Lower Academic Years: A Pressure-Free Time to Broaden Horizons. Over 90% of First and Second-Year Students Found Career Events a Catalyst for Thinking About Their Future

i-plug, Inc., operator of the new graduate offer-based recruitment service 'OfferBox,' conducted a survey on career events among students scheduled to graduate in 2027 and 2028.

Key survey findings include:

1. A Catalyst for Career Thinking 92.6% of students who participated in career events during their first or second year responded that it served as a catalyst for thinking about their future and careers. While only about 20% (20.2%) of students take action during these early years, for those who do, it is a meaningful opportunity to expand their career options.

2. Reflection on Early Years The top answer for 'things I wish I had done' during the first or second year was 'acquiring qualifications/skill development' (53.3%), followed by 'self-analysis' (42.3%) and 'participating in job-hunting events' (35.1%). Many students look back and wish they had proactively built connections with society during these early years, when they had more time compared to the third year and beyond.

3. The Gap with Full-Scale Job Hunting Approximately 80% responded that they were able to participate with a sense of ease. Because these early years are free from selection processes, many students reported they could 'choose based on personal interests' (69.7%) and 'focus on broadening career options' (71.0%), suggesting it serves as a period to expand horizons without stress.