As the job market continues to show signs of cooling, an increasing number of recent college graduates are seeking internshipspositions traditionally filled by students still enrolled in their academic programs. This shift may indicate a more challenging employment landscape for new graduates.

According to a recent report from the careers website Glassdoor, the number of applicants for internships is on the rise, particularly among those who have recently completed their college degrees. The report, which highlights the best internships of 2025 based on factors such as median salary, overall reviews, and workplace ratings including culture, values, and work-life balance, provides a comprehensive look at this evolving trend.

In a statement regarding the report, Danny Cao, the head of Glassdoors internship program, observed a notable increase in applications from recent graduates. While the majority of our internship applicants are current students, I've noticed a slight increase this year in recent graduates applying for summer internships, Cao remarked. He emphasized that this trend may reflect the changing nature of internships, which are becoming essential not only for students but also for early-career professionals who are facing a competitive job market.

While its not uncommon for recent graduates to pursue internships, the growing number of them applying for roles typically held by students suggests that many early-career individuals are encountering difficulties finding full-time positions immediately after graduation. Daniel Zhao, Glassdoor's lead economist, elaborated on this trend, stating, The fact that you have more of these new grads applying to internships is a sign of the slower job market and the bunching that we're getting down at the bottom of the career ladder where progress up the career ladder has slowed.

According to Zhao, the current landscape indicates that new graduates and interns alike are grappling with the challenge of securing their first job in the professional world. So some new grads are turning to internships to get their foot in the door, he added. Whereas in a hotter job market, they would just go straight to an entry-level job.

The report also highlighted that last year marked the most competitive season for internships since the onset of the pandemic. This intense competition is not solely due to the rising number of applicants; a significant reduction in available internships from employers has further intensified the situation.

Zhao pointed out, As companies have slowed down hiring, theyve also pulled back on entry-level and new graduate opportunities in addition to internships. Thats why were seeing such high competition this year. He explained that the sluggish job market overall is leading companies to be less inclined to invest in their internship programs.

Given the competitive nature of the current market, Zhao advises applicants to consider strategies that can set them apart from the rest of the candidate pool. Its important to remember to consider the rest of the applicant pool, he noted. He suggested that candidates should aim to highlight unique qualifications that can differentiate them, such as additional project experience or previous internships that might not directly relate to the position but could still add valuable insights to their application.

Its really important to stand out and to really try to make your application pop so that it gets that second look from the hiring manager, Zhao concluded. Ultimately, he emphasized that the goal for any applicant should not only be to demonstrate that they are qualified for a job but to show that they are indeed the best candidate for that position.