If you’re graduating without a job lined up, you’re not alone. Despite some recent signs of improvement, the early-career job market has been declining in recent years, and many new graduates are taking longer to land their first jobs.
According to Morgan Vazquez, a talent acquisition leader at Wells Fargo and a 2013 Fordham graduate, that means it’s more important than ever to approach your job search strategically.
“If I had to pick one word to describe how I would approach a job search right now, it would be ‘intentional,’” Vazquez said.
Fortunately, there are some practical steps you can take this summer to build momentum and find your first job out of college.
1. Start with your network
Networking shouldn’t begin with asking for a job, according to Vazquez. Instead, it should focus on building relationships and learning from other people’s experiences.
She suggested setting a manageable goal, whether that’s reaching out to one alumnus from your college each week or a few each month. Striking up a steady stream of conversations can open doors that a cold application rarely will, she said.
If you’re unsure where to begin with networking, check in with your university’s career center and see what resources are available after you graduate. At Fordham, for example, alumni can use the RamConnect platform for networking, career advice, and opportunities. Fordham students also have access to the career centers of other Jesuit universities through the Jesuit Career Center Consortium.
2. Treat communication as a core skill
Fernando Valdovinos, a business service officer at Morgan Stanley, said that improving your communication skills will take you far.
“Technical skills you can learn anywhere, but what really sets people apart is the ability to exude confidence, to connect with people, and to build trust. When you can do that with clients, you hit the ground running,” Valdovinos said during a mock interview event for students at Fordham’s Career Center.
He advises early-career job seekers to practice their conversational skills to help them feel more at ease around new people.
3. Stop ‘spray and pray’ applying
Submitting hundreds of applications might feel productive, but it often leads to frustration and burnout. Vazquez notes that many graduates fall into the trap of applying broadly, including to roles they aren’t qualified for, which can result in repeated rejection and a loss of confidence.
Instead, she suggests narrowing your focus to roles that genuinely align with your background and interests, and tailoring your resume accordingly. A smaller number of well-targeted applications is far more likely to yield results than a high-volume strategy, Vazquez said.
4. Make your interviews count
Your resume may get your foot in the door, but your interview determines what happens next. Isabella D’Ambrosio, a senior coordinator of people acquisition at Madison Square Garden Entertainment, advises job seekers to remember that employers are not only evaluating their qualifications in interviews, but also considering what it would be like to work with them day to day.
“Asking thoughtful questions, showing interest in the role, and allowing your personality to come through can make a lasting impression,” she said during the mock interview event.
5. Use AI to your advantage
It’s understandable to worry that AI is replacing entry-level jobs, but most employers see it differently, Vazquez said. While AI tools may handle repetitive tasks previously handled by early-career workers, they also create space for employees to focus on higher-level thinking, communication, and decision-making, she said.
Early adopters can set themselves apart by using the time efficiencies AI creates to focus on higher-value work, Vazquez said.
6. Let go of the ‘perfect first job’
Finally, Vazquez recommends shifting out of the mindset that your first job out of college has to be perfect. Instead, she suggests focusing on whether a job will help you learn, grow, and make an impact.
Taking a role that isn’t your “dream job” can still provide valuable experience and clarity about what you do—and don’t—want, she said. Over time, those experiences build on each other, helping you move closer to the path that feels right.
“It’s okay to give yourself the grace to say, ‘I am taking a job that isn’t going to be forever,’” said Vazquez.
