The Intern & New Grad Job Market Unpacked: Data-Driven Insights for Job Seekers
Navigating the early career job market can feel overwhelming, but data can help cut through the noise. Whether you’re currently studying or looking to land that first full-time role, knowing which companies are hiring and what roles are in demand can give you the winning edge.
In this article, we will break down recent hiring trends based on company data to help you make smarter decisions. From startup funding stages to top employers and job categories, we’re going to cover everything you need to know. Let’s get to it!
From Series A to IPO: Who’s Hiring the Most
| Funding Stage | New Grad Job Count |
| Acquired | 663 |
| Post IPO Equity | 333 |
| IPO | 317 |
| Series C | 205 |
| Series A | 159 |
| Post IPO Debt | 142 |
| Private Equity | 124 |
Not all companies hire new grads and interns equally—and their funding stage can reveal a lot about their hiring appetite. The above data table shows that companies further along in their growth journey tend to have more openings for new graduates.
Leading the pack are companies that have already been acquired, with 663 new grad roles. Post-IPO equity companies follow with 333 roles, and IPO-stage companies aren’t far behind with 317. Series C (205) and Series A (159) firms also make the list, but with fewer openings.
Interestingly, even companies in post-IPO debt and private equity stages are actively hiring, offering 142 and 124 roles respectively.
So what does this mean for job seekers?
- Larger or more established companies—those that have gone public or been acquired—are typically expanding their teams and have the structure to onboard early-career talent at scale.
- Startups at the Series A or C stage may still offer roles, but the volume is significantly lower, which means more competition and often less formal training.
Overall, the data suggest you should focus on companies that are post-IPO or acquired for more entry-level opportunities and structured programs.
Which Companies are Hiring New Grads and Interns in 2025?
Let’s look at which companies are hiring the most new grads and interns in 2025. With this info, you can keep an eye on companies hiring at scale. Keep in mind that agency companies were filtered out of this analysis, so these are direct hiring organizations, not third-party recruiters.
Top New‑Grad Employers
| Name | New Grad Job Count |
| Canonical | 809 |
| NEOGOV | 806 |
| Epic | 639 |
| TELUS Digital AI Data Solutions | 539 |
| DataAnnotation | 411 |
| Wyndy | 292 |
| United States Postal Service | 240 |
| Advanced Call Center Technologies, LLC | 193 |
| BruntWork | 190 |
When it comes to offering entry-level roles for new grads, a few companies offer more opportunities than most. Canonical tops the list with a whopping 809 new grad job postings. NEOGOV is right behind with 806, followed by Epic with 639, TELUS Digital AI Data Solutions with 539, and DataAnnotation with 411.
What’s common among these companies? Many are tech-focused, and several—like Canonical and DataAnnotation—are involved in open-source software or data work.
These companies are clearly investing in junior talent, which could mean better training, mentorship, and opportunities to grow.
If you’re a recent grad looking for a stable first role with room to learn, these companies should definitely be on your radar.
Top Internship Employers
| Name | Intern Job Count |
| NEOGOV | 396 |
| KBR, Inc. | 74 |
| Paycom | 55 |
| Xometry | 50 |
| S&P Global | 46 |
| SAP | 46 |
| Cadence | 31 |
| Rocket Lab | 30 |
| ADP | 29 |
For students looking to get a foot in the door with an internship, certain companies are consistently giving that chance.
NEOGOV once again tops with 396 intern roles, showing a strong commitment to hiring early‑career talent. KBR comes in next with 74 internships, followed by Paycom with 55, and Xometry with 50. Rocket Lab, an aerospace manufacturer, has 30 internships.
Unlike with the new grads data, there isn’t much of a common theme here. These companies span a variety of industries, from defense and aerospace to HR software and manufacturing.
However, what they share is a steady investment in internship programs, which often serve as paths to full-time roles. For you as an intern, this means the potential for a long-term full-time opportunity if you perform well.
Top Jobs for Fresh Talent
| Jobs | New Grad Job Post Count |
| Data Annotation/AI Tutor | 493 |
| Data Analyst | 362 |
| Sales Development Representative | 241 |
| Machine Learning/AI Researcher | 234 |
| Backend Engineer | 159 |
| Search‑System ML Engineer | 155 |
| Machine Learning Engineer | 113 |
| Clinical Engineer | 102 |
| Full Stack Engineer | 100 |
| C/C++ Engineer | 89 |
We looked at the companies that are hiring the most new grads and interns, and now let’s look at which roles they’re hiring them for. Not all roles are equal in this aspect. There are some roles that are in especially high demand for early-career professionals, and the data makes that clear.
At the top of the list is Data Annotation/AI Tutor with 493 new grad job postings. This is followed by Data Analyst at 362, Sales Development Representative at 241, and Machine Learning/AI Researcher at 234 postings. So, what’s the trend that we see here?
All of these are in tech, yes, but more importantly, they all (apart from SDR, perhaps) have a large AI element to them. This reflects a larger industry trend: companies are investing heavily in AI and ML, and are always looking for entry-level talent to support these technologies.
Next Steps as a Job Seeker
So you’ve seen where the opportunities are, but now what? Here are some next steps you can take.
1. Target companies based on hiring volume: Look into companies like NEOGOV that have a proven record of investing in early-career talent. They likely have good internship programs as well.
2. Upskill or switch to high-demand roles: If there’s not much demand for your current role, take a look at the Top Jobs data table and consider switching to one of those roles.
3. Use internships strategically: If you’re still in school or early in your job search, apply to internships at companies known for converting interns into full-timers. Even if an internship doesn’t lead to a job, it can still provide you valuable experience that can be helpful in the future.
Use these steps and insights to guide your job search strategy.
Conclusion
The early-career job market is competitive and always evolving, but if you have your finger on the pulse with the right data, you can get the opportunities that you’re looking for.
Whether you’re applying for your first full-time role or looking to secure an internship, we hope this article helped you move in the right direction!
Now it’s over to you. Use what you’ve learned here to take that next step toward your career goals and land the role that sets the tone for your future.