New grads want remote, high-paying jobs that align with their values. Is that possible?

Like many 2025 college graduates, Jayda Hurtado is hoping to land a dream job soon but is quickly learning the challenges involved with entering today’s job market.

“I’m actually terrified. I probably have a good cry session about it maybe every two weeks,” Hurtado said.

She’s applied to jobs but hasn’t landed an interview yet. She plans to keep searching over the next month and hopes to have something in place before graduation.

“If not, then it’s a matter of having something to get me by before I get a big girl job,” Hurtado said. “I also know the economy is in a weird place.”

Overall, 2025 graduates are confident they will find a job. Monster’s 2025 State of the Graduate Report found 83% think it’ll happen shortly after graduation, with 37% predicting it’ll happen within four to six months. Only 5% said they think it’ll take them a year or longer to secure a job.

Most graduates feel confident their skills match those required for entry-level roles, and 20% reported reported feeling overqualified for an entry-level position.

Hurtado majored in advertising and earned a certificate in music business during her time at the University of Georgia. She currently works as a server and bartender but dreams of doing marketing for a record label or something similar. But she said she’s realistic and that’s why she’s also applying for standard advertising jobs as well.

She’s not alone. Some 48% of 2025 graduates think they will not be able to find a job at an organization they prefer, according to the report.

“It’s a hard world out there for a lot of people who are not just highly educated, but have built these careers and have a trusted resume of previous experience. It’s hard for them to get a job,” said Emily Levine, executive vice president at recruitment firm Career Group Companies. “If you want to get a job somewhat quickly and start contributing and earning money, it most likely won’t be your dream job. And that’s okay.”

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This year’s college graduates have long wish lists for their future employers.

The report found less than two in five graduates said they would be willing to accept working in office, down 7% from 2024. At 42%, a sizable portion said they would never accept a job at a company that doesn’t offer flexible or hybrid work schedules.

“Remote work or hybrid work is no longer a nice-to-have,” said Vicki Salemi, a career expert at Monster. “For these grads, it’s a must-have.”