Marvin OnumonuCV Genius published its 2026 New Year, New Job Search Report, which found that 73% of UK hiring managers struggled to fill entry-level roles because of skills shortages.
Hiring managers said soft skills and job-specific technical skills stood out most on applications, ahead of academic performance and awards.
30% valued portfolio projects as a signal of employability, compared to 16% for internships and 19% for part-time jobs.
41% agreed education was more important than work experience for entry-level positions.
Seb Morgan, career expert at CV Genius, said: “Graduates are entering a market where practical knowledge matters more than ever.
“The strongest applicants make it easy for employers to see what they can do, how they learn, and how that’ll translate to the job.”
Additionally, the report found that trainability and commitment were top reasons to hire recent graduates. 52% hired for enthusiasm and willingness to learn, while 50% valued those who could be trained to company standards.
82% provided onboarding or training and 81% were flexible on job requirements.
Lack of commitment, inadequate soft skills and concerns about work ethic were the main dealbreakers.
CV structure and presentation remained important, with 42% saying a clear, well-structured CV was very important and 37% looking for relevant work experience.
Common mistakes included generic applications, spelling or grammar errors, and poor formatting.
Artificial intelligence (AI) use increased in hiring, with 59% of managers planning to rely more on AI and 54% already using it to screen candidates.
56% said obviously AI-written CVs were a significant negative or dealbreaker, and 27% often spotted visible AI prompt text pasted into cover letters.
Referrals, negotiation and social media checks also influenced results.
63% were more likely to hire someone with an internal referral.
50% said candidates failed to follow up or send a thank-you message, 35% didn’t ask questions, and 32% showed little preparation.
79% agreed that respectful negotiation was positive, but 39% had withdrawn offers because a candidate tried to negotiate.
Social screening was common, with 76% checking candidates’ profiles at least once during the hiring process.
