A short guide advising new graduates on improving entry-level job prospects by learning AI, creating self-directed projects, and leveraging personal networks. The speaker cites Reid Hoffman and studies emphasizing that AI literacy and demonstrable AI-enabled work can make less-experienced candidates more hireable.
30%
71%
Walk with me real quick. I'm going to keep it real. The job market is not so great and the unemployment rate for new grads in the US has risen 30% since September 2022. As this person wrote in this Gen Z Reddit group, our generation is so cooked when it comes to professional jobs. Here's your guide to getting an entry level job with AI. The math is pretty simple. Young people need opportunities, companies need fresh perspectives and talent pipelines. And you need to add AI into the equation. LinkedIn's co founder Reid Hoffman shared his tips on navigating the market recently. He says, number one, become literate in AI. A Microsoft and LinkedIn study found that 71% of leaders are more likely to hire a less experienced candidate with AI skills than a more experienced one without them. People say AI proof your career all the time. Forget that. Think more like AI. Optimize it. Now is the time to understand AI, how it redistributes influence, restructures, workflows and business models and demands new skills and services that will be valuable. If you need a place to start, there's always a trail for that. Number two Create your own first opportunity. Pick projects that show off your specific skills. With the right tools, you can now do on your own what used to require teams. This means you can create content, generate and test marketing campaigns, write code and design products, then share your findings and journey publicly on LinkedIn. This is how you build your network. Number three rely on that network. Human referrals and trust can't scale like AI, so your personal network becomes more valuable than ever. Find networks through organizations like Opportunity at Work or Europe United which offer trainings and hands on experience. Pro tip Connect with a few Europe alums. All right, I have to get back to it, but breathe. Take the time to learn AI skills and remember network, network, network.
