Amid trying to graduate, I sit at my computer endlessly applying for jobs, trying to get them to notice me. No replies, distant noise of negative opinions from those around me, declining emails with nothing telling me why and an AI robot who is probably taking my role as we speak.
No matter the experience you have, which is limited to get as a full-time college student, it still isn’t even enough for “entry-level positions.” So, what are employers looking for and why can’t they tell you when they move past your resume?
Across the country, recent graduates are entering one of the strangest job markets in years. While overall unemployment remains relatively low, recent college graduates are facing rising underemployment, increasing competition for entry-level roles, and hiring systems increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence.
According to an analysis from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, the unemployment rate for college graduates ages 22 to 27 rose to 5.6 percent at the end of 2025. More than 40 percent of employed graduates were working jobs that do not typically require a college degree, the highest level since 2020.
A few weeks ago, I sat down with a previous boss of mine and he offered me his guidance in helping get my foot in the door somewhere. As I left the meeting, all that stuck with me is how he told me that AI will be able to do my job within the next three years, and it’s going to be hard to get a position.
So, am I not needed?
My classmates who are also graduating this month have been experiencing the same issues. Some of which have excellent connections and experience, still being looked over.
“I’ve had an internship every summer since freshman year, but I’m still getting automated rejection emails within minutes,” said one fourth-year Psychology major. “It feels like no one is actually reading anything.”
What employers don’t tell you is why you were looked over. Opening an email that says, “After careful consideration, we have decided to pursue other candidates for this role…” leaves you with so many unanswered questions.
Is my resume bad? Is it because I haven’t graduated yet? Do I not have enough experience? Do I need to strengthen my skills? Did my references not answer?
For people to be seen and progress in the application process, we need to know what you are looking for.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, students and graduates have faced an increasingly unstable job market. Now, many young job seekers believe artificial intelligence is creating even more uncertainty around hiring and entry-level work.
Sydney Ember, a business reporter for The New York Times, said that college graduates have a reason to worry.
“This is the worst spring for young degree holders since the depths of the pandemic,” Ember said.
It’s scary.
Walking across a stage after four years of hard work and commitment, just to feel not needed anymore?
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, a study completed in 2024 shows that between January and October 2024, 1.2 million people in their twenties earned a bachelor’s degree. Of these graduates, 69.6% were employed in October 2024, with 66.7% being men, compared to 71.5% of women being employed.
Executive Director of the Career Connection Center at Stevenson University, Matthew Seiler, has been supporting students for nine years and says he is seeing the shift firsthand.
According to Seiler, employers are now looking for more than just a college degree.
“One major shift is that employers now expect students to graduate with more than just a degree,” Seiler said. “Internships, campus leadership, project work, networking and AI literacy have become critical differentiators.”
Industries such as tech, media and creative roles have experienced hiring slowdowns, while healthcare, cybersecurity, engineering, education, skilled trades, and some business-related positions continue to show strong demand.
While many students fear that artificial intelligence is replacing jobs entirely, Seiler believes employers are still mainly experimenting with technology rather than fully replacing workers.
“AI is not taking over all jobs,” Seiler said. “It’s the students that learn, understand and utilize AI tools that are getting the jobs.”
He also explained that automated hiring systems themselves are not usually the main issue of stopping students from getting interviews.
“AI-screened resumes and applicant tracking systems are not what is causing students to lose opportunities,” Seiler said. “It’s the formatting of said resumes, the use of templates and grammatical errors.”
Seiler says many students make mistakes such as waiting too long to seek help, mass applying to jobs without tailoring resumes, relying only on online applications instead of networking, and giving up too quickly.
“The most important message is that a first job does not define an entire career,” Seiler said. “Career paths today are rarely linear, and success often comes from staying adaptable, continuing to build skills and remaining open to opportunities.”
For many students, the struggle goes beyond simply finding employment. It also affects confidence, motivation, and how graduates view their future.
Some students feel left behind watching peers post job announcements on LinkedIn. Others are preparing to move back home because they can’t afford rent without a job. Many feel pressure to appear successful online, even when they’re overwhelmed offline.
Can a computer really do my job?
Increasingly, many graduates fear the answer may be yes.
“Hiring has become an AI versus AI war,” said Rachel Wells, fourth-year contributor to Forbes.
Resumes and interview offers are now being sent through AI-animated messages. The funny part is that sometimes they’re completely fake.
Just a week ago, I was offered a phone interview with a company. I accepted, prepped, and waited for the call. My phone never rang. I was never given the employer’s name, just the message, “The employer will call you at the time of your interview.”
After reaching out to the email and profile that contacted me, and even the company itself, I learned the job posting never existed.
I don’t want to start my first full-time job through a conversation with AI. Personalization already feels lost.
Despite the uncertainty, many students are continuing to apply, network, complete internships, and search for ways to stand out.
“I’m scared, but I’m still trying,” a fourth-year psychology major said. “Giving up isn’t an option.”
For graduating students, the fear is not just unemployment. It is the uncertainty of whether all the work they have done will actually lead somewhere.
And yet, students keep going. Because what else can we do?
