The writer and commentator David Brooks says that the phenomenon known as the college commencement address does graduates a tremendous disservice. Typically, it goes something like this: A person who has achieved a certain level of career success gives a speech saying that career success is in fact unimportant. Instead, what’s important is to listen to your inner voice, be true to yourself and follow your passion. Your future is limitless; now go forth and seize the day.
It's a beautiful idea, and it certainly makes the parents in attendance feel good. Unfortunately, it just doesn’t hold up to the cold, hard reality of student loan obligations, astronomical housing costs and an exceptionally tight job market.
Some of us (hand raised) graduated in the depths of an economic recession, and somehow, we managed to find jobs and begin to make our way in the world. We even accomplished this despite competition from nerds with higher GPAs, more in-demand majors and more glamorous internships. However, you have one competitor that no previous generation has had to contend with: generative AI.
Having ghost-written a few commencement addresses for other, more accomplished individuals, I hereby attempt to overcome the shortcomings of the form that David Brooks so cleverly identified.
Congratulations, Class of 2025! You’ve survived Zoom finals, ramen-fueled study nights, and at least one existential crisis over your major. Now comes the fun part: Landing your very first job alongside that obsequious, insufferable know-it-all, Generative AI.
How to begin? First, recognize that the move from your school years into your working years isn’t just about landing a full-time job; it's a phase-shift into a completely different kind of existence. Unlike school, the working world doesn’t come with a course curriculum, a clear and equitable grading system or three months of summer vacation. There are more options, more complex relationships, more uncertainties than you’ve had to contend with up til now. Many people struggle to pick a college major, but it’s nothing compared with the life-long quest for a career path. Don't be surprised or disappointed if it takes you a few years to figure it out. That’s what our 20s (and for some of us, our 30s and 40s) are all about.
Second, brace yourself for fewer entry-level job postings. Businesses are especially cautious about hiring right now, and entry-level slots are scarce. If you’d been thinking about government or nonprofit jobs as a backup, think again; thanks to current events, these sectors are in turmoil. Expect to find more roles requiring 1-2 years’ experience, even for “junior” titles.
To meet this challenge, emphasize transferable projects (internships, capstones, volunteer work) when applying. While you’re looking for full-time work, volunteer to take on a micro-consulting report for a local nonprofit, and generate a deliverable (the report), a story (the problem you studied) and a credible reference (the client) all in one. Or publish a blog post analyzing an industry trend, complete with data, to demonstrate critical thinking and problem-solving.
More than 75% of large employers use AI-based applicant tracking systems (ATS) to pre-screen the large volume of resumes they receive. So, fight fire with fire: use AI as part of your job search. Use it to generate a resume that mirrors keywords from the job description. Let it create a first draft of your cover letter, check your grammar and punctuation, and edit out slang and jargon. And it should go without saying that you have to verify all facts: AI keeps getting better, but hallucinations persist, and they’re becoming sneakier.
Third, optimize your job application for both humans and algorithms. Write the final draft in your own voice to let your personality come through. Ask friends who know you well to review your applications and tell you whether they sound like you. Underscore your human qualities like empathy, curiosity and critical thinking. At some point — after your resume has cleared the ATS hurdle — it’s going to be read by an actual human, and you want it to establish a connection that lands you an interview.
When preparing for an interview, have a crisp, memorable response to the standard interview question — “Tell me about yourself.” But don’t stop there; practice responding to outrageous questions. Set up mock interviews with friends, peers or mentors, and ask them to challenge you with curveballs. Then insist that they give you honest, even brutal feedback on your responses — not only about your logic, but also your clarity and confidence. It’s especially important to have a point of view about AI — not necessarily the underlying technology (unless you’re interviewing for a job with an AI company), but the practical and ethical application of it in the role you’re applying for.
Incidentally, there’s a widely held belief that hiring managers make decisions — often unconsciously — within the first 30 seconds of an interview. However, this is not supported by the majority of research on real-world interviews. In fact, candidates who overcome their nervousness in the course of an interview demonstrate something all employers want — resilience. So, if you find yourself in an interview and feel that you’ve started off on the wrong foot, go ahead and hit the reset button. Then notice how the interviewer responds. If they respect your courage, it’s a good sign; if not, maybe they’re not the kind of future boss or colleague you really want.
Networking is important to do consistently and strategically — and not just when you’re looking for a job. Go beyond merely adding connections on LinkedIn. Offer thoughtful comments on three posts per week in groups you care about. DM people whose work you admire. Ask specific questions. Don’t allow other demands to prevent you from doing this; block 30 minutes, twice a week, in your calendar for networking sprints.
Finally, recognize that you're going to have multiple careers in your lifetime, some of which we can scarcely imagine today, and even the most sophisticated AI can’t predict. Your experiences seeking, landing and growing in a job will be valuable learnings. When you discover something — a role, an organizational culture, a type of boss — that doesn’t work for you, cross it off the list of options and move on. When you discover something that sparks your curiosity and gives you energy, dive deeper. Approach your working life as a creative endeavor — something that’s built on a series of discoveries that you alone can make.
Landing a first job today means out-thinking — and out-humaning — AI. Be relentless in showcasing your curiosity, your adaptability and your delightfully unique human spark. Your career rocket starts now — strap in and fire it up!
