Parents & Family

Supporting Your Student’s Career Journey: The Spring & Summer Update

As the academic year winds down, we know many parents and students feel a sense of urgency regarding “what comes next.” We want to provide a clear picture of the current hiring landscape and reassure you that there are still many paths to success.

It’s Not Over After Graduation

Commencement is a celebration of achievement, not a deadline for employment. Many students find their best-fit opportunities in the weeks following graduation.

• Career Coaching is Ongoing: We remain fully open all summer. Our coaches are available for appointments in person or virtually to help students stay motivated and focused.

Hiring is Still in Full Swing

While some industries recruit early, a massive portion of the job market moves during the spring and early summer.

• The Data: There are currently over 35,000 jobs and 7,300 internships on our Handshake system. Employers are not finished hiring. Many are just beginning to finalize their summer and entry-level needs.
• High Activity Levels: Employer activity is ongoing. However, students should note that many current opportunities have short application deadlines and require prompt action.
• Summer Hiring: Employers hire through May and June. It is also not uncommon for internships to be posted and filled as late as mid-June.

Career Coaching

Our career coaching teams work to ensure students are prepared for a shifting labor market that increasingly values technical and analytics capabilities.

• Class of 2026 Outlook: The current market is characterized by deliberate hiring. Employers are still actively recruiting, but they are taking more time to ensure a perfect match.
• Proactive Support: We are actively supporting students by significantly increasing job sourcing and implementing strategies to ensure students are positioned for success.
• Summer & Alumni Resources: If your undergraduate is still looking for summer plans, encourage them to visit our Summer Experience page. Seniors can schedule an appointment with a coach or, if they have already secured a role, access the Alumni Personal and Career Development Center for transition resources.

How Your Student Can Stay Competitive

If your student is feeling stuck, we recommend focusing on three specific areas:

1. Proper Targeting: Focusing on industries and roles that align with their skills and current market demand.
2. Better Materials: Tailoring resumes to pass through tracking systems and catch a recruiter’s eye.
3. Making Connections: Tapping into the Wake Forest network and staying watchful for emails from Employer Relations to ensure they don’t miss key events.
4. Become AI Proficient: Here are some courses your students can consider to become AI proficient. 

See our Class of 2026 Pro Tips for more information.

Handshake: The Place for Opportunities

Handshake is the primary search engine for jobs and internships. Students should optimize their accounts to work for them. Here’s how.

Celebrating Success!

Has your student landed a job, internship, or accepted a slot in graduate/professional school? Have them report their acceptances of job, internship, and graduate school offers here. .

Why report? When students share their success, it helps us build the “First Destination” data that future Deacs use to research salary trends and see which employers are hiring Wake Forest talent. Reporting ensures their legacy helps the next class succeed.

Senior Event

Seniors are invited to Deacon Dive: Work, Life, & Finances After Wake, a half-day workshop series and alumni networking lunch designed to provide the “real world” playbook on nailing your early days at work, building a community in a new place, and creating a strong foundation for personal finances.

It will be held on April 26 between10 a.m.- 2:30 p.m. Space is limited and registration is required.

What can you do as a parent?

Parents play a critical role in their child’s college experience and their decisions for the future. However, the world of work is quite different than 30, 20 or even 10 years ago. In order to give your student sound advice, it is essential for you to understand the environment, resources and opportunities available for your student. You can play an integral role as your student navigates through their time at Wake Forest and makes plans for their future.