The New Graduate Job Dilemma—and a Path Forward
The Challenge
For today’s graduates, the road to landing a “desirable” job has become increasingly steep. The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) has automated many roles once considered entry-level. Companies, facing cost pressures, are less inclined to invest in new hires who need years of training. As a result, fresh graduates often encounter a paradox: jobs demand experience, but opportunities to gain that experience are shrinking.
A New Approach: Outsmart the System
Instead of struggling to climb the traditional corporate ladder, new graduates can flip the script. The key is not to wait for a company to offer you a seat at the table, but to build your own table. The goal: independence, flexibility, and ownership.
Step 1: Start with Yourself
Form an LLC (Limited Liability Company) to establish your professional identity. This creates legitimacy in the marketplace and separates you from the mass of job applicants. Your company becomes your platform.
Step 2: Offer Services, Not Resumes
Instead of applying for a permanent position, start by offering your skills as professional services. Position yourself as a consultant who can deliver results on a performance-based compensation model. Companies prefer this because they pay only for outcomes, not training overhead or long-term commitments.
Step 3: Leverage Remote Work and AI
One advantage of today’s world is that you can work remotely for any company across the globe. AI tools can help you set up a website, draft proposals, and even automate content marketing with minimal effort. Use these tools to:
- Build a professional website showcasing your services.
- Create a blog with industry insights to demonstrate expertise.
- Automate outreach and research on potential clients.
Step 4: Find Your First Customer
Research companies in your chosen field that could benefit from your expertise. Reach out directly, offering your services at a cost much lower than hiring a full-time employee. Patience is key—the first customer is the hardest. Offer them exceptional value, even at an initial discount, to build credibility.
Step 5: Grow from One to Many
Once you land your first assignment, leverage the success story. Showcase it on your website, expand your outreach, and gradually increase your pricing. As your consulting practice grows, you can begin hiring other professionals, scaling your LLC into a true business.
The Big Picture
The old model—join a company, climb the ladder, wait for promotions—is no longer the only path. For new graduates, the future belongs to those who are creative, independent, and entrepreneurial. By forming their own ventures, they can not only secure meaningful work but also create opportunities for others.
Dear Graduates: Don’t Look for a Job—Create One
Every year, millions of graduates step into the world with high hopes, only to collide with a sobering reality: finding a desirable job is harder than ever.
The reasons are clear. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is reshaping industries at lightning speed. Companies are automating tasks, cutting costs, and streamlining operations. Entry-level positions—the very stepping stones graduates once relied upon—are vanishing. Employers hesitate to invest in training newcomers when technology can deliver results faster and cheaper.
So what should today’s graduates do?
The answer: outsmart the system.
Rethinking the Career Path
Instead of chasing permanent jobs, waiting years to climb the corporate ladder, think differently. Don’t just work for a company—work for yourself.
By forming a small company (an LLC), you establish credibility and independence. You’re no longer another résumé in a pile—you’re a business, offering services that companies need.
Why This Works
- Performance over payroll: Companies love consultants because they pay for outcomes, not overhead.
- Global opportunities: Thanks to remote work, your clients can be anywhere in the world.
- AI as your assistant: Tools can build your website, generate marketing content, and even help you manage customer outreach—minimizing effort while maximizing impact.
The Practical Playbook
- Form your LLC. Give your professional identity a home.
- Research potential customers. Make a list of companies in your field that need services.
- Build your platform. Launch a website, showcase your expertise, and publish blogs or insights.
- Reach out directly. Offer your services at a lower cost than hiring a full-time employee.
- Be patient and persistent. The first client is the hardest—once you have one, you’ll build credibility to land more.
- Grow strategically. Turn satisfied clients into testimonials, increase your rates, and eventually hire others to help scale your company.
The Big Picture
The old model of “get hired, get promoted, retire” is fading. The future belongs to those who are independent, creative, and entrepreneurial.
So, to every graduate struggling to land the perfect job—don’t just knock on doors that may never open. Build your own door. Create your opportunity. Be your own boss. And let companies compete to work with you.