Unemployment
5.6%
of recent grads are unemployed (Q2 2026)1
A growing crisis for new graduates
Why Wise to Work.
Why new graduates need career coaching now: a tough job market, AI screening, and a networking gap — and how one-on-one coaching closes it.
We see what is happening to new graduates and early-career job seekers as an epidemic. Too many talented young people leave school with strong grades and real ambition, but without the relationships, practical knowledge, mentorship, or confidence to navigate today's workplace.
The numbers tell the story
The Job Market Has Turned Against New Graduates
Worse off than the overall workforce.
In March 2026, recent graduates ages 22–27 were unemployed at a higher rate than workers overall (4.2% for all workers).3 Their unemployment rate has exceeded the national rate for five straight years, something almost unheard of between 1990 and 2018.4Fewer openings, more applications.
Entry-level postings are 12% below pre-pandemic levels, while the Class of 2025 submitted a median of 10 applications, up from 6 for the Class of 2024, and still received fewer job offers.56"Entry-level" often isn't.
A LinkedIn analysis of millions of job postings found that 35% of entry-level roles asked for three or more years of relevant experience.7AI Is Changing the Rules
Fewer entry-level jobs in AI-exposed fields.
A Stanford study found that workers ages 22–25 saw a 13% relative decline in employment since 2022 in the occupations most exposed to AI.8Software reads your résumé first.
In a survey of 1,500 U.S. hiring managers, 87% said their organizations use AI in hiring, and 82% worry that applicants' use of AI hides their real abilities.9 When software screens applications, the candidates who stand out are the ones someone already knows.Always Connected, Rarely Networked
Social media has made young professionals more visible than ever, but not better connected. Scrolling, liking, and following are not the same as building relationships with people who can open doors.
More than half are unsure how to start building professional relationships.
And 53% don't know how to turn contacts into meaningful connections.2
53%
unsure how to start
Nearly 2 in 3 say no one has ever clearly shown them how to build professional relationships.
64%
say no one showed them2
Connection Changes the Outcome
7×
Nearly 7 times more likely to be hired.
Applicants with an inside connection at a company are nearly 7 times more likely to be hired than those without one.2
3×
Engagement builds visibility.
LinkedIn members who interact with their network's posts are almost 3 times as likely to receive connection requests.2
83%
People want to help.
83% of Millennial and Gen X professionals say they would help someone at the start of their career, even someone they don't know.2
That is exactly what we teach.
The Interview Gap
56%
of hiring managers say they have interviewed Gen Z applicants in the past year who were unprepared, with poor communication skills among the top complaints.10
Interviewing is a learned skill. Practice with honest feedback is what turns a nervous candidate into a confident one.
How We Teach Connection
Networking and LinkedIn are at the heart of every Wise to Work program. We don't just write your profile and send you off. We show you, step by step, how to use it and how to build relationships that last.
-
Mapping your network
Identifying the people you already know—including family, friends, professors, alumni, and former colleagues—and how each can help.
-
Navigating LinkedIn
Using search and filters to find alumni and professionals at target companies, following leaders, setting alerts, and signaling to recruiters.
-
Reaching out with confidence
Writing personalized connection requests and outreach messages that feel natural, not salesy.
-
Informational interviews
Asking for conversations, preparing thoughtful questions, and turning a short chat into advice, introductions, and referrals.
-
Staying visible
Commenting, posting, and engaging in ways that build a professional reputation without oversharing.
-
Following up and staying in touch
Thank-you notes, updates, and simple habits that keep relationships strong long after the job search ends.
Where Wise to Work Comes In
Wise to Work exists to help close that gap. We provide the career compass young professionals need to turn uncertainty into momentum: getting clear about their path, getting connected to people and opportunities, and getting hired into work where they can grow and contribute.
Let's talk about what's next.
Book a free 20-minute consultation. No pressure, just a place to start.