LinkedIn’s No. 1 2026 Tip for Entry-Level Jobseekers: 'The Best Way to Start'

As many recent graduates and early-career workers continue to face a tight labor market, LinkedIn is flagging a clear priority for entry-level jobseekers in 2026. The professional network calls its leading guidance “The best way to start,” emphasizing practical steps candidates can take to improve their chances in a competitive field.

LinkedIn’s outlook reflects persistent hiring challenges that have left new graduates and first-time applicants navigating fewer openings and stiffer competition. In response, the platform highlights foundational moves that don’t require senior-level experience but do demonstrate readiness: developing job-specific skills, accumulating hands-on experience, and expanding professional networks.

Practical skills—whether technical tools, industry software, or role-relevant certifications—help candidates meet baseline requirements employers increasingly set. Hands-on experience can take many forms: internships, short-term projects, volunteer roles, freelance assignments or portfolio work that shows employers the candidate can deliver results. LinkedIn suggests treating these activities as proof points recruiters can evaluate quickly.

Equally important is proactive networking. Building relationships with professionals in target industries, engaging with alumni, joining relevant groups, and maintaining an up-to-date LinkedIn profile can connect jobseekers to unposted roles and referral opportunities. The platform’s advice positions networking not as a single action but as a sustained strategy that complements skill-building and experience.

For hiring managers, these signals make it easier to assess a candidate’s potential beyond a resume line. For jobseekers, focusing on demonstrable outputs and relationships can create a clearer entry path into roles that traditionally favored more experienced applicants.

While macroeconomic and sector-specific factors will continue to shape hiring trends, LinkedIn’s core recommendation for 2026 is pragmatic and actionable: start by demonstrating capability and connection. For entry-level candidates, that means prioritizing projects and credentials that translate directly into the kinds of outcomes employers seek, while steadily expanding your professional network to surface opportunities earlier in the hiring cycle.