Summary of this article
Seven in 10 freshers say securing a first job is harder today.
Entry-level roles increasingly demand prior work experience from candidates.
Rejections and low employer responses affect confidence and career decisions.
Getting a first job in India has become considerably harder for young professionals, with seven in 10 saying the process is more difficult today than it was three to five years ago, according to Indeed's Fresher Hiring Report. The study, which surveyed entry-level job seekers across the country, points to a central contradiction: employers are asking for prior work experience even for roles meant for freshers.
As many as 72 per cent of respondents said entry-level positions now require experience, yet access to opportunities to build that experience remains limited. Only 20 per cent said they had access to paid internships during their studies, while 18 per cent said they had no internships, projects, placements, or freelancing opportunities at all.
Applications Going Unacknowledged
The difficulty does not end with qualifications. Around 61 per cent of respondents reported receiving little to no response to their internship applications, and the same proportion said that they heard little to nothing back after applying for jobs. Nearly half, 49 per cent, said getting shortlisted was the single biggest hurdle in their job search.
Financial Pressure Shapes Early Career Choices
Many young professionals are also losing their desired career path due to economic pressure. Just 14 per cent of respondents indicated that their first career was aligned with their desired career, company and location. In the meantime, 43 per cent reported that financial considerations and/or opportunities were influencing their career choices, with many taking jobs that were not in line with their future aspirations.
The report indicated that a large portion of young people are seeking to learn and build their careers in the longer term, but a large proportion are entering the job market as a result of necessity, not choice.
Emotional Toll Of Extended Job Searches
Prolonged job searching is having a measurable impact on candidates. Nearly 64 per cent said repeated rejections had left them feeling demoralised or discouraged. Only 20 per cent said they felt they were on track with their intended career path.
The report also found that the challenge is less about the ability to apply and more about being seen. Despite submitting applications, a large share of candidates said they struggle to get noticed by employers, with 61 per cent receiving little to no feedback throughout the hiring process.
