The Graduate Recruitment Crunch: Why We Owe Young People More Than Promises

Each summer, thousands of graduates return home — not for celebration, but because they’ve nowhere else to go. Degrees in hand, job offers few and far between, they’re met not with opportunity, but uncertainty.

In a recent Guardian article, journalist Gaby Hinsliff captured this growing sense of disillusionment among today’s graduates. Despite having done everything asked of them — good grades, good universities, internships, extracurriculars — many young people are now finding themselves in an unforgiving job market, where even getting seen by a human recruiter feels like a win.

At Acrobat Talent we hear these stories every day. And we believe it’s time to talk honestly about what’s broken — and what we can all do better.

From Promise to Pressure

We’ve long told young people that university is the golden ticket — work hard, get a degree, and the rest will follow. But as the Guardian piece rightly points out, this narrative has unravelled. Many are graduating straight into unpaid internships, low-paid work, or — more commonly — no work at all.

A staggering 140 applicants now compete for every graduate job, according to the Institute of Student Employers. With AI now sifting through CVs and even conducting initial interviews, many candidates never interact with a person — only an algorithm. For a generation seeking connection and purpose, this feels not only impersonal but deeply demoralising.

Even those from top institutions like Cambridge are feeling the pressure. As Hinsliff writes, it’s not just the lack of jobs — it’s the slow, creeping resignation that this is the new normal.

The Emotional Toll of a Broken System

This isn’t just an economic issue — it’s a deeply human one. Rejection is always tough, but it stings even more when it comes via a bot, or not at all. And while social media platforms like LinkedIn were designed for networking, they’ve also become spaces where comparison and anxiety thrive. “Why did they get the grad scheme and I didn’t?” is a common, painful question.

Student forums are now filled with tales of hundreds of applications, multiple assessment centres, and very little to show for it. For those without the financial cushion to take unpaid opportunities or pursue a postgraduate degree, the message is clear: the ladder is there, but it’s out of reach.

What Needs to Change — and What We’re Doing About It

Our mission is simple: to level the playing field for all candidates, regardless of background or circumstance. We’re here to make early careers recruitment not only more effective, but more human.

That means:

• AGILE – Responding quickly to evolving client and candidate needs
• TRUSTED – Bringing integrity and genuine care to everything we do
• CURIOUS – Always learning, improving, and seeking better ways to connect
• HUMAN – Putting people first, embracing tech but never at the cost of real connection

We go to market as you — it’s about helping young people start careers with meaning and momentum - building exceptional rapport with candidates on your behalf. Our approach isn’t just about ticking boxes or filling roles  — we help young people begin careers they can build on. In a system where too many feel short-changed after doing everything right, we believe recruitment should offer more than a process — it should offer a fair shot

A Call to Employers

The early careers landscape is shifting. The entry-level jobs that once taught people the ropes are disappearing, and automation is replacing many of the stepping stones young people once relied on.

But this isn’t just about economic trends — it’s about fairness, trust, and the future of work.

We need to rethink what potential looks like. To value people for more than what fits on a CV. To create pathways, not just pipelines.

Because when we invest in young people — in all young people — we’re not just building careers. We’re building the next generation of leaders.

Let’s make sure we’re doing that with integrity, inclusion, and humanity at the heart of every decision.