Dear Jonathan, Should I worry? I read everywhere that there aren’t any jobs for new graduates
Dear Jonathan,
Should I worry?
I read everywhere that there aren’t any jobs for new graduates, there seem to be stories every day about “even Oxbridge graduates” out of work for months or longer after graduating, with AI taking what jobs there were.
I’ve just finished my second year, with one year to go and nothing arranged – have I left it too late and will I end up living back with my parents, unemployed?
The media thrives on stories that attract viewers, and particularly if there is shock value to readers of the same age (that’s current students and new graduates in this case) or older readers who can think that it’s not like it was “in their day.”
The stories seemingly everywhere can bias our view: so-called confirmation bias where you pick up those stories that support your belief and discount contradictory evidence, or availability bias where we overweight evidence we heard more recently.
So, what is the evidence for Oxford students?
In terms of all vacancies on our CareerConnect system, there are almost the same number year to date (about 4,000 since September 2025) as the same period last year. After a big rise post-pandemic, the number of vacancies has fallen from that peak of 7,000 – which feeds the story of “no jobs.”
Two comments worth adding: first, we will likely end on 5,000 for the whole academic year which is more vacancies than there are students who go into work (and we’re not the only source of jobs). Second, we have been here before: after the 2008 financial crisis, there were even fewer roles on our system (2,500 year to date).
However, today is different, even from last year, with the rise of AI: this is affecting both the content and perhaps the number of jobs, and the use of AI in applying for and being selected for jobs.
How can students best prepare for this?
With one year to go at university, it is definitely not too late. Bear in mind that your career is a long game, perhaps 40 years or longer, and the first role you take is not going to be the only job you do. To improve your chances, keep as wide a choice for that first role as you can; there is a current suggestion of “ABC” standing for: Any job, a Better job, a Career.
And to further improve your chances, work out how you can demonstrate the employability skills that all recruiters seek. You can gain these skills, and demonstrate responsibility and achievement, in any sort of role.
So, plan during your summer and over the next year, alongside academic work, to take on roles (e.g. in student societies, volunteering, or micro-internships) which can develop your skills that are attractive to employers. For further advice, book to see a Careers Adviser over the summer.
Jonathan Black - Director, Oxford University Careers Service
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About the Dear Jonathan column
For six years, the Oxford University Careers Service Director Jonathan Black, wrote a fortnightly column for the Financial Times answering readers’ careers questions - you can still find it here.
Now, the “Dear Jonathan" column has come to Oxford.
If you are an Oxford University student, send in your career question to dear.jonathan@careers.ox.ac.uk and each week of term, he will answer one of the questions in this feature. We’ll anonymise the author (but please tell us whatever is relevant) so you can be sure that readers won’t know it’s you.
