JOB SEARCH · 7 MIN READ

New Grad Job Search Guide: Landing Your First Role

By the Empload team · Updated October 30, 2026

Starting a career search after graduation feels overwhelming, but entry-level hiring follows predictable patterns. Start early and apply broadly.

Where new grad roles come from

Your school career center and alumni network
Company early-career and new grad programs, which often open in late summer and fall
Community-maintained lists of new grad positions on GitHub
Internship conversions and referrals from classmates

Stand out without experience

Show projects, research, or class work that match the role
Quantify results from internships, clubs, and jobs
Get a referral whenever possible, since referred candidates are often fast-tracked
Keep a portfolio or GitHub profile current if your field uses one

Apply in volume, track everything

New grad applications are numbers games. You may need dozens of well-targeted applications. Track each one with its status and documents so you can follow up and prepare for interviews. Empload keeps the jobs, links, and résumé versions together.

Prepare early for interviews

Practice common behavioral questions and, for technical roles, practice problems in the format the employer uses. Ask your career center about mock interviews.

Frequently asked questions

When should recent graduates start applying?

Ideally several months before graduation. Many early-career programs open in late summer and fall.