【Recruitment Public Relations Survey】Report on "Job Seekers' Information Gathering Behavior" in New Graduate Recruitment (2026 Edition) Released!
OTOGI Inc. has released a report on the information gathering behavior of new graduate job seekers for 2026 and 2027, based on a survey of 429 university students. The survey highlights the importance of pre-application research, frequent access to corporate recruitment sites during selection, and how supplementary information boosts candidate interest.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: May 11, 2026 at 20:00
- 🔍 Collected: May 11, 2026 at 11:31
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 11, 2026 at 11:47 (15 min after Collected)
OTOGI Inc. (Headquarters: Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture; Representative Director: Tetsuya Yamamoto), which operates "Wantedly Operation Support" and "Recruitment Public Relations Support" businesses, conducted a survey on "Job Seekers' Information Gathering Behavior" targeting 429 university students (enrolled in a 4-year university or graduate school (Master's or Doctoral program)) who have completed or are currently engaged in or planning job hunting for the 2026 and 2027 graduating classes.
**■ Survey Background**
Amidst the continued high effective job opening-to-applicant ratio, job seekers' "job selection literacy" has dramatically increased. It has become difficult to attract excellent students who fit the company using only one-way information such as traditional job postings and scout emails. This survey aimed to clarify how today's students gather information and at what timing they make their decisions.
**■ Survey Overview**
▼Target Audience
University students (enrolled in a 4-year university or graduate school (Master's or Doctoral program)) who have completed or are currently engaged in or planning job hunting for the 2026 and 2027 graduating classes.
▼Number of Respondents
・429 people
▼Survey Period
・December 2025
▼Survey Method
・Internet research using Freeasy by iBridge Corporation
**■ Survey Result Topics**
1. One in two students investigates company recruitment sites and SNS before applying.
The result shows that 51.28% of students gather information on company recruitment sites and SNS before applying, from the time they recognize a company until they apply. In addition, 15.38% of students consult with family and friends before applying, suggesting that it is important not only to appeal to the students themselves but also to prepare information such as welfare benefits, career paths, and stability based on objective facts to provide a sense of security to surrounding stakeholders.
2. 70% of students access recruitment sites/owned media more than twice during the application to selection period.
In response to the question, "How many times in total do you access information sources such as recruitment sites and owned media during the entire period from becoming interested in a company to completing the selection process?", a total of 71.8% of students answered "2 times or more." This indicates a strong need for students to delve deeper into detailed work content and corporate culture, beyond superficial company overviews.
3. 40% of companies provide information to deepen company understanding outside of interviews during the selection process.
To the question, "Have you ever been provided with information (articles, videos, SNS, etc.) from a company or a 담당 agent to deepen your understanding of the company outside of an interview during the selection process?", 43.59% of students answered, "Yes, I have been provided with it." This suggests that companies are increasingly recognizing the importance of providing information.
3. Over 70% of students who received information from companies felt an increase in their level of interest.
For students who have no work experience as working adults, "visible information (articles, videos)" outside of interviews can be a crucial decision-making factor for increasing their understanding of a company and alleviating anxieties about joining.
4. In recruitment public relations, there is strong interest particularly in "content introducing working styles and workplace environments."
To the question, "What information do you want at each selection phase, such as 'before application,' 'during selection,' and 'after informal job offer'?", the result showed that throughout all phases, there is very strong interest in "content introducing working styles (daily schedule) and workplace environments." However, since the items of interest are quite dispersed, it suggests that individual students' preferences and criteria for choosing a company are diversifying, and it will be necessary to comprehensively organize information to meet all kinds of needs.
**■ About the full content of the survey**
A report summarizing all survey data, including content not published in this release, has been made available on our own media, "Recruitment PR Lab."
▼You can check it here
Recruitment PR Lab: 【Survey Summary】Report on "Job Seekers' Information Gathering Behavior" in New Graduate Recruitment (2026 Edition)
The survey results and data introduced in this article can be freely reproduced and cited. When using, please observe the following points.
**【When using images】**
Please use the graph images with our company's (OTOGI Inc.) logo as they are. We kindly ask you to refrain from processing images or cropping the logo.
**【When quoting text etc.】**
We would appreciate it if you could include the description "Report on 'Job Seekers' Information Gathering Behavior' in New Graduate Recruitment 2026 Edition (OTOGI Inc.)" along with the URL or link to this page.
**■ About OTOGI Inc.**
With the mission of "making targeted recruitment PR the standard for recruitment," OTOGI Inc. maximizes the appeal of companies and achieves optimal matching with suitable talent through the power of recruitment public relations. We operate "Wantedly Operation Support" and "Recruitment Public Relations Support" businesses.
**■ Survey Background**
Amidst the continued high effective job opening-to-applicant ratio, job seekers' "job selection literacy" has dramatically increased. It has become difficult to attract excellent students who fit the company using only one-way information such as traditional job postings and scout emails. This survey aimed to clarify how today's students gather information and at what timing they make their decisions.
**■ Survey Overview**
▼Target Audience
University students (enrolled in a 4-year university or graduate school (Master's or Doctoral program)) who have completed or are currently engaged in or planning job hunting for the 2026 and 2027 graduating classes.
▼Number of Respondents
・429 people
▼Survey Period
・December 2025
▼Survey Method
・Internet research using Freeasy by iBridge Corporation
**■ Survey Result Topics**
1. One in two students investigates company recruitment sites and SNS before applying.
The result shows that 51.28% of students gather information on company recruitment sites and SNS before applying, from the time they recognize a company until they apply. In addition, 15.38% of students consult with family and friends before applying, suggesting that it is important not only to appeal to the students themselves but also to prepare information such as welfare benefits, career paths, and stability based on objective facts to provide a sense of security to surrounding stakeholders.
2. 70% of students access recruitment sites/owned media more than twice during the application to selection period.
In response to the question, "How many times in total do you access information sources such as recruitment sites and owned media during the entire period from becoming interested in a company to completing the selection process?", a total of 71.8% of students answered "2 times or more." This indicates a strong need for students to delve deeper into detailed work content and corporate culture, beyond superficial company overviews.
3. 40% of companies provide information to deepen company understanding outside of interviews during the selection process.
To the question, "Have you ever been provided with information (articles, videos, SNS, etc.) from a company or a 담당 agent to deepen your understanding of the company outside of an interview during the selection process?", 43.59% of students answered, "Yes, I have been provided with it." This suggests that companies are increasingly recognizing the importance of providing information.
3. Over 70% of students who received information from companies felt an increase in their level of interest.
For students who have no work experience as working adults, "visible information (articles, videos)" outside of interviews can be a crucial decision-making factor for increasing their understanding of a company and alleviating anxieties about joining.
4. In recruitment public relations, there is strong interest particularly in "content introducing working styles and workplace environments."
To the question, "What information do you want at each selection phase, such as 'before application,' 'during selection,' and 'after informal job offer'?", the result showed that throughout all phases, there is very strong interest in "content introducing working styles (daily schedule) and workplace environments." However, since the items of interest are quite dispersed, it suggests that individual students' preferences and criteria for choosing a company are diversifying, and it will be necessary to comprehensively organize information to meet all kinds of needs.
**■ About the full content of the survey**
A report summarizing all survey data, including content not published in this release, has been made available on our own media, "Recruitment PR Lab."
▼You can check it here
Recruitment PR Lab: 【Survey Summary】Report on "Job Seekers' Information Gathering Behavior" in New Graduate Recruitment (2026 Edition)
The survey results and data introduced in this article can be freely reproduced and cited. When using, please observe the following points.
**【When using images】**
Please use the graph images with our company's (OTOGI Inc.) logo as they are. We kindly ask you to refrain from processing images or cropping the logo.
**【When quoting text etc.】**
We would appreciate it if you could include the description "Report on 'Job Seekers' Information Gathering Behavior' in New Graduate Recruitment 2026 Edition (OTOGI Inc.)" along with the URL or link to this page.
**■ About OTOGI Inc.**
With the mission of "making targeted recruitment PR the standard for recruitment," OTOGI Inc. maximizes the appeal of companies and achieves optimal matching with suitable talent through the power of recruitment public relations. We operate "Wantedly Operation Support" and "Recruitment Public Relations Support" businesses.