The University of Virginia’s Darden School reported a three-month post-graduation offers rate of 90.2% for its Class of 2025 — the lowest in a decade — and a by-graduation offers rate that fell to multi-year lows. Compensation held steady, but slowed hiring signals a weaker market for MBAs as tech and financial employers tighten recruiting timelines. Complementing the school-level data, analysis of MBA employer pipelines shows continued competition for top placements at McKinsey, Goldman and Google, forcing programs and candidates to recalibrate career strategies. For career offices and academic leaders, this means intensifying employer diversification, strengthening experiential pathways, and advising students on realistic timelines for job placement. Deans and career-service directors should prepare contingency supports for graduates and sharpen employer-engagement strategies to protect placement outcomes amid a tighter hiring landscape.