Urban planner struggling to find job anywhere...advice?

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I graduated with my Master's in Urban Planning (with a focus on environment) this past June. I had a 2 year internship in long-range wastewater planning at the local governance level. I started my job hunt well before I even graduated. I'm finally managing to get interviews, and make it to multiple rounds, but haven't actually gotten a job. I've been reaching out to firms, to planners for professional interviews, even to land use lawyers.

I'm feeling existential and wondering if I should go back to school again for architecture or a GIS certificate or something (I know how to do GIS well enough, I did it all the time in my internship but can't do fancy stuff!) something. Thoughts?

I've been told by planners they don't want to hire entry level planners anymore. There aren't many entry-level positions available, and most of the job roles I do see are for senior planners.

Any advice is welcomed. Just please don't be mean. I'm exhausted by my failed efforts despite in having "been doing everything right"????

Posted Aug 25, 2025, 10:09 PM UTC

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