🎓 Class of 2026: Campus to Career by Canada Day

It’s September. For many Canadian students, the final lap begins. By July 1st, thousands of post-secondary grads will walk off campus and into real life. But here’s the truth: employers don’t care about letter grades — and degrees aren’t golden tickets to careers like they once were.

This isn’t breaking news, but the next steps are tougher than they were five years ago — and, according to recent reporting, job seekers across North America say they’re tougher than even last year.

The conundrum? Employers want experience. Grads need experience. Something’s gotta give. Or — more realistically — this generation’s gotta find new ways to ‘do’.

The good news? Those who get creative, experiment, and take action early could turn that challenge into a unique advantage. It’s the small, consistent things that set ambitious young people apart as they launch their careers.

Canada’s youth job market has tightened. This summer, the unemployment rate for returning students hit 17.9% — the highest since 2009, excluding 2020. More broadly, overall youth unemployment approached 15%, a trend economist L.J. Valencia highlighted this week on an episode of In This Economy — a sobering reality check for grads planning their next steps.

The market looks tough, but the next generation of professionals are adapting. More than half of Canadians aged 18–29 worry automation could force them to rethink their path — yet about six in ten higher-ed students are already using generative AI in their studies. Today’s grads aren’t standing still; they’re testing tools and strategies that could shape what comes next.

These phases are a roadmap, not a rulebook. Certain actions — networking, AI tinkering, company outreach — are best done throughout the year. Use this guide to keep momentum, while repeating what works at each stage.

💡 Audit your skills and interests.
Start with a framework like University of Calgary’s Reflect → Explore → Prepare → Act. Write down what you do well, what energizes you, and where those overlap with opportunities.

🤝 Build your network early.
Don’t wait for spring job fairs. Reach out for short, specific chats with alumni, profs, and operators. Two targeted coffees (or 20 minute zoom chats) a week beat twenty generic applications.

💼 Consider co-op opportunities.
Co-op programs — structured, paid work terms built into your degree — can provide up to two years of hands-on experience before graduation. They’re considered the gold standard of work-integrated learning (WIL) in Canada, and schools like the University of Waterloo run North America’s largest co-op program with approximately 26,000 students participating each year.

⚡ Experiment small — get in the dirt!
Run micro-tests: flip an item on Whatnot, freelance a small project on Fiverr, or launch a one-product store on Shopify. Even a $50 side gig teaches you marketing, client service, and pricing — faster than most formal roles ever could.

💡 Play in the AI sandbox.
Don’t just read about AI — use it. Commit 1–2 hours a week to improving workflows or bringing your ideas to life:

The point isn’t to become an engineer — it’s to practice application. Rewrite your resume, automate a boring task, create your first MVP. By graduation, you’ll have 40+ hours of hands-on exposure, a stronger sense of what’s possible, and a sharper edge than most entry-level applicants.

🤝 Seek strategic internships — think SMEs.
Don’t overlook local industry. About 76% of Canadian business owners plan to exit within the next decade, and fewer than 10% have formal succession plans. Internships in these companies can double as apprenticeships in ownership.

⚡ Double down on what worked.
If your side project earned even $10, ask why. If it fizzled, ask why. Iteration beats perfection.

🤔 Make a choice.
By spring, decide with intent where your energy goes after graduation:

💰 Be financially pragmatic.
For many, moving/staying home can be a smart, temporary trade-off that offers meaningful runway and flexibility — if done with intention. Consider paying your folks some rent to lighten their load… and to gain a solid sense of adulting.

🚀 Plan a Canada Day launch.
Don’t let July 1 sneak up! Graduate with something live: a shortlist of mapped-out companies and warm introductions, a customer for your side hustle, or an apprenticeship with a firm or business you’d like to buy one day.

Your instinct is to protect. The biggest gift you can give is permission to take risks and experiment — strategically. Co-ops, internships, AI tinkering, and side hustles build resilience and momentum — often faster than a first job.

And remember the Canada Now mantra:
Be Curious. Be Kind. Now Build.

Yes, the path is tougher — entry-level roles have thinned, AI is accelerating change, and costs are up. But Canadian grads have real advantages: a strong co-op tradition, a wave of businesses in need of next-gen leaders, and tools that compress learning cycles.

Use the next ten months with curiosity and intent. By Summer 2026, don’t just toss your tassel — launch. 🚀

✅ If this resonated, share it with a student or parent — and subscribe to Canada Now. We’ll keep exploring how Canadians can navigate and inspire change — from the classroom to the boardroom.

PS. Stay tuned for the upcoming Canada Now podcast series! 🎙

If you’re a fan of Canadian innovation and curated Canadian content, check out some of my other favourite newsletters on Beehiiv! 🐝👇

— Ashley Smith (@ashleysmithnow)