In this episode, JoDee and Susan talk to Dr. Laurie Cure about the challenging landscape the Class of 2026 is facing as they enter the workforce.Topics include:The statistics on the job market for new graduatesCollege career counselors' advice for graduatesWhy recent graduates are facing a disproportionately difficult job marketHow the decline of entry-level jobs and the rise of AI are reshaping early-career opportunitiesThe "experience paradox," where companies expect job-ready candidates but invest less in trainingHow hiring trends are shifting toward more experienced workers, and what that means for Gen ZThe psychological and cultural impact of prolonged job searches on early-career professionalsIn this episode's listener question, we're asked for advice on mitigating the risk of hiring someone who lied on their resume or in their interview. In the news, the overall average job search in the US lasts 6.6 months.Full show notes and links are available here: https://getjoypowered.com/show-notes-episode-250-ai-uncertainty-and-the-new-college-graduate-experience/ A transcript of the episode can be found here: https://getjoypowered.com/transcript-episode-250-ai-uncertainty-and-the-new-college-graduate-experience/ To get 0.5 hour of SHRM recertification credit, fill out the evaluation here: https://getjoypowered.com/shrm/ (the SHRM credit code for this episode will expire on June 29, 2027)Become a member to get early and ad-free access to episodes, video, and more perks! Learn more at patreon.com/joypowered Connect with us: @JoyPowered on Instagram: https://instagram.com/joypowered @JoyPowered on Facebook: https://facebook.com/joypowered @JoyPowered on LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/joypowered Sign up for our email newsletter: https://getjoypowered.com/newsletter/