“There’s definitely pausing on a lot of jobs,” Hoogterp told Fortune, adding that while it’s not quite jobs armageddon, AI is making leaders question the value of new hires in particular.
“They’re saying, ‘hey, we’re not going to hire a lot of first-time lawyers or first-time this or first-time that’, so that’s a huge change, but teams within the company are still hiring,” he said.
Even then, it’s no longer one in, one out. With economic uncertainty, advancing technology, and cost-cutting pressures, there has never been more scrutiny on new hires.
“They’re looking for people who can solve a problem. They’re not creating jobs for the sake of creating jobs,” Hoogterp stressed—and that, could be an opportunity for Gen Z grads who are stuck in limbo. “They need somebody to get something done, and you want to be the one who can get it done.”
Hoogterp says it’s why Gen Z grads need to ask themselves: “What are you good at? What does the world need? Look at where they intersect and where they overlap—that’s really going to be your magic zone to pursue.”
Instead of applying for jobs that only match your credentials, take a more holistic view of your skills and qualifications and see if there’s a gap in the market that you could fill.
But employers won’t invent positions just to keep Gen Z busy—new jobs will only exist if they genuinely drive value.
“You work, they pay you. That’s the deal,” he added. “So look at what they need done, because if they’re not having these jobs, then they might have other jobs.”
