With AI increasingly used in recruitment, it’s tougher than ever for new graduates to get hired. But according to our regular columnist SJ, there’s still plenty they can do to increase their chances of landing the right opportunity
My first ever engineering class opened with a piece of advice that has stuck with me. The professor began her lecture with the following words: “I believe that only two things in life are ever guaranteed: death and taxes. You can work hard – and we value hard work here – but that does not mean every student is guaranteed an ‘A’ in my class.”
As graduation season approaches for the class of 2025, I can’t help but recall that lesson. How I wish I had understood when I graduated that one of the things not guaranteed by my hard-earned engineering degree was an actual engineering job.
And if I thought we had it tough when I graduated, the economic conditions for this current generation are even more challenging. Competition for graduate roles has never been fiercer.
AI and algorithms now enable companies to automate the filtering of applicants by a higher set of criteria. As a result, even if you have the skills and qualifications on paper, your resume may never get seen by a human recruiter if it doesn’t make it through that filtering process.
Additionally, many students are using AI to write resumes customised to each specific role and company. If you’re not using AI to game the system, you’re already falling behind in the race to be hired.
Aiming high
So, what can you do if you still want to live the dream? First, keep in mind that, often, the game still revolves around the adage, ‘It’s not what you know, it’s who you know.’
So get out there and network! Join an engineering fraternity or society. My tip is to identify any clubs supported by your dream company, through participation on technical review boards, employee memberships, research collaborations, conference sponsorships, or university partnerships.
Don’t be afraid to get creative, either. If you have a dream company, find out where the company sports teams play, where staff grab coffee breaks, join the closest gym to their offices or find where employees drink after work. Basically, find a way to get chatting to people who already work there.
That might sound cringe-worthy, or even downright manipulative, but take it from a person of colour: not all opportunities are created equally.
Many entries to opportunity come with barriers, such as socio-economic background, gender or ethnicity.
Sometimes, your opportunity is on the ground floor, and on occasion, you have to be brave enough to crash-land through the glass ceiling to get past the door.
Also, protect your mental health. Handling rejection well is an under-utilised muscle for most of us. With the advent of AI-based hiring systems, applications can be screened and rejected at a much quicker turnaround speed. Rejection can affect your confidence, increase your stress levels and lead you to feel undervalued or overlooked.
That’s perfectly natural – but I’m here to tell you that there’s nothing wrong with you. This can certainly be a bruising experience, but it’s one that many people go through – and survive.
When it comes to recruitment, don’t let an algorithm written by some jackass consultant who hasn’t had to apply for a job in decades determine your worth
Keep your confidence high
Take care of yourself along the way. With every tenth rejection email that I received, I’d go to a cafe and order my favourite drink and then go on a walk to clear my head.
Keep your mind occupied and confidence high. Reach out to former classmates to reminisce about favourite projects in university. Take on tasks that remind you of your engineering strengths, whether that’s practicing your CAD skills, repairing household appliances or writing code.
You’re a good candidate. Don’t let an algorithm written by some jackass consultant who hasn’t had to apply for a job in decades determine your worth.
And whatever you do, remember that AI is automating not just hiring, but also many of the roles for which new graduates have typically applied in the past.
When my professor said that not every student was guaranteed an ‘A’, she was prepping us for an important lesson. Sometimes, the number of opportunities for success are finite.
Students moving into entry-level roles in a post-AI world face a higher bar when it comes to the definition of ‘entry-level’. Employers now look for higher level skill sets that can’t easily be automated with AI.
For example, they want entry-level engineers to be already skilled in Excel, SQL, or Python to help with coding and data processing. These are skills I had the luxury to learn while I was already on the job.
So, what can you do when you’re a human competing with an algorithm? Lean into that human aspect. Get strategic. Don’t be afraid to recruit AI onto your own team, in order to help you come up with a rock-solid strategy and develop creative ideas that help you stand out to employers.
And remember, coding skills may be helpful, but developing your interpersonal skills will always get you further, faster. Best of luck!
This article first appeared in DEVELOP3D Magazine
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