The Hidden Struggle of College Grads: Why a Degree Isn’t a Golden Ticket Anymore

If you're a recent college graduate or a student searching for an internship, you’ve probably felt it:

You did everything "right"—went to a good school, worked hard, built your resume—but now you're sending applications into the void.

You’re not alone. And you’re not imagining things.

The Reality: College Grads Are Struggling More Than Ever

Here’s what might surprise you: The unemployment rate for recent college graduates is now higher than the national average for all workers. Even with a degree, new grads find it harder to land interviews, let alone jobs.

And internships? They’ve become fiercely competitive, often requiring more experience than the full-time jobs students are trying to qualify for.

So what changed?

The AI Shift: Entry-Level Work Is Disappearing

In the past, college grads often stepped into entry-level jobs that involved research, writing, scheduling, project coordination, or basic data analysis.

Now? Much of that work is being automated by AI or outsourced.

Companies are using tools to draft emails, create marketing content, generate code, summarize meetings, and organize tasks—jobs that used to be stepping stones for early career professionals.

The result? Fewer roles for companies to hand over to someone fresh out of school.

The Skills Gap No One Talks About

It’s not just about automation. It’s also about what hiring managers expect from new grads today.

• They want interns who can show up ready to contribute.

• They want entry-level hires who understand the tools of the trade.

• They want more than a degree—they want proof you can do the job.

But most students were never taught how to market themselves. They don’t know how to position a class project as business value. They are unsure how to stand out in a job search that is optimized for algorithms.

That’s where we come in.

Second Step Exists Because the System Isn’t Enough

We built Second Step to close the gap between potential and opportunity. To teach the things students aren’t learning in class or in the career center.

We help college students and recent grads:

• Build standout resumes and LinkedIn profiles

• Prepare for interviews with real-world frameworks and strategies

• Communicate their value—even if they don’t have traditional experience

• Learn how to network, follow up, and get noticed in a crowded job market

Because the old advice—“just apply online and follow up”—isn’t enough anymore. Not in an economy shaped by AI. Not when thousands of others are doing the same thing.

If you’re tired of feeling stuck, invisible, or unsure how to break through, you don’t need to figure it out alone.

Take the Second Step. Let’s get you hired.