The pursuit of academic excellence has long been the primary focus for college students, but recent findings suggest that work experience might be the real game-changer in the job market. A ZipRecruiter report reveals that students who have worked in any capacity during their college years are significantly more likely to be employed shortly after graduating.
This shift in emphasis from grade point averages (GPAs) to practical experience is reshaping how students approach their education and career preparation. The data underscores the importance of gaining real-world skills, even if they seem unrelated to one’s future career path.
Work Experience: The Strongest Predictor of Post-Graduation Employment
The ZipRecruiter report highlights that working in any capacity during college is the single strongest predictor of post-graduation employment. According to the survey, 81.6% of recent college graduates with work experience were employed shortly after graduating, compared to just 40.7% of those without any experience.
This trend is supported by hiring managers who emphasize the value of any work experience on a résumé. Bill Shafransky, a senior wealth adviser at Moneco Advisors, notes that employers can teach technical skills but cannot instill qualities like personability and effort. “I can teach somebody how to do a financial spreadsheet. I can teach someone how to do financial modeling. I can’t teach somebody how to be personable. I can’t teach effort,” Shafransky told MarketWatch.
The decline in student employment over the decades has raised concerns about the preparedness of graduates entering the job market. In 1993, 30.5% of high-school students and 46.4% of full-time college students were employed. By 2026, these figures had dropped to 19.8% and 41.4%, respectively. This decline has left many graduates at a disadvantage, as some employers now require three to five years of experience even for entry-level positions.
The Competitive Job Market for Young Workers
Securing a job has become increasingly challenging for young workers. Teens and parents report that entry-level service jobs, such as those in food service, often require personal connections or introductions. Additionally, older workers are competing for these positions, with people aged 25 and over accounting for 56.9% of minimum-wage workers in 2026.
The unemployment rate for recent college graduates has been elevated in recent years, hitting 5.6% in, compared to an average of 4.2% for all workers. Another 41.5% of recent graduates are underemployed, working in jobs that typically do not require a college degree. This underscores the need for students to gain relevant experience during their academic years.
Economists emphasize the importance of starting early. Nicole Bachaud, an economist at ZipRecruiter, states, “Having experience on a resume is extremely important in trying to begin a career.” Sneha Puri, an economist at Indeed, adds, “The earlier you get into a real work environment, the better positioned you’ll be.” This experience allows students to build skills that are hard to replicate in a classroom setting.
How Employers Evaluate Entry-Level Candidates
Employers look for a combination of factors when evaluating entry-level candidates. Karolyn Leonard, global director of talent acquisition at the marketing company Tms, explains that her company received almost 700 applications for 36 internship positions this year. More than half of the applicants had some work experience, including jobs in food service, other internships, or being a student-athlete.
Leonard emphasizes the importance of candidates having experience dealing with managers or co-workers. “It’s helpful to understand if people have been on a team before” and “have that dependability and reliability,” she said. The company also considers a candidate’s GPA and whether they are studying something related to the position.
For those who cannot secure internships, extracurricular activities that highlight team leadership can be beneficial. Leonard notes that participation in sororities, fraternities, or the newspaper can demonstrate motivation and a likelihood of success. The National Association of Colleges and Employers reports that 17% of graduating seniors did not participate in an internship or other experiential learning program.
Indeed identified dozens of jobs that often don’t require prior experience, such as data-entry clerk, veterinary assistant, and customer-service representative. Some teens are turning to entrepreneurship to fill the gap, starting their own businesses in areas like car-detailing or landscaping. Survey data from the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor found that Americans aged 18 to 24 are starting businesses at higher rates than older generations.
Networking is another crucial skill that students should develop early. Leonard emphasizes the importance of practicing networking skills starting at an early age. “Whether it’s your friends, your parents, your parents’ friends, your parents’ co-workers – there’s a lot of people out there who can help you,” she said. Even if they don’t know of any opportunities, “a lot of people are open to just giving some advice.”
