Staff writer, Lubi Sakalieva, explores the obstacles faced by KCL graduates in the changing job market.
A few years ago, a university degree meant a guarantee of successful employment. Specialising in a specific field was a significant advantage when applying against high-school graduates. It created an academic system where effort was directly rewarded with opportunity.
However, by 2026, that promise was broken. According to ONS data, UK national vacancies have plummeted from a 2022 peak of 1.3 million to just 734,000. The job market has changed drastically, and graduating from university no longer secures a better professional role. Today’s graduates are struggling.
What’s the reality?
The Institute of Student Employers (ISE) reports a record-breaking 140 applications per job vacancy. To put that in perspective, in 2014, that number was between 30 to 40. For the class of 2026, the issue isn’t about finding the right job- it’s about finding any job at all.
Three years of tuition fees and late nights in the Maughan library should guarantee a job. Nearly 32% of graduates are currently stuck in working “non-graduate” roles, which marks the highest level of underemployment in a decade. Are students truly working this hard, investing their time and money into education, only to have Starbucks reject their Bioengineering CV?
Despite record inflation, starting salaries have been stuck at £32,000 since 2023. In other words, a Londoner now needs to earn £47,000 a year for a “decent standard of living.” It costs more to live than most entry-level salaries actually provide. Additionally, a 2026 KCL graduate earns significantly less than a KCL graduate earned in 2016. We aren’t just fighting for jobs; we’re fighting for the right to afford the city we study in.
How are students supposed to stay academically motivated when the job market is so fundamentally inadequate?
KCL reality check
To understand how this crisis affects students, Roar News surveyed KCL students across all faculties and years. The results showed that only 16% of respondents feel confident about securing a job after graduation. Meanwhile, 64% reported feeling highly overwhelmed by recruitment processes- endless assessments, 5+ stage interviews, and the classic paradox of “entry-level roles” demanding two years of experience.
The networking myth was reflected in the results. Over half of KCL students (57%) believe they don’t stand a realistic chance in this market without the right connections. And they’re not wrong- 45% of those who’ve already had jobs or internships admitted that personal connections played a significant role in securing the position. The merit-based system we were promised has long since changed. These results are reflective of a broader market reality: success demands both what you know and who you know, and ignoring either puts you at a serious disadvantage.
Nearly half of KCL students (47%) still believe their degree offers some advantage. However, “some advantage” doesn’t guarantee job security anymore. When you’re competing against 139 other applicants for a single position, your King’s degree and hours of studies suddenly don’t feel like enough.
Does meritocracy still exist?
As we stand in 2026, the “meritocracy” we were promised at enrolment feels increasingly like a myth. While we spend hundreds of hours perfecting CVs and preparing for interviews, the “hidden job market” tells a different story. Industry estimates suggest that up to 80% of vacancies are never even posted online. Instead, they go through internal referrals and quiet handshakes. A personal connection isn’t just a bonus; it’s a fast track that bypasses the long 140 applicant queue. Networking isn’t officially mandatory, yet without it, your chances drop significantly. Bompanies hire referred candidates 47% faster than those following the formal application process. Equal opportunities don’t exist anymore, and unless you’re a “friend of a friend”, your application needs to look spotless- a dynamic that quietly rewards nepotism over merit.
Nepotism in graduate hiring rarely operates in the open. For students without established professional networks, that conversation simply never happens. A 2024 survey of over 1,400 adults across the US, UK, and Australia found that 70.2% had received a contact, interview, or job offer through personal connections- and tellingly, 76.6% believe there should be more regulation to prevent it. This dynamic disproportionately affects those from less privileged backgrounds, who are not less capable, but are statistically less connected. The system was supposed to reward the work, not the network. As it stands, it does both, but not equally. Until that changes, meritocracy remains an aspiration that the job market has yet to actually achieve.
While it is tempting to dismiss younger generations as lazy or incompetent, that narrative ignores how drastically the market has shifted. Practical ability and knowledge were enough to secure a job back then. But now, the modern student is forced to expand their skillset and learn how to network professionally.
It isn’t just about what you know anymore; it’s about whose socials you have.
There’s a phrase that gets thrown around at every careers fair and LinkedIn motivational post: “do what you love.” It sounds empowering, but as writer Miya Tokumitsu argues, it’s really just the secret handshake of the privileged. When we’re told that passion alone will carry us into meaningful employment, it conveniently shifts the blame onto us when things don’t work out. Didn’t land a graduate role? You must not have wanted it enough. The “do what you love” mantra provides convenient cover for the structural problems we’ve already outlined- the oversaturated job market, the flatlining wages, the unspoken favouritism. It reframes a systemic problem as a personal failing. And for the thousands of graduates currently being ghosted by the same companies that once told them to “follow their dreams,” that framing is worth questioning.
KEATS’ Support Services
While the system might be broken, that doesn’t mean you’re on your own. King’s offers more support than most students realise. The Careers & Employability portal on KEATS provides tailored guidance for specific sectors, with direct links to job boards where you can search and apply without drowning in generic listings. There’s also help with CV and cover letter writing. And if you’d rather talk it through face to face, you can book a private office hour with an employability adviser who’ll sit down with you, go through your application, and give you personal, one-on-one feedback tailored to what you’re actually applying for. More importantly, there’s dedicated support for underrepresented groups, disabled students, international students, and anyone who feels like the system wasn’t exactly designed with them in mind. Whether it’s one-on-one coaching, sector-specific workshops, or simply knowing where to start when the whole process feels overwhelming, the resources exist.
So, Where Do We Go From Here?
The class of 2026 did not sign up for this. We were told that hard work, a good degree, and determination would be enough. The saturated market is an obstacle every young graduate has to face- yet despite the brutal conditions, there is still hope. Over 90% of King’s graduates secure highly-skilled employment within 15 months of graduation, and the university ranks 6th in the UK for employability. A King’s degree still opens doors- you just need to be more strategic about it (networking). Although the odds might be against us, if 90% of King’s students are making it work, so can you.
