Advice to Graduates in an AI-Disrupted Job Market

While flexibility has always been important for managing a career, now it is imperative. As new graduates find their first jobs out of college and begin building their careers, they will need to become far more adaptable and forward-thinking than any previous generation. 

The AI fear factor 

As I speak with graduates today, AI is the most common topic. To be sure, many young professionals are building AI skills to be more competitive in a changing workforce. Nonetheless, there is widespread concern that AI could take over many junior professional positions. 

Unemployment among recent college graduates has been rising and now stands at 5.6 percent, greater than the overall unemployment rate of 4.2 percent, according to recent government data. Although AI may not be the direct cause of unemployment among young professionals, the impact may be indirect. Amid some dire projections—such as Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei’s warning that AI could eliminate half of all entry-level white-collar jobs within the next few years—some employers are holding back. The result, according to one expert quoted by CNBC, is a “low-hire, low-fire” economy. 

What is clear is that the pace of change in the AI-driven workplace is accelerating. In fact, we need to be prepared for a period of exponential change. In this environment, having a plan matters. Being willing to revise it matters even more. 

Your range of change 

As the old saying goes, change is the only constant. That said, people’s reactions to change vary considerably. For example, the level of change that one person finds acceptable or even enjoyable is completely intolerable for another. When it comes to change, everyone has their range. 

To illustrate, picture a line on a whiteboard. At one end are those who hate change; they view it as simply too difficult. Moving along the line, there are those who tolerate change, followed by those who can react to it. Somewhere in the middle are those who are forward-looking and able to anticipate change. Beyond them are those who truly embrace change. Finally, at the other end of the line are those who create change. 

This line provides a useful way to reflect on where you fall along the range of change. Be honest with yourself. For example, if you are afraid of change, then ask yourself why. Conversely, you may assume that you only react to change; however, as you reflect on what you’ve done in the past, you see how forward-looking and able to embrace change you really are. 

Self-reflection is tremendously helpful in so many areas of your life, both personal and professional. The more aware you are of your values, goals, and what you stand for, the better decisions you can make, including those that could take your career in an entirely different direction. For recent graduates, this may mean pursuing a job outside your major, mastering a new technology, or even taking on a role that didn’t exist a few years ago. 

Flexibility to let life flow 

The more you can embrace and adapt to change, the more flexible you become. This, above all, will open doors to new and unexpected opportunities, even in an uncertain workplace. 

I’ve seen this in my own career. While earning an undergraduate degree in mathematics and economics from Lawrence University more than forty years ago, I planned to become a math teacher. Then an advisor suggested I consider finance. 

After earning an MBA in finance at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management, I landed my first job as a financial analyst. Then it was suggested that I become a general manager. I soon recognized the contribution I could make as someone who could help lead the company—and who just happened to know a lot about finance! 

Looking back on my career, including serving as chair and CEO of Baxter International, a $12 billion healthcare company, I attribute much of it to being open to new opportunities. I had a plan but remained flexible enough to follow where those opportunities led. 

Celebrate success, prepare for failure 

As much as we want to focus on success, failures are inevitable. This is where flexibility really pays off. As Henry Ford is quoted as saying, “The only real mistake is the one from which we learn nothing.” 

In the face of failure, you will not only uncover what went wrong and why but also discover your capacity for resilience and perseverance. These are lessons you can’t learn if everything goes well along an upward trajectory toward greater success. (Hint: no one’s career path is a solid line moving up and to the right.) 

When things are going well, be grateful. Celebrate your success, and acknowledge everyone who has helped and supported you. At the same time, have a plan for when things turn down as they inevitably will. For me, this has meant committing myself to two things: first, I will do the right thing; second, I will do the best I can in the time I have. These two commitments have helped me weather many difficulties and challenges, while also reducing fear, worry, pressure, anxiety, and stress. 

You are not alone 

Finally, know that virtually everyone around you is struggling with the same questions and fears about the future. For recent graduates, the knowledge that they’re not alone can help guard against isolation and even despair. Reach out to your peers. Speak to those who are a few years ahead of you, and learn about their experiences navigating the job market. 

These interactions add another dimension to what it means to network. You’re not just trying to find contacts to help you get a job. You’re also brainstorming to help each other follow your respective career paths, while being flexible to pursue whatever comes next. 

From those just entering the workforce to more-seasoned professionals, the ones who will thrive in an AI-driven world won’t necessarily be those who accurately perceive the future. Rather, they will be the ones who continually adapt as the future unfolds. 

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This article originally appeared in Forbes.