengage Group).

A degree still matters. It just isn’t enough on its own anymore.

Connections are doing more of the work

When there are fewer openings, who you know matters more. 54% of U.S. workers say they landed a job through a personal or professional connection (MyPerfectResume).

That’s hard when you’re 21 and your network is mostly classmates and professors. It’s also why the students who start building relationships early, through internships, mentors, alumni and recruiters, tend to land faster.

The recruiter gap

For years, working with a recruiter was standard practice for mid-level and senior professionals. It was a valued tool you reached for once you had experience. Early-career candidates mostly relied on campus recruiting, job boards and family connections.

Over the last few years, we’ve seen that shift. More college students and recent grads are realizing early on the value of working with a recruiter, and reaching out before they’ve even graduated.

They’re still ahead of their peers. Gen Z overall is the least likely generation to think of recruiters as a go-to resource for finding a job (Bullhorn GRID 2025 Talent Trends Report). That’s exactly why the students who start early get a head start.

How we work with college grads

At Calqulate, we work with college students and recent grads from the first conversation to the first role:

1. Define your path. We help you get clear on the roles and industries that fit your skills and goals, and what the market actually looks like for them right now.
2. Build a resume that gets read. We help you translate classes, internships, projects and part-time work into what hiring managers look for.
3. Coaching. Interview prep, how to talk about yourself, and how to evaluate an offer.
4. Connections. Internships, networking introductions and, ultimately, a role. We work directly with hiring managers and decision makers across accounting and finance, technology, healthcare, engineering, construction and manufacturing.

Building connections and having expert advice from a recruiter who understands the current climate, and who has access to decision makers and opportunities, helps bridge the gap from searching to securing your role.

A recent example

One recent grad came to us working in a field outside her major and struggling to break into the career she was aligned with. Like most new grads, she didn’t have years of real-world experience to point to. What she did have were unique talents that could make her stand out.

We worked with her on framing her resume around those strengths and coached her through the process. Then we made an introduction to a company in our network that was a strong match. She landed her first role in her field.

The lesson: you don’t need years of experience to stand out. You need to show what you uniquely bring, and get in front of the right people.

What to do now

Whether you graduate this spring or graduated last year:

• Start early. Build relationships before you need them.
• Treat internships and first roles as part of the path, not a detour.
• Talk to a recruiter in the industry you want. Ask what employers in that field are hiring for right now.
• Stay in touch. One conversation can open a door months later.

If you’re a student or recent grad figuring out your next step, send us your resume. We’ll give you honest feedback on where it stands and how to frame what you bring. Send your resume or browse open roles. And if you know someone graduating soon, send this their way.

More career advice: Resume Tips Recruiters Actually Notice, How to Prepare for an Interview: A Practical Checklist and How to Work With a Recruiter.

Sources: NACE 2026 Student Survey; NACE Class of 2019 Student Survey; New York Fed recent graduate unemployment data (2018 low, via Yahoo Finance); Cengage Group 2025 Graduate Employability Report; Federal Reserve Bank of New York, The Labor Market for Recent College Graduates (Q2 2026); MyPerfectResume Networking Nation Report (2025); Bullhorn GRID 2025 Talent Trends Report.