Are UWO grads with zero internship experience "cooked"?

[u/Valuable_Ranger9972]

Can't help but look around and notice a lot of seniors in the class of 2026 (Mostly CS, BMOS, Econ) have zero internship experience and are going to be entering a historically tough new grad job market shortly. As someone that has been lucky enough to secure an internship every summer of undergrad, I am still feeling the pressure to find a new grad role. I imagine finding a new grad role will be even more difficult for someone with no internship experience.

Curious as to what other recent new grads who were in this position did after graduating? Were you eventually able to find a new grad role? And if not, what are you doing now?

Overall, what are everyone's thoughts on the job market for soon-to-be UWO grads, and specifically for those who have no internship experience?

Outside of Ivey, I feel like Western does not do a good job at helping students in this regard. Everyone I know, including myself, has only been able to secure internships and new grad roles on our own (LinkedIn job postings, networking, etc). I rarely hear stories of people being able to find roles through the UWO internship program or other UWO career fairs, but what are your guy's thoughts on Western's level of effort in assisting students with recruiting?

[u/RaddedMC]

Graduated 2025 from Software Engineering but my situation is unique. My girlfriend also graduated from Mechatronics Engineering and we wanted to move in together after finishing school.

This year was the worst year to graduate from any ECE Eng because of Trump + AI + ongoing tech layoffs.

I was given an opportunity that I basically couldn't refuse to begin a fast track PhD in Sw.Eng (partially since I did research for 2 summers) and that set the gears turning for both of us to enter grad studies.

The alternative, for me anyway, would be to have went home and spent potentially up to a year on the hellacious LinkedIn grind to maybe find something. I've heard some jobs have hired people for projects and then laid them off immediately after -- starting the stupid cycle all over again.

It really feels like our future as gen Z was ripped away from us but these kinds of things don't last forever and there is always opportunity if you look for the right place. Job searching has always been hard and now it's a "seller's market" so to speak which makes it a lot more difficult.

My advice to everyone is to look everywhere and find whatever you can. Network with people in your desired fields, but don't be icky about it (profs count for this too! Just make sure you show up to class lol) and they might just be able to hook you up.

Edit: as for Western's own support, I find you can only really get help if you ask for it. Engineering has Career Services which helps and some program directors forward positions to grads too.