Jaimee Del Piano, 23, thought her credentials would stand out: a stellar GPA, a degree in psychology and a master's in public policy from the University of Connecticut. She graduated in May, hoping to land a job as a child advocate.

But after sending about 10 to 20 applications, the response hasn't been what she had hoped for.

"[They say] I haven't had enough experience, and that's of course challenging because I can't get any experience without a job," Del Piano said.

Graduates are entering a turbulent economy, with more competition for entry-level positions. Job postings have declined by 15%, while the number of applications has increased by 30%, according to a recent report from Handshake, an online employment platform geared toward college students.

Del Piano said a lot of the

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