How can Gen Z professionals break into the workforce today? With the bottom rung of the career ladder worn out and away thanks to advancements in AI, securing that first job is getting harder and harder. According to an April report by The Federal Reserve Bank of New York, the unemployment rate for US college graduates hit 5.8% in 1Q 2025, compared to 4.6% in 1Q 2024, as reported by CNBC.

This professional impasse isn’t just felt in the US, but worldwide, as hundreds of thousands experience layoffs globally, finding themselves replaced by AI bots for entry-level jobs, or simply coming to the realization that their career of choice will cease to exist in a few years.

170 mn jobs are estimated to be created throughout this decade — and most of them will be automated. According to the World Economic Forum (WEF), the experience-building “grunt work” traditionally offered by entry-level positions is swiftly on its way out as AI agents take the wheel. With fresh grads barely making it through the recruitment process — now also run for the most part by AI — traditional doors are getting increasingly (and violently) shut. WEF also notes that 49% of US-based Gen Z jobseekers believe that their university education was in vain, as more and more job listings appear to be eschewing educational requirements altogether.

How do you adapt to this new era? According to Forbes, the very first step should be to keep your enemy close and embrace AI. The business publication notes that the rising technology has made learning new skills — be they scriptwriting, coding, or otherwise — easier, and encourages viewing AI as a tool to be utilized for one’s own benefit, rather than a competitor. According to LinkedIn’s Work Change Report 2025 (pdf), AI hiring — whereby employees are hired for their proficiency with various AI tools — has grown 30% faster than regular hiring since 4Q 2024. Forbes also suggests seeking out online AI classes and certifications to stand out.

Make yourself seen. In a time where getting your resume viewed by an actual human being proves more difficult than HD shots of bigfoot, the importance of building your own professional presence cannot not be understated. Investing in your LinkedIn profile — and other professional platforms — may serve you well, but getting up close and personal in person with your fellow professionals is the way to go. In-person events — such as Egypt’s Creative Industry Summit, RiseUp Summit, and myriad employment fairs — have time and time again proved themselves to be networking goldmines — and a “lost art,” according to Forbes.

An estimated 70-80% of jobs are never advertised — they’re filled through networking. By knowing the right people and (re)connecting with them at the right time, you’ll likely find yourself being referred to vacant positions you likely didn’t know existed.

Know how to sell yourself. “The most valuable job search tool today [...] is the ability to have genuine conversations that showcase your potential.” Founder and COO of Careerspan Logan Currie told Forbes. Honing in on your soft skills in the age of AI will allow you to stand out, and the proof is in the pudding. Among the 15 highlighted skills in LinkedIn’s 2025 “Skills on the Rise” report are soft skills, carrying the same weight — if not ranking higher at times — as the technical skills on the list, most of which are related to AI.

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