How New Grads Research Companies to Find Jobs

As the graduating class of 2024 heads out to look for a job, some for the first time, the hiring landscape is challenging.

3 Jobs for College Grads Hiring Right Now

Table of Contents

What The Data Shows

College grads have traditionally taken advantage of entry-level positions, designed to give new workers an introduction to how work actually works. From shadowing more experienced colleagues to getting mentorship opportunities, not to mention building key foundational skills and knowledge, these junior roles are highly sought-after.

But new data shows that early career jobs are disappearing. LinkedIn has analyzed four million job postings since late 2017 and found that 35% of postings for “entry-level” positions now ask for a number of years of prior relevant work experience.

It’s just one of the many things adding up to the stress that members of the class of 2024 feel about securing their first role.

3 More Roles to Consider

So what can a new college grad expect?

The National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) predicts that U.S. employers will cut graduate hires by 5.8% this year, compared to 2023. And according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the unemployment rate for graduates aged 20 to 24 with Bachelor’s degrees has risen to 5%––compared to last year’s 4.2%.

And there are less jobs out there this year too. So when you do get a much-wanted job interview, it can be tempting to feel like you should jump at the opportunity.

However, it’s really important to keep in mind that while you’re trying to find a company to hire you for your skills, this goes both ways. It’s also really important to determine if the company is a good fit for you.

Below, discover some steps to make sure a company you’re interviewing at is the right place to be.

Look For References

New employers often ask for references, and so should recent grads.

Look on the corporate website. Read its ‘about’ and mission statement pages. Look at its news or press section too; all this will help you to understand the company’s mission, vision, values, and history.

Check LinkedIn by following the company’s page(s) and observe its posts. Look at employee profiles to understand the company culture and employee backgrounds, and do the same for any relevant social media like X, Facebook or Instagram. How does it engage with the public?

You should also look at who is on its leadership team; is it diverse and gender-balanced? Lastly, what does the company make? Familiarize yourself with its products and services and also try to understand where the company stands in its industry. Which companies are its main competitors?

Listen to Current Employees

Culture really matters at work, especially for new workers who value extra curricular activities and the chance to connect with their peers for extra support.

Company review websites such as Glassdoor can be a good place to research what its workers really think. Read employee reviews to get an inside look at the company’s culture, management, and work environment. Likewise, on Indeed, you can check for reviews and ratings from current and former employees.

On its website, explore if the company has any specific employee resource groups (ERGs). These are often focused on underrepresented groups such as women, BIPOC, LGBTQIA+ or workers with disabilities. Some companies also have ERGs to offer support for parents and caregivers or wellbeing.

If you’re able to connect with a current employee, someone who likes what they do at the company where you want to work, make a connection. Some companies offer referral bonuses as a benefit. So, they may be happy to help.

Look at Job Boards

A company’s job listings tend to offer a lot of information. From the roles that they are actively hiring for, to the tasks and expectations involved in each job, to details of their compensation and benefits, make sure you browse several to get a great idea of what’s what.

Additionally, you can check out websites like Reddit and Quora for any relevant discussions about the company.

Ultimately, if you want to get a job that is a great fit for you, some due diligence is needed.

Gaining a comprehensive understanding of the company you’re interviewing at is not only a good idea from your point of view, but it will also give you a level of polish and preparation that will stand you in good stead during an application and interview process.

Find a role that’s the perfect fit for you on The GradCafe Job Board

About the Author

Kirstie McDermott

Kirstie works for our job board partner, Jobbio. Based in Dublin, she has been a writer and editor
across print and digital platforms for over 15 years.