“Impossible Requirements for First Jobs”: Why Half of Graduates Avoid Applying for Jobs in Their Fields

Large numbers of recent graduates face a difficult dilemma when searching for their first jobs. Many entry-level positions require qualifications and prior experience that go beyond what people just starting their careers could reasonably be expected to have. This leaves job seekers facing mounting challenges and reduces their competitiveness in the labor market.

Entry-Level Opportunities Are Scarce

A recent survey conducted by employment platform Cengage found that 75% of graduates believe entry-level opportunities are extremely limited.

Meanwhile, 64% believe the qualifications listed in job advertisements are excessive, while 77% say employers expect more work experience than should reasonably be required for entry-level positions.

Rising Barriers to Entry

These demanding requirements are directly affecting job seekers’ behavior. Around 53% of graduates have refrained from applying for jobs in their fields because they felt underqualified, up from 48% last year. This points to a widening gap between the expectations of entry-level candidates and the demands of the labor market.

Workplace Pressure and Temporary Solutions

The challenges extend beyond excessive experience requirements. According to the survey, 91% of recent graduates have felt pressured to accept any available job rather than wait for a position that matches their qualifications and career ambitions.

Lack of experience remains a major obstacle to securing stable employment. Among those struggling to find work, approximately 49% are considering temporary jobs as an initial step into the labor market, hoping to gain practical skills that could eventually lead to more suitable positions.

A Greater Focus on Training

In response to these changing conditions, graduates increasingly recognize that an academic degree alone is no longer sufficient. Many are reassessing their career plans, placing greater emphasis on hands-on training and continuous professional development to improve their competitiveness.

Building Career Readiness

As the employment landscape becomes more complex, graduates are reassessing their educational and training options to improve their readiness for work. Practical training is emerging as a key bridge between academic study and the workplace, helping young people gain the experience employers expect.

In this regard, the survey found that 81% of employed graduates who had completed internships said these opportunities were instrumental in securing their current jobs. The finding highlights the importance of practical experience in overcoming the barriers often presented by traditional job advertisements.

Developing Skills

Around 84% of graduates plan to continue learning and developing their skills after graduation to advance their careers and increase their earnings. This underscores how continuous training and professional development have become important investments in long-term career security.

Changing Priorities Among Job Seekers

The findings suggest that recent graduates increasingly need to combine academic qualifications with practical experience and the skills required in real-world jobs.

As advertised requirements for entry-level positions continue to rise, some job seekers are turning to training, lifelong learning, and temporary employment as ways to strengthen their professional readiness.

At the same time, the increase in the proportion of graduates who avoid applying for certain entry-level positions because they feel underqualified—from 48% in 2025 to 53%—suggests that the way employers frame job requirements can influence candidates’ decisions before they even reach the interview stage.

The gap between the experience employers expect and the experience graduates actually possess has therefore become a significant challenge at the start of their careers.

Practical Experience and Continuous Learning

Practical experience, training, and continuous learning are emerging as key tools graduates use to navigate the demands of the labor market.

While 91% of recent graduates report feeling pressured to accept any available job, the fact that 84% plan to pursue further learning and training reflects a clear desire to strengthen their capabilities, improve their employment prospects, and secure positions that better align with their long-term goals.

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