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We’re Excited to Announce Free Access to Our Platform for Universities
Sep 17, 2026
The class of 2026 is entering one of the most difficult job markets in recent memory. Unemployment among recent college graduates has climbed to 5.7%, a three-year high, while underemployment sits at 41.5%. Junior-level job postings fell 7% last year even as senior-level openings grew, and AI is quietly making the entry-level roles where graduates traditionally get their start increasingly scarce. For the first time in decades, the job-finding rate for young college graduates has converged with that of high school graduates. The college credential, once a near-guarantee of a smoother path into the workforce, no longer carries the certainty it once did.
Expanding the Future of Hiring: RippleMatch Joins JobGet
May 28, 2026
Today, I’m excited to share the news that RippleMatch is joining JobGet.
All Articles
Majority of Gen Z Candidates Would Renege on an Offer if a ‘Better’ One Came Along
Reneges have been the hot topic of conversation. Your peers are swapping stories of how candidates who appeared excited are suddenly backing out of offer letters before their start dates at rapid rates, and your company is asking you how they can ensure your hires don't do the same. But what does the landscape of reneges truly look like? And how do Gen Z candidates today feel about rescinding offers?
It’s True: Gen Z Candidates Today Are Weighing Multiple Job Offers
Widespread job loss due to the pandemic in 2020, followed by record-high ‘quit rates’ in 2021, has allowed candidates to continue to drive the labor market. Companies looking to fill open roles are in tight competition for top talent, and have had to revisit their tried and true strategies for attracting candidates to remain in the game. But how many opportunities and offers are Gen Z juggling today, and how many salaries and benefits are they pinning against each other as they decide where they want to kick-start their careers?
The State of the Gen Z Job Search in 2022
Two years after the start of the pandemic we remain in a candidate-driven market, and recruiters are still battling for Gen Z’s attention as early career talent is inundated with job opportunities from companies big and small. And you can rest assured that today’s candidates have caught on that they are a highly sought-after group, and have expressed clear preferences for workplace policies and cultures that organizations would be wise to embrace if they are looking to remain competitive in today’s market, such as flexible work settings.
Outstanding Leader Spotlight: Kathy Bowman
RippleMatch is proud to recognize Kathy Bowman, the Talent Acquisition Manager of Program Management at Catalina, as an Outstanding Leader in the Campus Recruiting Community!
RippleMatch at NACE22: See You This June in Portland
RippleMatch is proud to be making its way to Portland this summer to participate in NACE22, the National Association of Colleges and Employers’ annual conference for college career services and corporate recruiting professionals. As sponsors of the conference, you’ll spot us everywhere from manning our booth in the Expo Hall, to taking the stage to present our latest benchmarking data on Gen Z. We are very excited to see you there!
8 Common Misconceptions About Early Career Hiring
You may have heard that early career talent is becoming an increasingly crucial talent pool, but who exactly are these candidates, and do you really need to tailor your recruiting strategies to interest them in your company?
7 Unique Challenges to Crafting an Early Career Hiring Strategy
While recruiting for any role at a company can be tough in today’s tight labor market, early career hiring has its own unique set of challenges. The way that you attract, evaluate, and ultimately hire entry-level employees will likely differ from your approach to recruiting more experienced professionals. As you develop your early career hiring strategy, here are some of the main challenges you may encounter (and some of our recommended solutions).
Program Innovator Spotlight: Ashley Wodarek, Senior Campus Recruiter, MKS Instruments
RippleMatch is proud to spotlight Ashely Wodarek as a Program Innovator! Ashley Wodarek is currently a Senior Campus Recruiter at MKS Instruments leading the recruitment and program design for its Graduate Internship Program on a global scale (North America, EMEA, and APAC regions). This is far from Ashley’s first award in the early career talent space —-she has been a consistent achiever and role model since the start of her career, and was nominated by a colleague as a RippleMatch Program Innovator.
50 Recruitment Event Ideas to Attract Top Gen Z Talent
Recruitment events are a critical component of any campus recruitment strategy — and benefit both recruiters and candidates alike. Events allow recruiters to meet and engage with top candidates either in-person or virtually, and help candidates learn more about your company and get excited about starting a career in your industry. They open the door for you to connect with candidates and follow up with resources and applications, and give candidates a friendly, human connection to your company who they can feel comfortable reaching out to with any questions or concerns they might be grappling with.
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