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Job platform Glassdoor reports that interest in summer internships is skyrocketing among recent college graduates, as the job market becomes increasingly more complicated.
Why It Hits: As young people struggle to land entry-level positions, they’re turning to internships as a stepping stone toward their desired jobs after graduation. While that’s been true for some time in the most competitive industries, the shift overall means getting an internship may become a prerequisite for a career.
Behind the Resumes: Danny Cao, Glassdoor’s head of internships, has some thoughts on why recent grads are now looking for internships.
- It shows that the job market has slowed down due to constantly changing economic factors, including tariffs, inflation, and Wall Street’s expectations for ever-larger margins.
- Few industries have widespread trainee or apprenticeship programs, meaning it’s harder for people — even with Ivy League degrees — to get their foot in the door.
- Daniel Zhao, lead economist at Glassdoor, told Insider that the internship also signals a “bunching” at the bottom of the career ladder — too much demand for too few jobs.
- Not helping matters is the fact that companies are also cutting back on their internship programs, which means landing one could soon become just as hard as getting an entry-level job (especially since top internships tend to pay pretty well).
The Future: Glassdoor reports that last year was the most competitive year for internships since 2020… which coincides with the rise of AI taking more entry-level jobs. It’s a constant reminder that succeeding in today’s job market may be all about cultivating connections and community.
Go Deeper: Here are the best internships of 2025, per Glassdoor.
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