The challenges facing workforce entrants in 2026 are real—and so are the opportunities. Discover 6 strategies to thrive in today’s competitive hiring landscape.
Congratulations, class of 2026! You’ve completed a significant goal and you should be proud. Now it’s time to start the next phase of your education: finding a great job and thriving in the full-time workforce.
In today’s rapidly changing job market, change is the only constant. You will be learning new things for the rest of your life. Right now, AI tops the list of evolving skills that all of us need to master, but especially those just launching their careers.
“The biggest issue for new job entrants is clearly AI, which has dramatically impacted the skills employers need, how people search for jobs and the jobs available,” says Luladey Rufael, CHRO at Atlas HXM.
The prevalence of AI can work for or against you, depending on how you approach it. “Grads with the skills to put AI to work will have an easier path to employment,” says Rufael. “Employers are looking for people who can use AI effectively and who can provide the strategic and critical thinking skills necessary for AI to provide value beyond workslop.”
Alongside AI, what else should you expect from today’s job market? I recently connected with Rufael to talk about the unique workforce dynamics that will shape the early careers of today’s graduates. While the challenges are real, so are the opportunities.
How AI is changing the job search
AI has created an uncommonly crowded field for young job seekers this year—a field unfortunately full of fakes. How can you break through the noise and showcase the real (and very human) you?
“Candidates are leveraging AI to apply at volume and, unfortunately, AI-generated job posts have led to a surge in ‘ghost jobs’—essentially jobs that don’t exist and ‘ghost people’—people that don’t exist,” warns Rufael. “New workers can expect a higher application-to-interview ratio than we’ve seen in the past.”
But the challenges don’t end there. Once you get the interview, you’ll likely need to demonstrate your AI expertise. Rufael says this could be anything from completing an AI role play to taking a skills-based assessment or performing a sample assignment.
A bit of perspective
The labor market itself is sending mixed signals. “According to BLS data, the labor force grew by 3 million people in 2025, more than five times the number of new jobs,” says Rufael. “And we know that underemployment has been an issue for new grads, with the New York Fed reporting that 42.5% of grads at the end of 2025 were employed in jobs that don’t require a degree.”
But there’s plenty of positive news too, with the unemployment rate at 4.4%. “From a historical perspective, that’s quite low,” says Rufael. “Globally, far more employers plan to increase hiring than decrease it.”
While the hiring climate may feel particularly dire for those just entering the workforce, this isn’t the first time new graduates have faced heightened pressure. “The 2026 class isn’t the first to encounter an uncertain economic environment or skittish employers,” says Rufael. “If anyone says otherwise, the classes of 2020 and 2008/9 would like a word.”
To survive their less-than-ideal conditions, those earlier groups adjusted their expectations, leaned into networking and often expanded the search to roles outside their chosen field. “It’s also important to remember that the unemployment rate in 2009 peaked at 10%,” says Rufael. “In April 2020, it was 14.8%. Thinking about those numbers, there is really no comparison.”
Scarred careers
Career scarring, or slower wage growth throughout one’s career as a result of starting at a stagnant time, is a real concern for the class of 2026. But Rufael believes today’s young workers have the ability to overcome this potential pitfall. “I think today’s grads have a lot more opportunities to gain new skills, take advantage of new work models and reinvent themselves than the grads of 2008 or my peers in the 1990s did,” she says.
Like myself, Rufael is more concerned about what she calls ‘leadership scarring’ and what I call a ‘tripwire’ for workforce development. “There is obviously some concern that employers are looking to reduce early-career hires—either because they think AI can do the job or for economic reasons,” she says.
“That could create a serious problem 10–15 years from now when there aren’t enough leaders in the pipeline.”
This is why forward-thinking companies must continue to invest in young talent.
Tips for job hunting success
How can 2026 graduates succeed in their early careers? Rufael offers six strategies:
1. Focus on professional skills. Also known as soft skills, these are the positive human traits that take you from good to great. “Critical thinking, sound judgment and a strategic approach have always been highly valued, but the demand we’re seeing now is unprecedented because the need is unprecedented,” says Rufael.
Another paramount skill is a customer-centric mindset. “This is obsessively focusing on adding value, solving problems and delivering for your customer, client, colleague or business partners,” says Rufael. “I can’t think of a single hiring manager or HR leader who wouldn’t jump at the chance to hire someone who demonstrates these traits.”
2. Put your best foot forward. “I talk a lot about developing executive presence in the interview and being the person you want people to see,” says Rufael. “That means showing up prepared, dressing the part and saying what you’re thinking with confidence. No one is born with that skill set. It takes practice!”
3. Ask the right questions. Rufael urges jobseekers to show up with questions about the job, the company, the culture, the industry and the competition. “I’ve always been amazed when candidates have no questions about something that will make up a significant portion of their lives,” she says. “The interview process is not just for the employer—it’s also an opportunity for you to ensure you are making the right decision on the type of work and organization for you.”
4. Stay engaged and connected. If your job search takes longer than expected, don’t lose heart. Stick with it. “Establish your LinkedIn presence and take it seriously,” says Rufael. “Set up informational interviews with people in your field. Take the opportunity to pick the brains of people who are where you want to be.”
5. Temper your expectations. Many younger workers enter the workforce with salary expectations that older workers find high. Early in your career, you may need to temper your expectations for compensation and opportunities like remote work. “Recent grads have always had optimistic expectations of salary and what the workday might look like,” says Rufael. “Obviously, don’t sell yourself short, but if you find no one is offering the salary you expect, then it’s probably time to adjust your expectations.
“Similarly, young workers looking for remote opportunities might find they need to start out on-site. That’s not necessarily a bad thing. It just might give you the chance to connect with a mentor and learn how to be ‘seen’.”
6. Expect the unexpected. “‘Where do you see yourself in five years?’ is a classic interview question, and it’s one that very few people accurately predict—even when you graduated with a clear idea of what you want to do and where you want to work,” says Rufael. “Take it from a CHRO who spent eight years in tech: Your career is not going to follow a straight line.
“Think outside the box and take risks on new opportunities. You just might find yourself living a dream you didn’t even know you had.”
Human skills will win
Unlike many other voices out there, I believe in the greatness of your generation. You have tremendous potential to change the world for the better, starting in your workplace.
Remember, this isn’t the first time that new graduates have faced an uncertain job market, and it won’t be the last. Your ability to adapt, learn and see the world in fresh ways are all skills that employers need. So yes, become proficient in AI and all the other tech skills that companies are looking for, but don’t forget the human skills that make you stand out. Your innate ingenuity, creativity and drive are your best career assets in 2026 and beyond.
Source: www.forbes.com
