Recruiter tips for recent graduates

• Recent graduates face a challenging job market due to AI, slower hiring, and increased experience demands.
• Experts advise graduates to reframe non-traditional experience, like class projects and volunteer work, on their resumes.
• Building genuine connections through networking is now considered more impactful than endlessly tailoring a resume.
• Graduates should set boundaries and manage their mental health during the difficult job search process.

For many recent graduates, earning a degree no longer guarantees an easy path to employment. Artificial intelligence is reshaping entry-level work, companies are slowing hiring and demanding more experience, and landing a role requires navigating a more complicated job market. 

The result: Recent grads are sending out hundreds — sometimes even thousands — of applications and are gaining little traction. 

According to Emily Durham, a former recruiter and author of Clock In, “Most new grads are applying to over a thousand jobs, and they're hearing back from two to three.  The data is insane,” she says. 

Despite the discouraging landscape, recruiters and career experts say there are still ways for recent graduates to stand out. However, the job-search advice that worked just five years ago may no longer be enough. 

What recruiters say works 

In a tough job market, it’s less about following outdated rules and more about showcasing the skills and experiences that can help you succeed. That includes rethinking what counts as experience and tapping into your existing network. 

Rethink what counts as experience 

If your resume feels thin or you’re early in your career, don’t assume you have nothing to offer. Instead, reframe the skills and experiences you already have to help you stand out to employers. 

"You don't have to get paid for it to be a good experience," Durham says.

That could mean highlighting class projects, capstone assignments, group projects or hackathons, especially if they demonstrate skills employers are seeking. Durham recommends treating those experiences like jobs by describing your responsibilities, contributions and results. 

Comparably, Keith Spencer, career expert at Resume Now, says recent graduates often overlook experiences that can help strengthen their resumes. 

“It's easy to assume you don't have relevant experience, especially if you haven't completed an internship or landed your first full-time role,” Spencer says. 

“In reality, part-time jobs, volunteer work, relevant coursework, independent projects, leadership roles in student organizations, and extracurricular involvement can all demonstrate valuable skills that employers are looking for.”

Those experiences shouldn’t be dismissed simply because they weren’t full-time, or are entry level; they still count. 

Volunteer and create your own opportunities 

Volunteer work can be another way for recent graduates to gain experience while building skills they can showcase to employers. 

It can also help fill gaps while demonstrating skills employers value, such as leadership, decision-making and empathy. 

If opportunities aren't coming to you, create your own. 

Durham encourages recent graduates to turn their skills into freelance work on platforms like Fiverr or Upwork, even if it's just one small project.

"All it takes is one person, and suddenly that's work experience on your resume," she says.

The rise of portfolio careers — where workers piece together freelance, contract and part-time work — isn't just a response to economic uncertainty. For many graduates, it's also a way to gain experience, build credibility and use it to secure employment.

The takeaway: Experience doesn't have to be linear — or even paid — to count. School projects, volunteer leadership and freelance gigs can all help recent graduates build a stronger resume and demonstrate the skills employers want to see.

Use your existing network to make new connections 

For recent grads worried they don't have industry connections, Durham says they may have more than they realize. 

"You probably do have connections," she says. "It can literally be you messaging your group chat and being like, 'Hey, does anyone know someone who works in finance?'" 

Instead of focusing solely on that one old boss you had, which is also great, Durham encourages graduates to start with the people they already know. 

Ask friends, family members, professors and former classmates if they can make introductions. One conversation can often lead to another. 

“It's like a snowball effect,” Durham says. “At the end of each conversation, you're going to say something like, ‘Amazing connecting. Is there anyone else in your industry you'd recommend I chat with?’”

When it comes to finding work, Spencer says networking is still one of the strongest tools available to job seekers — but it works best when the goal is building relationships rather than immediately asking for help. 

In fact, Resume Now researchers found that 70% of professionals say who you know matters more than what's on your resume. 

“Cold outreach that immediately asks for a favor or job referral rarely leads to meaningful results,” Spencer says. “Instead, focus on building genuine professional relationships. Take the time to engage with people, show interest in their experiences and insights, and look for opportunities to provide value yourself,” he explains.

These connections can be especially important in today's competitive entry-level job market, where recruiters often receive hundreds — if not thousands — of applications for a single opening. 

When it comes to meeting new people, Durham also recommends seeking out small industry events rather than large career fairs as those are often saturated. 

Instead, she suggests looking for smaller gatherings through sites like Eventbrite, industry organizations or even social media, where it's easier to have meaningful conversations and build relationships.   

Recent grads can also reach out to professionals on LinkedIn, understanding that not every message will receive a response.

“For every 10 messages you send, one person is going to respond, and that's fine. That's just the cost of doing business,” she explains. 

For recent grads trying to secure a job, building relationships may be just as important as submitting another application.

The takeaway: One recruiter tip for recent grads is to stop thinking of networking as a formal exercise. Your next opportunity could come from a friend, a professor or a connection you haven't made yet. 

What doesn’t work in today’s job market 

Some of the most common job-search advice simply doesn't hold up in today's tough job market. Recent grads may be better off breaking a few old rules instead. 

Tailoring your resume for every job

For years, job seekers have been told to tailor their resume for every role they apply to. But in today's market, that strategy may not be the best use of time. In fact, according to Durham, it’s not the most realistic. 

“I will say this: the more you tailor your resume to a job, is it more likely you’ll get picked up in the algorithm and bumped to the top of the pile? Yes,” Durham says. 

“However, even with the perfect AI-optimized resume, you're still facing a backlog of thousands of other applicants.”

Instead of endlessly tweaking wording and swapping out keywords, Durham recommends creating one strong, keyword-rich resume that can work for multiple positions. 

That means including language commonly found across job descriptions in your field and highlighting measurable outcomes and accomplishments.

Spencer says graduates should be careful about chasing online advice about applicant tracking systems. 

“You often see advice shared on social media about the need to “beat the ATS,” or Applicant Tracking System,” Spencer says. “The goal should not be to “beat” the system, but to create a resume that clearly communicates your qualifications and addresses the needs and priorities of the employer reviewing it,” he explains. 

Then, put your energy elsewhere.

“I would rather you put that time into networking, building a brand online, and reaching for referrals,” Durham says. 

The takeaway: Don't fall into the trap of believing that changing a few words on your resume for every application is the key to landing a job. In a crowded job market, relationships and visibility have a bigger impact than endless resume revisions. 

Letting AI write your entire resume 

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool during a job search, but it shouldn't do all the work for you. 

“Avoid your resume being written by AI. People can tell,” Durham says. “Also, AI doesn't know your experience like you know your experience, so use it as a fine tuner.”

While tools like AI chatbots can help polish wording, check grammar or brainstorm stronger bullet points, an overly generic resume filled with buzzwords or awkward phrasing can make it obvious that AI did the heavy lifting—and may fail to communicate what makes you a strong candidate.

The takeaway: Use AI as an editor, not an author. 

How can recent graduates stay positive during a difficult job market?

The job search can be a draining process, especially when applications go unanswered, AI hysteria circles the internet, and interviews end with little to no feedback. But Durham says it's important for recent graduates not to take the market's challenges personally.

“Let yourself feel, and give yourself permission to stop internalizing this. Remind yourself that this is a result of the market, not a result of your skill,” Durham says.

Spencer advises something similar, emphasizing that graduates should remember that rejection is a normal part of the process and that one setback does not define their career path.

“A rejection is not a reflection of your overall potential or value; it simply means that a particular opportunity was not the right fit at that moment,” he says.  

To avoid burnout, Durham recommends treating the job search like a part-time job and setting boundaries around it.

“Create a schedule for yourself, so you can turn it off. If it's always on, that's what leads you to job search burnout,” she says.

Durham also encourages graduates to focus on what they can control—whether that's networking, learning new skills or taking breaks from social media when job-related content becomes overwhelming. 

The takeaway: A tough job market doesn't define your skills or your future. Focus on what you can control, set boundaries around your job search and remember that finding a job may take longer than expected. 

How to pivot when necessary 

Sometimes, the answer for finding a job isn't to keep pushing down the same path and that’s okay. According to Durham, two factors should guide the decision to pivot: your mental well-being and your finances.

“If you're at a point where mentally you cannot think about trying to make this work any longer, that can be a valid reason to pivot. Another valid reason is money starting to run out and they need to do something quickly,” Durham says.

But a pivot doesn't have to be all or nothing. “You don't have to say ‘I'm done applying to marketing jobs,’ Durham says. 

Instead, graduates can gradually shift their focus by dedicating some time to their original career path and some time to exploring other opportunities. 

Spencer says a lack of progress can also be a sign that it’s time to adjust your approach and not switch fields.

“If you’ve been applying consistently for a period of time and aren’t getting traction, it may be a sign to evaluate what you can change, whether that’s refining your resume, expanding your target roles, strengthening certain skills, or adjusting how you’re approaching networking,” Spencer says.

Before making a major change, Durham recommends doing an honest assessment: "How am I mentally feeling, and how is my money feeling?" 

Then go from there. 

The takeaway: Pivoting isn't giving up—it's adapting. If your mental health or finances are under strain, consider expanding your options while still keeping the door open to your original career goals.