The fall recruiting surge is in full effect. August through October is the prime recruiting period for mid-sized to large employers expecting to hire May 2026 grads, summer 2026 internships and spring 2026 co-ops.
Lots of Job Postings…
In the northeast alone, Handshake — UML’s career hub — has postings for more than 5,500 jobs, 2,000 internships and 100 co-ops. All have been posted within the last three months!
This is why the Career & Co-op Center is offering so many employer events on campus this semester.
The number of job postings on Handshake sounds like a lot. It is, but it’s not the complete picture. There are actually even more jobs than those posted on Handshake.
You should use additional job sites. General ones, like LinkedIn, Indeed, SimplyHired, and ZipRecruiter, can be good. There are also career-specific job sites, like these recommended by our staff.
Don’t forget to go straight to the source as well. Employer career sites will always have the most up-to-date listings.
Pro tip: Consider using your favorite AI tool to discover jobs posted only on company career sites. Chat with AI about what you want to do and where you want to do it. Unlike search, an AI conversation allows you to unearth opportunities relevant for you.
Hi Copilot, I’m looking for a digital media job in the northeast that requires 0-3 years of experience. Could you find 20 jobs for me to consider?
…but act fast!
The number of opportunities sounds good. Unfortunately, there is a cloud that hangs over the college job market.
The college job market is very competitive. Employers are reducing the number of people they hire per posting. Some employers are even waiting to make their college hiring plans.
You have the knowledge, skills and experience to be competitive. That’s what it means to have a UMass Lowell education.
However, I want you to have a sense of urgency in your job search.
We are hearing that employers will be accepting applications for short periods of time – 2 – 4 weeks. This means that you should be ready for the opportunities that come up. Applying soon after posting greatly increases your chance for an interview.
No matter which job sites you use, you can set notification alerts to let you know when new jobs that might interest you are posted. Handshake lets you do this easily from the Jobs page.
Finally, remember that the designated career advisors in the Career & Co-op Center are available to support your unique career needs.
