College graduates cannot translate academic credentials into actual job offers despite labor shortages

Recent college graduates face a paradoxical crisis: they're competing fiercely for entry-level positions while employers simultaneously report critical worker shortages. Graduates struggle because their resumes lack relevant experience, they don't know how to navigate hidden job markets, and employers can't find candidates with the specific skills they need. Current solutions (job boards, career services) fail because they don't bridge the gap between what graduates offer and what employers actually require.