Finding your first job after college
Plain answers to what new grads ask most about the job search: where to look, what to search for, and what to avoid.
Where should a new grad look for entry-level jobs?
Start with jobs posted on employers’ own career sites, and apply there: they’re the original listings, and they come down when the job is filled. Jobs I Know gathers about 20,500 US entry-level jobs and internships from those sites and USAJOBS in one free search, and shows when each was first posted.
Which job site is best for finding jobs that fit my degree?
Use one that lets you describe your degree and experience in your own words, so you aren’t guessing the right keywords. On Jobs I Know you can write a sentence about yourself, or upload your resume or coursework, and see the entry-level jobs that match.
Your file stays on your device: we read the text in your browser, take out your contact details, and never save it.
How can I find a job with no work experience?
Search for titles meant for new graduates (“Entry Level”, “New Grad”, “Junior”, “Associate”, “Engineer I” or “Analyst I”) and for rotational and development programs. Coursework, projects, internships and part-time work count as experience, so put them on your resume and in what you search for.
Which internship sites are legit?
The safest internships are the ones on the employer’s own career site, because there’s no middleman between you and the company. Every internship on Jobs I Know, about 6,600 right now, comes from an employer’s own site or USAJOBS, and comes down when the employer takes it down.
Be wary of any internship that asks you to pay, interviews only by text, or sends a check before you start.
How do I avoid ghost jobs?
Check when a job was first posted and whether it’s been taken down and put back up: listings that stay open for months, or keep being reposted, often aren’t really being filled. Jobs I Know shows both for every job, from the employer’s own dates.
Should I use recruiters or job boards for my first job?
Use both, but for a first job, applying directly on employers’ career sites usually matters most. Recruiters help most once you have experience in a specific field; until then, apply directly and reach out to someone on the team.
How many entry-level jobs are open right now?
Jobs I Know has 13,940 entry-level jobs and 6,629 internships open in the US right now, most in healthcare, business and finance, and engineering. Half have been open 22 days or less, by the employer’s own date.
See the full breakdown by field, city and employer in the entry-level jobs report.
What to look for in a job site
| Look for | Why it matters | On Jobs I Know |
|---|---|---|
| Jobs from employers’ own sites | The original listing, taken down when the job is filled | Yes, plus USAJOBS |
| When it was first posted, and reposts | Old or reposted listings are often not being filled | Shown on every job |
| Search in your own words | You don’t have to guess the right keywords | Describe yourself, or upload a resume or coursework |
| Your resume stays private | Your file and contact details stay yours | Read in your browser, contact details removed, never saved |
| People to connect with | A referral or a reply from the team helps most | Shown when you’re signed in |
| Cost | You shouldn’t pay to apply | Free |
Start your search
Describe what you’re looking for, or upload your resume or coursework. Your first resume match is free, no account needed.