AI and the New Job Market: What College Grads Need to Know

John Bradley "JJ" Jackson

19 Oct 2025 • 2 min read

Today’s college graduates are entering a world completely different from the one their parents or even their professors knew. Artificial intelligence is reshaping the rules of work, redefining what employers value, how careers develop, and what it means to be truly “qualified.”

For new college graduates, this can feel unsettling. The good news is that AI won’t replace everyone but it will change everyone’s job. The key is to be ready for that change.

Here are a few ideas to keep in mind:

1. Double down on what makes you human.
AI can crunch data and summarize text, but it can’t build trust, empathize, or inspire. Employers will prize people who bring curiosity, judgment, and integrity to their work.

2. Learn to work with AI, not against it.
Treat AI tools like you once treated the internet or Excel as essential instruments of productivity. Understanding how to use tools like ChatGPT, Midjourney, or data analysis software will make you more valuable, not less.

3. Keep learning. Always.
The half-life of job skills is shrinking. What you learned last year may already be outdated. Lifelong learning through online courses, workshops, or new projects. This no longer optional.

4. Be adaptable and resilient.
The best opportunities may come from industries that don’t even exist yet. Grads who can pivot, solve problems, and stay calm in ambiguity will thrive.

5. Build your personal brand on trust.
AI can generate words and images, but only you can build a reputation for authenticity and follow-through. Let people know what you stand for. That’s what will endure.

In short, the smartest move for BA grads isn’t to fear AI,. Instead, embrace it as a partner. The future belongs to those who blend technology with humanity.

I’ve seen these same traits define successful founders and young professionals alike. The ones who stay curious, adaptable, and authentic always seem to find their way forward.

Here is a video that does a deep dive into future work with AI in the mix: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I0oxPGMqjUU

P.S. I realize that I am just scratching the surface here. I promise to monitor and comment on this mega-trend in the workplace.