How recent grads, college students should be thinking about AI, the CV, and jobs (www.cnbc.com)

Recent college graduates face a challenging job market, with an unemployment rate significantly higher than the national average and an increasing reliance on AI in the early-career hiring process. As employers use AI tools to screen applications, students are pressured to highlight their AI skills on resumes. Despite a growing push from recruiters—66% of whom plan to enhance AI usage for pre-screening jobs—many Gen Z individuals remain skeptical about integrating AI into their job searches. This mismatch in perspectives is causing uncertainty among graduates, with many opting for temporary jobs instead of pursuing advanced degrees. As AI transforms hiring, students are adapting by emphasizing practical AI experience on their resumes. Data from Handshake shows that graduates in 2026 reference AI skills on their CVs twice as often as those from 2022, signaling a shift toward demonstrating real-world applications over theoretical knowledge. However, a significant portion of Gen Z doubts the relevance of AI, with many reporting that they are not building these skills. This disconnect, combined with an impersonal application process driven by AI, complicates their transition into the workforce, often leaving them feeling lost amid the automated hiring landscape.