## The Challenging Landscape for New Graduates

For college graduates in the class of 2026, landing that first job out of school may take longer than usual.

## Employers Scaling Back Hiring Plans

Employers have scaled back their **hiring plans** for the upcoming batch of graduates as **economic growth slows** and the **labor market falters**, according to a report published this month by the National Association of Colleges and Employers.

## Hiring Levels Expected to Be Flat

Hiring levels for new graduates are expected to be **"flat"** for the first time since 2021, when the country was still in the midst of the COVID pandemic, the report said.

Employers have scaled back their hiring plans for the upcoming batch of graduates as economic growth slows and the labor market falters, according to a report.

Why College Grads Face the Toughest Job Market in Years - What You Need to Know

If you're a student or recent graduate, it can feel like every job posting demands years of experience and a magic list of skills. That's frustrating when you're trying to land your first real job. The good news is that there are many **entry-level jobs with no experience required** where employers expect to train you, and many of these roles pay better than you might think.

In this article, we'll look at nine first jobs for grads that pay well, teach valuable skills, and can launch a strong career. You'll see a lot of **sales, customer service, logistics, and IT support** in this list because those fields hire large numbers of early-career talent and are often open to people without formal experience. Along the way, I'll point out how each role can grow over time and how to position yourself even if your background is mostly classes, part-time work, and campus activities.

Remember, every job on this list can be found through postings tagged as "no experience" on College Recruiter. Employers come to us when they're looking for students and recent grads who are ready to learn.

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### 1. Sales Development Representative

Sales makes some people nervous, but it can be one of the **best-paying no-experience roles** for early-career talent. A Sales Development Representative (SDR) is usually responsible for reaching out to potential customers, starting conversations, and setting up meetings for more senior sales staff. You're not closing million-dollar deals on day one. Instead, you're learning how to communicate, overcome objections, and manage a pipeline.

Many employers are very open to entry-level candidates for SDR roles because they know they can teach the product and the process. What they really want to see is **energy, curiosity, and comfort talking to people**. Maybe you worked in a campus call center, raised money for a charity, or led outreach for a student group. Those are real, relevant experiences that show you can do this work.

If you stick with sales, your income can grow quickly. Top performers often move into full-cycle account executive roles, account management, or even sales leadership. That future starts with one decision to give sales a serious look, especially when you see a job posting labeled as "no experience required."

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### 2. Customer Service or Customer Experience Representative

Customer service jobs sometimes get a bad reputation, but they are often the backbone of a business. As a Customer Service Representative or Customer Experience Representative, you're the person who answers questions, solves problems, and keeps customers coming back. You might do that over the phone, by email, through chat, or even in person in a store or contact center.

For students and new grads, these roles are **excellent first jobs for grads** because employers value strong communication and patience more than a long resume. If you've dealt with difficult group projects, helped frustrated classmates, or worked in retail or food service, you've already built some of the key skills. Many organizations will pay well for people who can keep customers happy and reduce churn.

Customer service can also lead to surprising career paths. Many supervisors, trainers, product managers, and even executives once took calls on the front line. They learned the business from the customer back to the company. When you look on College Recruiter for jobs tagged "no experience," do not overlook customer service roles, especially with companies that invest in training and promotion.

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### 3. IT Support or Help Desk Technician

If you're the person friends text when their laptop won't connect to Wi-Fi, IT support might be a natural fit. IT Support or Help Desk Technicians help coworkers or customers solve basic technology issues. That can include resetting passwords, installing software, troubleshooting hardware, and walking people through simple fixes.

Many employers offer **structured training for entry-level IT support roles**. They may even pay for certifications over time. You don't need a computer science degree. You do need comfort with technology, a calm approach to problem-solving, and the ability to explain tech issues in plain language. Those are skills you may have built by helping classmates with software, doing school tech projects, or even fixing devices at home.

IT support can be one of the **best-paying no-experience roles** because the demand for tech talent remains strong and there's a clear ladder. From help desk, people often move into systems administration, network support, cybersecurity, or cloud roles. When you see an IT support posting on College Recruiter with "no experience required," read it carefully. If it offers training and a path to more senior roles, you may be looking at the first step of a very solid career.

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### 4. Logistics or Supply Chain Coordinator

We live in a world that expects fast shipping and full shelves. Behind that convenience is a complex web of warehouses, trucks, ports, and delivery routes. Logistics and supply chain coordinators help make sure the right products are in the right place at the right time.

In an entry-level logistics coordinator role, you might track shipments in a system, communicate with drivers or carriers, update customers, and solve problems when something gets delayed. Employers hiring for these roles often care more about your ability to **stay organized and calm under pressure** than about formal experience. If you've planned big events, juggled school, work, and family responsibilities, or thrived in fast-moving part-time jobs, you already have proof that you can handle logistics work.

These jobs can pay well and offer real growth. With experience, you can move into roles like operations manager, supply chain analyst, or transportation manager. If you're drawn to behind-the-scenes work that keeps things moving, search College Recruiter for "no experience" logistics openings and pay special attention to roles with training or rotation programs.

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### 5. Junior Recruiter or Talent Sourcer

Recruiting is one of the most human parts of business. As a junior recruiter or talent sourcer, you help companies find and engage candidates. That can mean posting jobs, searching for people who match certain criteria, screening resumes, and doing first-round conversations.

This is a **great first job for grads** who like people and communication and who are curious about how hiring decisions really get made. Employers know that new recruiters will need to be trained on their tools and processes, so they often welcome candidates without formal experience. They look for listening skills, professionalism, and the ability to write clear messages. Think about times when you've led campus organizations, helped classmates find opportunities, or worked in roles that required good judgment about people.

Recruiting opens doors to many paths. You can grow into senior recruiter roles, move into employer branding or talent operations, or even transition to sales, since many of the skills overlap. On College Recruiter, look for recruiter or sourcer roles that mention students, recent grads, or "no experience required." They can be a powerful way to start a career in human resources or talent acquisition.

---

### 6. Insurance Claims or Customer Support Representative

Insurance may not sound exciting at first, but it's a large industry that depends on early-career talent. Entry-level insurance claims or customer support representatives help customers file claims, answer questions about coverage, and guide people through stressful moments.

Many insurance companies hire large classes of new grads each year into **training programs**. They often don't require prior industry experience because they plan to teach you about their products and systems. What they want from you is empathy, attention to detail, and the ability to learn complex information. If you've done well in classes that demanded careful reading or if you've thrived in roles that required accuracy, this might be a good fit.

Pay can be strong, especially as you gain experience and move into higher-level claims roles, underwriting, or even management. When you search College Recruiter for "best-paying no-experience roles," don't skip over the insurance postings. They may not look flashy, but they can provide stable income and a clear growth path.

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### 7. Medical Billing or Patient Access Specialist

Health care isn't only about doctors and nurses. There's a huge need for people who handle the business side of care, and many of those roles are open to students and early-career candidates without direct experience. Two great examples are medical billing specialists and patient access representatives.

A medical billing specialist helps translate care into proper billing codes and works with insurance companies to make sure providers are paid. A patient access specialist helps patients check in, schedule appointments, verify insurance, and understand basic next steps. Both roles require **accuracy, confidentiality, and compassion**. Employers will often train new hires on their systems and on basic terminology.

These roles can be especially attractive **first jobs for grads** who want to work in health care but aren't ready for or interested in clinical roles. They can pay well compared to many retail or hospitality jobs and they can lead into practice management, revenue cycle leadership, or other administrative positions in hospitals and clinics. On College Recruiter, focus on postings that mention training, tuition support, or clear growth paths.

---

### 8. Office or Operations Coordinator

Every organization needs people who keep the day-to-day work on track. Office and operations coordinators are often the glue that holds teams together. In these roles, you might manage schedules, support meetings, order supplies, update basic reports, and help with small projects.

Employers hiring for coordinator roles usually focus on **reliability, communication, and organization**. That's good news if your resume is heavy on part-time jobs, internships, and campus leadership. Maybe you ran events for a student group, handled social media for a club, or worked your way up to shift lead in a restaurant. These experiences show that you can be trusted with tasks that keep the engine running.

Coordinator roles can pay reasonably well, especially in industries like tech, finance, and professional services. They also give you a front-row seat to how decisions are made. Many people move from coordinator roles into project management, operations management, or specialized areas like marketing or finance, depending on where they find the most interest.

---

### 9. Field Technician or Skilled Trades Apprentice

If you enjoy hands-on work and like seeing the direct result of your effort, consider field technician roles or apprenticeships in skilled trades. These jobs can include installing or repairing equipment, supporting internet and cable systems, working in heating and cooling, or learning an electrical or plumbing trade.

Many of the **best-paying no-experience roles** in this space are designed exactly for people who are just starting out. Employers expect to train you on safety, tools, and procedures. What they want to see is reliability, a willingness to learn, and comfort working on-site rather than from a desk. If you've enjoyed shop classes, do-it-yourself projects, or fixing things for friends and family, that's a strong sign this path could work for you.

The earning potential here can be very strong once you have some experience and certifications. Skilled trades are in high demand, and many people build long-term careers or even launch their own businesses after a few years. When you search College Recruiter, look for words like "trainee," "apprentice," or "no experience required" in field technician and trade postings.

---

### How to Stand Out for No Experience Jobs

Once you know some of the entry-level roles that pay well and don't require experience, the next step is to present yourself in a way that makes sense to employers. Even if your background is mostly classes, campus involvement, and part-time work, you have more to offer than you might think.

Translate what you've done into language that matches the job. For sales and customer service, highlight communication, problem-solving, and situations where you helped people. For IT support and logistics, talk about times you learned new systems, fixed issues, or stayed calm when things changed fast. For health care, insurance, and coordinator roles, show that you can handle details and respect confidential information.

When you look at postings on College Recruiter tagged as "no experience," pay attention to the skills and results they mention. Use those words in your resume and cover letter when they honestly match your background. You don't need to have held the exact job before. You do need to show that you can learn and that you care about doing the work well.

---

### Take Your Next Step

The leap from school to your first full-time job can feel big, especially when you see so many postings that seem out of reach. Remember that whole categories of jobs are designed for people exactly like you. Employers in sales, customer service, logistics, IT support, health care, insurance, and operations know they must hire and train early-career talent to keep their organizations strong.

Your job is to find those opportunities, tell your story clearly, and give yourself permission to start. The first role you take doesn't lock in your entire future. It simply gives you experience, income, and momentum you can build on.

Search thousands of jobs with "no experience required" on College Recruiter and start moving toward work that pays well, teaches valuable skills, and sets you up for the career you want.

If you are a student or recent grad, it can feel like every posting wants three years of experience and a magic list of skills. That is frustrating when you are trying to land your first real job. The good news is that there are many entry level jobs no experience roles where employers expect […]


9 High-Paying Entry-Level Jobs That Require Zero Experience (Perfect for Students & Recent Grads)

**Industry News and Information**

![Job Board Leaders Roundtable cover art December 2025](https://www.collegerecruiter.com/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fe0b9685dc8.nxcli.net%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2025%2F12%2FJob-Board-Leaders-Roundtable-cover-art-December-2025.png&w=1920&q=75)

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Each month, **Steven Rothberg** of College Recruiter hosts the **Job Board Leaders’ Roundtable**, a collaborative meeting of leaders from job boards, recruitment marketplaces, and related organizations worldwide. The December meeting, sponsored by **Job Boards Connect**, focused on closing 2025 strong, opening 2026 strong, and whether 2026 will differ significantly from 2025.

### Key Discussions from the Roundtable

**End-of-Year Business Challenges**
Steven Rothberg opened by noting the busy and challenging nature of year-end for customers, with some reluctant to spend due to exhausted budgets, while others are anxious to finalize deals. He emphasized the importance of having staff available to sign contracts on the last day of the year, as this often secures significant sales.

**New Roles and Industry Moves**
Ethan Bloomfield shared his new role at **Bold**, which acquired parts of Monster and CareerBuilder. His focus is on integrating these ecosystems into the marketplace, capitalizing on perceived weaknesses in Indeed’s offerings and LinkedIn’s resume seat renewals. Bloomfield highlighted that his role came through long-standing **professional networks**, underscoring the value of deep industry expertise over mere connections.

**Strategies for Growth and Sales**
Jim Durbin of Respondable discussed helping vendors and Talent Acquisition (TA) departments improve operations, especially with AI. He noted two types of people in the current market: those frozen with fear of spending and those eager to act but unsure how. Mark Belaiche introduced **Gahuza**, seeking job board owners with resume databases for integration.

**Product Infrastructure and Success Stories**
Matt Farrah from nurses.co.uk shared success stories of major client renewals, attributing them to driving decent applications. He highlighted their migration to the **Jobico platform** and implementation of a **job data pipeline** using AI to automate and classify job postings for better organic search. Farrah emphasized focusing on product in 2025 and shifting to marketing in 2026.

**Vendor and Migration Timing**
Samantha Leech with UBO suggested that year-end, when candidate applications trough, is ideal for development and vendor discussions. Marty Aghajanyan of JBoard agreed, noting that November and December are perfect for vendor conversations, with leads peaking in January as people delay launches for New Year’s goals.

**The Value of Niche Job Boards**
A key topic was how to pitch **niche job boards** to clients who prefer single suppliers. Mike Corso of disableperson.com emphasized that niche boards offer **community and grassroots networks**, reaching specific audiences effectively. Matt Farrah added that specialist boards, with proper tech setups like ATS integrations, can match the ease of use of generalist boards.

**Deep Granularity and Customer Service**
Thibault Blanchetière highlighted that niche boards provide **deep granularity and better taxonomy** to compete against generalist sites like Indeed in specific sectors. Mike Corso gave an example of a niche board delivering over 20 applications quickly for an urgent hiring need. Farrah stressed that niche boards often offer superior **customer service and personal touch**.

**Cost Efficiency and Budgeting**
Jeff Taylor suggested creating charts to show clients where their money goes with big players versus niche boards. He advocated for combining volume from programmatic vendors with targeted budgets for specialties, viewing it as more transparent and beneficial.

**Leveraging Data and Networking**
Terry Baker noted that PandoLogic’s success in programmatic recruitment was based on using vast data to predict outcomes and set budgets, outperforming rules-based systems. Jeff Taylor reiterated the value of **networking and coopetition**, where knowing each other’s businesses aids sales and partnerships.

**Fraud and Identity Verification**
Jeff Taylor raised the significant issue of **fraud**, including fake applicants and cash stacking, which has become a major concern for clients. Terry Baker and David Morgan discussed how candidates might use tools like ChatGPT to enhance resumes inaccurately, and the need for **agentic agents** to validate applicants. They also highlighted state actor threats, such as North Korea co-opting LinkedIn profiles, necessitating robust identity verification.

**Competitive Strategy**
Matt Farrah shared that most generalist job boards, like Indeed, are not direct competitors. He emphasized that sensible clients use a mix of platforms and social media, requiring niche boards to differentiate rather than try to be everything. James Wood added that specialist boards succeed by **delivering applications that Indeed and LinkedIn can’t**, focusing on niche specialties and passive audiences.

**Upcoming Meeting and Format Change**
Steven Rothberg announced a format change for the next meeting, scheduled for the second Thursday of the month. It will feature a panel discussion with Ben Eubanks and Gerry Crispin debating whether candidates hired through **Agentic AI** or other AI assistance are genuinely more productive.

<iframe loading="lazy" title="Will 2026 differ from 2025 for job boards?" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/pGwVoK_cNBw?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Each month, Steven Rothberg of College Recruiter job search site hosts the Job Board Leaders’ Roundtable, a collaborative, collegial, and free meeting of leaders of job boards, recruitment marketplaces, and related organizations from around the world. As usual, the December meeting was sponsored by Louise Triance and Louise Grant‘s Job Boards Connect, which hosts in-person […]


Why College Grads Face the Toughest Job Market in Years - What You Need to Know

Summary:

College graduates in 2026 face a challenging job market with extended job search times

Employers are scaling back hiring plans for new graduates due to slowing economic growth

The labor market is faltering, creating the weakest conditions for graduates in years

Hiring levels for new graduates are expected to be flat for the first time since 2021

This represents the most difficult entry-level job market since the COVID pandemic period

The Challenging Landscape for New Graduates

Employers Scaling Back Hiring Plans

Hiring Levels Expected to Be Flat

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Other Latest News

9 High-Paying Entry-Level Jobs That Require Zero Experience (Perfect for Students & Recent Grads)

Job Board Leaders Reveal: How to Dominate 2026 with Niche Strategies and AI

Other Latest News

9 High-Paying Entry-Level Jobs That Require Zero Experience (Perfect for Students & Recent Grads)

Job Board Leaders Reveal: How to Dominate 2026 with Niche Strategies and AI