Changing Landscape of Job Hunting for Students Graduating in 2027

The Evolution of Job Hunting for 2027 Graduates

As the job hunting landscape for students poised to graduate in 2027 changes, a recent survey by RECCOO sheds light on significant trends. The study involved 827 university students and revealed that early job-hunting, a trend that had stabilized in previous years, has now accelerated once again. The data indicates profound shifts in students' engagement with the job market, particularly among third-year students.

Early Job-Hunting Trends

In March 2025, 31.1% of students had started their job-hunting activities by their second year of university, marking a rise of 4.4 percentage points compared to the previous year. This suggests that early job-hunting is becoming a standard practice rather than a niche behavior among a specific group of students.

Surge in Early Selection Participation

By October of their third year, over 41.5% of students were already involved in the main selection process, a significant increase of 18.2 percentage points over three years. This shift points to a growing trend where students view the end of the year as a critical time for securing jobs, leading to an earlier peak in job-hunting activities.

Decline of Major Job Portals Among Top Students

Interestingly, the registration rate for major job portals among high-achieving students, such as those from prestigious universities including the Imperial Universities and Waseda University, has dropped to a historic low of 72.1%. This decline represents an 8.2 percentage point decrease from the previous year. As students increasingly seek information that aligns with their interests, there is an urgent need for companies to diversify their approach beyond traditional job portals to reach targeted candidates more effectively.

The Impact of Time Efficiency on Job Aspirations

A striking 79.4% of surveyed students are now acutely aware of "time performance" in their job-hunting activities, showing a clear preference for efficiency. Among those who find the selection process to involve more than four rounds, 45.6% perceive this as excessive, and over half of them (55.5%) reported a decrease in their desire to pursue the position further. This finding emphasizes the need for companies to streamline their recruitment processes to retain top talent.

Key Insights from the Survey

Normalization of Early Job-Hunting and Year-End Job Offers

The survey indicates that the norm of starting job-hunting activities early is strengthening, with increased participation by October of the junior year. Companies need to recognize this shift and engage with students earlier in their university journey to secure top candidates.

The New Reality of Job Selection Processes

The sense of urgency for job offers is evident as well; an increasing number of students are hoping to receive their first job offer before the year ends. In just two years, the desire to secure an offer by the end of December has doubled from 19.6% to 38.0%. This shift underscores the necessity for companies to adapt their timelines and approaches accordingly.

Information Gathering Dynamics

When it comes to gathering job-hunting information, the survey found that career events (76.7%) and job media (70.6%) are the top sources of information. However, even as students continue to engage with media, interest in major job portal sites has decreased significantly, which raises concerns about the visibility of lesser-known companies among students.

Conclusions and Recommendations from RECCOO

The findings reflect three major structural changes in the recruitment market:
1. Dissolution of the Preparation Period: The previous distinction between preparation and main selection phases is fading, necessitating a clear engagement strategy from companies earlier in students' university lives.
2. Limits of Passive Recruitment via Job Portals: The downward trend in job portal registration rates signals that reliance on traditional recruitment methods is diminishing. Companies are encouraged to adopt proactive approaches, such as scouting or hosting exclusive events.
3. Risks of Lengthy Selection Processes: As nearly 80% of students focus on time performance, lengthy recruitment processes can deter talented candidates. Redesigning the selection process to provide a more engaging experience is crucial.

At RECCOO, we regularly analyze such trends to support companies' recruitment strategies. We encourage businesses to download our comprehensive report on job-hunting trends for 2027 graduates for deeper insights and actionable recommendations.

For more detailed trends and analysis, check out our 27 Graduate Job Hunting Report at RECCOO.

Survey Overview

- Target Group: Students graduating in 2027
- Conducted: From October 1 to November 16, 2025
- Sample Size: 827 respondents
- Method: Online survey conducted with student groups affiliated with RECCOO

RECCOO remains committed to fostering a society where talented individuals can thrive and contribute to Japan's industrial growth. Our mission is to empower every individual's talent for the enhancement of Japan's economy and society.