Learn how Parker Dewey helps you reach students the way they actually want to be recruited.
What Early-Career Talent Wants from Employers in 2026
Parker Dewey's 2026 Student Sentiments on Campus Recruiting Survey Report
We asked 1,168 students about how they want to be recruited.
Parker Dewey surveys our nationwide network every year to understand how early-career talent wants to engage with prospective employers. This year's findings are the clearest signal yet: students want real work, not more outreach.
81%are open to applying to a company they've never heard of |
94%are more likely to stay long-term after completing a project |
51%prefer a Micro-Internship as their first employer touchpoint |
Everything you need to know about recruiting early-career talent in 2026.
Traditional campus recruiting assumptions are overdue for a reset. Students are planning their careers earlier, prioritizing real work over brand awareness, and ready to engage with employers they've never heard of, as long as the opportunity is worth their time. This report tells you what actually moves them.
- When students start thinking about careers and why employers are engaging too late
- Why Micro-Internships are the preferred first touchpoint with an employer, outpacing career fairs, webinars, and luncheons
- The real barriers keeping capable students out of traditional internship programs
- How AI is changing what students submit, and why a work sample matters more than ever
- What nontraditional and first-generation students need, and how Parker Dewey addresses it
- What students want career services to do differently, and what Parker Dewey already provides
Ready to see the full findings?
Download the free 2026 Student Sentiments on Campus Recruiting report below and give students what they're asking for.
