It’s Not Just You: New Grads Face the Tightest Labor Market in Years

Summary

Podcast Summary: Big Take – “It’s Not Just You: New Grads Face the Tightest Labor Market in Years”

Original Release Date: May 21, 2026
Host: Sarah Holder (Bloomberg News)
Guests: Maren Cogan (journalist), Bumi Omisore (recent Duke grad), Tolu Dapo Adeyemo (recent UNC grad), and others

---

Episode Overview

This episode of Big Take examines the 2026 entry-level job market, focusing on freshly minted college graduates who face the toughest employment climate in years. Through conversations with grads and journalist Maren Cogan, the episode dissects the forces behind hiring slowdowns, the impact of AI and automation, the “broken” job application process, and what long-term prospects look like for the class of 2026. The show counters popular misconceptions about Gen Z job seekers and highlights the resourcefulness and resilience they’re displaying in uncertain times.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Real Experiences: The Frustration of Today’s Grads

• Bumi Omisore’s Job Search Saga

  • Bumi, 22, a Duke grad, began her job hunt in August before her senior year, applying broadly from education policy (her primary interest) to finance.

  • Despite effort and qualifications, she barely heard back:

    "I only got a first round interview in. It might actually genuinely be in April." (D, 02:36)

  • The silence from employers led her to reflect:

    "...it's, I'm not even getting to talk to anyone at the company has made it so that I feel like, okay, maybe there's something else here. Like maybe it's not that I'm just not qualified enough." (D, 03:16)

  • Many of her high-achieving friends had similar experiences:

    "I have friends who ... have been working at the White House ... They're not even getting a first round interview." (D, 16:22)

2. Employment Trends & Market Data

• Entry-Level Squeeze

  • Junior-level job postings fell 7% in the past year. (G, 03:44)
  • Layoffs across tech and white collar sectors are offsetting some growth, largely due to AI investments.
  • Unemployment among Americans with four-year degrees has hit 25%, a record. (A, 03:55)
  • More grads, fewer jobs: College completions (2004-2024) rose by 54%, while entry-level jobs for college grads grew only 42%. (E, 03:59)

• Underemployment Concerns

  • 42% of grads aged 22–27 are underemployed – the highest since the pandemic. (E, 17:15)
  • Long-term risk: Many who are underemployed their first year remain so ten years later. (A, 17:31)

3. The AI Paradox & the 'Broken’ Hiring Process

• AI’s Threefold Impact
  • Uncertainty: Companies slowing entry-level hires due to the ambiguous impact of AI.
  • Direct Replacement: AI/tech directly eliminating some entry-level jobs.
  • Process Breakdown: AI-powered applications allow mass-apply tactics, overwhelming companies who then use AI to auto-filter applications, leading to universal ghosting.

    "So you're able to send more applications out. But then the companies ... start using AI to filter the applications. You might not hear back from, you know, 99 out of 100 of them ..." (A, 09:29) Bumi: "The application isn't the problem. It's just sitting in a bank somewhere until an actual person knew my name to go look for it." (D, 10:14)

4. It’s Not Just Liberal Arts: STEM & ‘Safe’ Fields Hit Too

• New grads in cybersecurity, information systems, and emerging AI-era programs are struggling, not just liberal arts majors.

  "A lot of these students were doing degrees in information systems, cybersecurity ... and they feel like it doesn't necessarily make a huge difference in this job market ..." (A, 16:12)

5. Gen Z’s Attitude—Adaptive, Not Entitled

• Countering Misconceptions:
  • Many believe young people feel entitled or don’t want to start with menial work.
  • Maren Cogan:

    "...these students were like, let me get someone coffee. Let me make copies. ... They are so used to disruption. They are so open to trying new things." (A, 19:35)

• As demonstrated by Tolu:
  • Started broadening their search, choosing jobs even outside their chosen field:

    "At first I was like, I don't know, like, it's not really my field. I was like, you know what? Screw it, it's fine." (G, 20:39)

6. Personal Stories: Grit, Rejections, and Small Triumphs

• Tolu Dapo Adeyemo:

  • Failed to secure interviews for fellowships or internships despite strong applications and connections:

    "Barriers of entry were not lower, not lower at all." (G, 11:00) "I can't just strong arm my way through it by being the most qualified on paper." (G, 11:47)

  • Landed a job as a high school college advisor, outside their direct field but describes the relief at getting any offer:

    "I got my offer letter end of February. I remember getting it, and I was just like, wow, I can, like, breathe. Like, I feel like a weight has been lifted off of my shoulders." (G, 20:50)

• Bumi’s Graduation Day Hustle

  • Retells cramming a final round interview into the same day as Duke graduation—an anecdote conveying the degree of desperation and competitiveness:

    "The market is so dire that I'm trying to figure out how to fit in a final round interview the same day as I graduated from college, which is crazy." (D, 22:10)

  • She later received an offer for a desired job in Chicago.

7. Comparisons to Previous Downturns

• Host Sarah Holder asks if this is like post-2008.
  • Maren Cogan:

    "I do think it is different. There is a sense, I think, around this introduction of AI into every facet of our lives that things are changing in a way that might be permanent ..." (A, 08:33)

  • The AI uncertainty and scope of systemic change are distinguishing features.

8. The Value and Limits of a Four-Year Degree

• The four-year degree is still statistically a “good bet” for earnings over time, but its guarantee for immediate employment is fading.
• Non-college pathways—especially skilled trades—are gaining in prestige and curiosity because they are seen as less vulnerable to automation.

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote | |------------|---------|-------| | 01:49 | D (Bumi)| "If you do the same thing over and over and get the same result, like you're insane? That's basically how I would describe the job search." | | 03:16 | D (Bumi)| "Maybe there's something else here. Like maybe it's not that I'm just not qualified enough. Maybe there's a confounding variable that's blocking me ..." | | 04:39 | D (Bumi)| "You seem like a great candidate... I just wish that the people saying it were the recruiters at the jobs I was applying to." | | 05:28 | A (Maren) | "It's a confluence of factors that are making this job market tough for everyone. But I think it is falling especially hard on recent graduates." | | 09:29 | A (Maren)| “…AI has enabled people…to apply for so many more jobs… But then the companies are now overwhelmed…they start using AI to filter the applications. You might not hear back from, you know, 99 out of 100…” | | 10:14 | D (Bumi) | “The application isn’t the problem. It’s just sitting in a bank somewhere until an actual person knew my name to go look for it.” | | 16:48 | A (Maren)| “I don't feel that having gone to Duke and having done all these things actually is a guarantee anymore. Nothing is a guarantee anymore.” (paraphrasing Bumi) | | 20:50 | G (Tolu) | "I got my offer letter end of February... I feel like a weight has been lifted off of my shoulders." | | 21:47 | E (Sarah)| "Maren said while some of the people she spoke with... are still looking for jobs, others have finally figured it out. Like Bumi..." | | 22:10 | D (Bumi) | "...the market is so dire that I'm trying to figure out how to fit in a final round interview the same day as I graduated..." | | 23:04 | D (Bumi) | "For me, like, there is no plan B to being employed. You know what I mean? Like, I have to get a job." |

---

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 01:49 – 04:57: Bumi Omisore’s struggles and the reality of mass rejection for new grads.
• 05:28 – 08:07: Maren Cogan outlines the macro picture; data on entry-level squeeze, AI’s impact.
• 09:09 – 10:46: The AI-driven breakdown of the hiring and job application process; applicant and company perspectives.
• 15:14 – 17:47: Shifting definition of “safe” job paths, underemployment data, and the diminishing predictive power of elite institutions.
• 19:35 – 21:47: Dispelling myths about Gen Z; graduates’ willingness to do any job, not just dream jobs.
• 22:01 – 22:45: Graduation day hustle; Bumi lands a job after months of stress.

---

Flow, Tone, and Takeaways

• The episode is empathetic, candid, and grounded in data but driven by the voices of real grads.
• There’s a strong sense of both systemic frustration and individual perseverance.
• The tone is neither panicked nor dismissive—it urges listeners to understand this is not about a “lazy” or “entitled” generation. Grads are hustling, adapting, and thinking deeply about value, meaning, and pathways to stability.
• The takeaway: The job market has fundamentally shifted, and there are no longer surefire strategies or guarantees. Credentialing, networking, and persistent effort are important, but economic tides and technological change are the new wildcards.

---

Final Note

This episode is an urgent, clear-eyed look at the new rules (and lack thereof) governing first jobs out of college in 2026. It validates the anxiety of job seekers and provides context for why hiring feels so broken—for now. The show also highlights the resourcefulness of Gen Z, emphasizing hope for adaptation even amid continuing uncertainty.

Transcript

[A]

So there's a lot of noise about AI, but time's too tight for more promises. So let's talk about results. At IBM, we work with our employees to integrate technology right into the systems they need. Now a global workforce of 300,000 can use AI to fill their HR questions, resolving 94% of common questions, not noise. Proof of how we can help companies get smarter by putting AI where it actually pays off, deep in the work that moves the business. Let's create Smarter Business IBM Small businesses

[B]

are the pulse of every community. They bring people together, create opportunities and drive growth. Chase for Business helps business owners like you with personalized guidance and convenient digital tools all in one place. With that guidance and your determination, you can take your business farther and help build a brighter future for your community. Learn [e-mail] business chase for business make more of what's yours the Chase Mobile app is available for select mobile devices. Message and data rates may apply. JP Morgan Chase Bank NA Member FDIC Copyright 2026 JPMorgan Chase Co. Travel Smarter,

[C]

Not Harder at America's Best Value Inn by Sonesta with convenient locations from coast to coast and value packed comfort at every turn, it's a practical choice for road trips, quick getaways and everyday travel that keeps things simple without sacrificing comfort. And when you're a Sonesta Travel Pass member, staying at America's Best Value Inn means earning points toward free nights, upgrades and more every time you stay. Go to Sonesta.com to book your stay and unlock the best rates with Sonesta Travel Pass here today, Rome tomorrow. Join [e-mail] terms and conditions apply.

[B]

Bloomberg Audio Studios Podcasts Radio News you

[D]

know that quote where people say like if you do the same thing over and over and get the same result, like you're insane? That's basically how I would describe the job search.

[E]

Bumi Omisore is 22 years old. She just graduated with a degree in Public Policy from Duke University, and ever since the beginning of her senior year, really for even longer, she'd focused on one getting a job.

[D]

I've been thinking about, okay, where am I going to move? Like what am I going to be doing?

[E]

Bumi started looking for positions in August and cast the net wide. Her passion was for education policy, but she applied for jobs in research, government affairs, even finance. But by graduation day earlier this month, Boomi still didn't have anything lined up.

[D]

I only got a first round interview in. It might actually genuinely be in April.

[E]

So a lot of Silence from places you applied to?

[D]

Absolutely. If not silence, just a rejection email from a no reply address.

[E]

Bumi was a good student, worked hard, networked. It didn't seem to matter. Bhumi's friends were going through it too. Lots of rejection, lots of ghosting. And after sending out hundreds of apps, Bhumi started to realize something. Maybe she wasn't the problem.

[D]

To end up in this position my senior year where I can't find a job, not even because I'm getting to the final round or I'm getting interviewed and you know, there's not a fit. It's, I'm not even getting to talk to anyone at the company has made it so that I feel like, okay, maybe there's something else here. Like maybe it's not that I'm just not qualified enough. Maybe there's a confounding variable that's blocking me from being able to reach that next step.

[F]

According to the job search site, indeed,

[G]

a junior level job postings fell 7% last year.

[F]

AI and cost cutting measures are allowing firms to eliminate more and more workers.

[E]

Americans with four year degrees now make

[A]

up a record 25% of total unemployment this year.

[E]

Graduates are entering one of the most confounding job markets in memory. Tech companies are cutting thousands of jobs in part to offset major investments in AI. Labor Department statistics show new jobs are being created, but many of them are concentrated in particular sectors like retail, warehousing and healthcare. And competition for jobs that require a college degree is getting fiercer. Lightcast, a labor market analytics company, found that while college completions in the US rose by 54% from 2004 to 2024, entry level jobs designed for those graduates grew by just 42%.

[D]

I've had a lot of adults who have jobs say to me, oh well, you know, you seem like a great candidate. You seem like this. And I'm like, that's really great to hear. I just wish that the people saying it were the recruiters at the jobs I was applying to.

[E]

I'm Sarah Holder and this is the big take from Bloomberg News today on the show this graduation season, what's going on in the entry level job market? We hear from recent college graduates and reporter Maren Cogan about why it's so hard to land your first job right now. So Maren, how would you describe the job market for new college graduates right now in one word? Tough.

[A]

Really tough.

[E]

That's journalist Maren Kogan.

[A]

It's a confluence of factors that are making this job market tough for everyone. But I think it is falling especially hard on recent graduates.

[E]

A few months ago, Marin sent out a survey asking young people to share their experiences trying to land their first job job. More than 250 people replied. Maren reached out to more than a dozen of them to hear more and she wrote up her findings for Bloomberg Businessweek. The stories behind the Labor Statistics so

[A]

the economy has continued to grow over the last several months, but there are signs that companies are being more cautious in terms of who they're hiring. And this could be due to uncertainty. I think a large part of it is due to uncertainty around the future of AI. And what you see is this really intense squeeze on entry level positions. So there are just fewer entry level opportunities than there are college graduates seeking them out. And I think that squeeze also means that people who are sometimes mid career or more senior career are looking for those jobs that would traditionally go to entry level workers. And it's making it just extremely difficult for people who don't have a work history to find that first job.

[E]

So more competition for a dwindling number of entry level jobs.

[A]

On some level, it's just a math issue. There are just more people graduating with college degrees than there are new jobs to sustain them. We've seen this in recent years where underemployment has become a huge problem. So people who have degrees but are working in jobs that don't require their degrees. And very recently the Federal Reserve bank of New York found that the unemployment rate for recent college graduates actually went higher than it is for all other workers, which is a really troubling sign. It traditionally has not been that way.

[E]

It's not like it's easy to be looking for a job at any age right now. Experts describe it as a low hire, low fire economy, one where people are reluctant to leave their jobs and employers seem to hold all the cards.

[A]

It does seem like there has been a bit of a shift in the power differential. I think you saw in 2020, for example, there was a move to remote work, there was more flexibility and there was more of this culture of employees really pushing for change, certainly unionizing in a number of different industries. And I do think you've seen over the last couple of years, many of those remote work policies have sort of swung in the opposite direction. And I do think you're seeing some of this with people who are mid career and more senior career as well, where there's this sense of the job market is quite tight right now.

[E]

But Marin says that dynamic can make it even harder to break into, into the workforce.

[A]

It's not super easy for people to get a job at any level. And so that inherently gives more power to the employers and inherently makes people who are applying for jobs feel like they're in a weaker position, especially if those would be employees don't really have a prior work history as these college students do.

[E]

Well, how does this compare to previous moments in the job market that could be described as tough? I'm thinking of, you know, post 2008, for example.

[A]

Yes, this is a great question because when I published this piece about this year's college grads and what a difficult time they're facing, I had several readers write to me and say, hey, what about millennials? We had it bad too. And I know as someone who graduated right into the financial crisis, it was really tough. So this is not to say that this is a world historic event. I do think it is different. There is a sense, I think, around this introduction of AI into every facet of our lives that things are changing in a way that might be permanent and we don't entirely know yet what that change will be.

[E]

Yeah, it seems like the way that AI is impacting these entry level jobs right now is sort of two pronged. Right. Companies are looking at the uncertainty that AI is causing in the economy and saying maybe we should pull back on hiring just in case. And then there are some companies that are looking at AI as a potential replacement for some of these entry level jobs.

[A]

Right. It's a third thing too. I think it's also that it's kind of broken the hiring process. Like AI has enabled people, and college students in particular, to apply for so many more jobs than they would have been able to in the past. So one thing I heard is people applying to 50, 100, sometimes several hundred jobs or internships. And so you're able to send more applications out. But then the companies are now overwhelmed with so many applications, they start using AI to filter the applications. You might not hear back from, you know, 99 out of 100 of them, but it's the only way to do things. And I think the result is just a lot of frustration on both sides of the equation.

[D]

The first job that I got an interview for, I had emailed 20 people

[E]

at the company Bumi Omisore.

[D]

Again, only one person responded. And I was lucky enough that that was a recruiter who was willing to sit down and talk to me. And I asked him, is there anything with my resume? He was like, no, actually, I think you have a really good Resume. And I was saying to myself, so the application isn't the problem. It's just sitting in a bank somewhere until an actual person knew my name to go look for it.

[G]

It's genuinely just a matter of like forcing yourself to not get discouraged because if you do, that's low key. Game over.

[E]

That's Tolu Dapo Adeyemo who just graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. They studied media, advertising and public relations. And when they started looking for post grad opportunities, they had a strategy.

[G]

I told myself, well, the job market is crazy, so let me do like a fellowship or like an entry level kind of internship thing and maybe apply to those. Maybe the barriers of entry will be lower. Barriers of entry were not lower, not lower at all.

[E]

Actually, there was one fellowship opportunity in particular Tolu applied to for students looking to pursue communications and marketing.

[G]

I was excited about it. At least a couple of my friends had already done it. And I remember asking one of them for like an advice. He looked over my application, he said, oh my God, this is so, this is so good.

[E]

Like it sounds very aligned with all the things that you studied and that you're interested in.

[G]

You would think, you would think.

[E]

Tolu didn't get an interview.

[G]

And so I think it was like one of many, like discouraging experiences. I was like, this situation is like more dire than I thought it was like. And I can't just strong arm my way through it by being the most qualified on paper.

[A]

I think what's difficult is that this class is graduating into a period of potentially major major change. But the rules to follow or the advice given for how to get a job really hasn't changed. So there's a bit of frustration on their end. They can see that the world has changed so much, but the way you still get a job is relatively the same.

[E]

After the break. Why colleges, job seekers and employers could be forced to rethink what it takes to succeed.

[B]

Being a small business owner isn't just a career, it's a calling. Chase for Business knows how much heart and effort go into building something of your own. That's why they make business growth their priority. The Chase team takes the time to understand your mission, where you are now and where you want to go. Their broad range of solutions is designed with you in mind so you can bring your ideas to life. From banking to payment acceptance to credit cards, you can conveniently manage all your business finances or all in one place with their digital tools. Looking for tips and advice. Their online resources are always available to give you the solutions you need to help your business thrive. See how your business can get stronger and go farther with Chase for Business. Learn [e-mail] business chase for business Make More of what's yours the Chase Mobile app is available for select mobile devices. Message and data rates may apply JPMorgan Chase Bank Naomi Member FDIC Copyright 2026 JPMorgan Chase Co. Support for the show

[F]

comes from Public Lately it feels like there are two types of investing platforms. Some are traditional brokerages that haven't changed much in decades, and others feel less like investing and more like a game. Public is positioned differently. It's an investing platform for people who are serious about building their wealth on public. You can build a portfolio of stocks, options, bonds, crypto without all the bugs or the confetti. Retirement accounts? Yep. High Yield cash? Yes again. They even have direct indexing. Public has modern design, powerful tools and customer support that actually helps go to public.com market and earn an uncapped 1% bonus when you transfer your portfolio. That's public.com market and paid for by

[E]

Public Holdings Brokerage Services by Public Investing

[F]

Member FINRA SIPC Advisory Services by Public Advisors SEC Registered Advisor Crypto Services by ZeroHash all investors involves risk of loss.

[C]

See complete [e-mail] Disclosures Sonesta Travel Pass makes traveling more Rewarding Designed to help you get more out of every stay. Sign [e-mail] to enjoy instant savings, bonus points and valuable perks like early check in, late checkout, room upgrades and free stays over time. With Sonesta Travel Pass, every stay brings you closer to your next reward. Choose from more than 1100 hotels across 13 distinctive brands and unlock the best available rates when you book direct with Sonesta Travel Pass here today, Rome tomorrow. Join [e-mail] Terms and conditions apply.

[E]

Journalist Maren Kogan has spent the last six months speaking with people from all over the US Looking for their first jobs. College seniors, recent grads and postgrads from a range of mid tier and top tier universities responded to her. Conversations weren't necessarily representative of the entire entry level job seeking population, which includes more than 2 million people graduating with four year degrees this year in the US. But one common theme that stood out to Maren was that the fields that were considered sure bets just a few years ago don't seem so secure anymore.

[A]

It wasn't an issue of a number of liberal arts grads who couldn't find jobs in the liberal arts and were surprised by that as might have been the case maybe 10 or 15 years ago. Right. A lot of these students were doing degrees in information systems, cybersecurity. There are a number of new programs that are designed to sort of train people to work in the AI era.

[E]

This feeling that the quote unquote safe paths to employment are changing has got students like Bumi Omisore asking existential questions.

[D]

Everyone's dealing with this. It would be one thing if I was the only one amongst my friends to not find a job because, you know, if I'm the problem, then I could be the solution. That means that there's something wrong with my materials, my interviewing skills, whatever, but I have friends who, I mean, we're talking like full scholars at Duke or at Yale or at Harvard, people who have been working at the White House who have published research. They're not even getting a first round interview.

[A]

What she told me was, I don't feel that having gone to Duke and having done all these things actually is a guarantee anymore. Nothing is a guarantee anymore. And that is something. I spoke to students at Stanford, University of Chicago, Carnegie Mellon, for example. The university is known for producing great graduates in their field and they feel like it doesn't necessarily make a huge difference in this job market when everyone's competing for the same thing.

[E]

The Federal Reserve of New York found that last year 42% of college graduates aged 22 to 27 were underemployed doing jobs that don't require the degrees they spent years earning. That's the highest level since the pandemic.

[A]

And I've seen some longer term studies suggesting that if you are underemployed the year after you graduate, you are likely to be underemployed 10 years later. So some people are able to get out of that and get into their chosen field in advance and are doing stuff that requires their degree and. But a lot of people stay stuck.

[E]

Well, is it a different story for those who don't have a college degree? So not, you know, college seniors looking for their first job, but you know, 18 to 22 year olds who did not pursue college. How are they faring?

[A]

There's a lot of debate about whether the four year degree is still a good value, a good bet. It is still true that if you graduate with a college degree, your chances of getting a good paying job and sustaining that through your career are much higher than if you didn't for people who don't have a degree. And you're seeing, I think you're seeing more of this especially among people who are skeptical of the four year degree, people are going into trades. I have been interviewing people who are working in the trades right now and there is a lot of excitement and energy over the trades being this sort of one thing that isn't going to be completely replaced by AI. But I don't see that, that whole equation flipping overnight and everyone going and picking up a trade and no one going to college anymore. I think the bigger question is going to what are the colleges doing to prepare their students for the economy as it exists now? For example, some of the students I spoke to were going into these master's programs that were called Human Computer Interaction, for example. And this is just designed to teach them how to work in a world where AI is integrated into everything we do. I think those sorts of programs will be helpful, but I just think it's difficult to know. I think it's going to take us a few years to really understand what the future will look like and how different it will be and adapt from there. And unfortunately, these students are sort of caught right in the middle of this really difficult pivot point.

[E]

Are there any misconceptions about today's job market for young people that you complicated through some of these interviews?

[A]

There's a sense that this generation doesn't want to do any menial work and that they are. They feel entitled to doing only work that they consider to be at their level or satisfying or. That is not what I experienced talking to these students at all. These students were like, let me get someone coffee. Let me make copies for someone. Let me do any sort of grunt work I can. And it doesn't even have to be in my chosen field. I'm willing to branch out. I'm willing to try something new. I think that will be a huge asset to this generation. They are so used to disruption. They are so open to trying new things. And I think that is something that is really an advantage they have over the rest of us. This generation is really open to trying new things and doing whatever they can to sort of get a foot into their chosen career.

[E]

That's true of Tolu Dapo Adeyemo, the UNC grad who kept on applying for jobs throughout senior year and became more and more willing to make compromises about what kind of job they were looking for.

[G]

First I was like, I don't know, like, it's not really my field. I was like, you know what? Screw it, it's fine.

[E]

So when a friend suggested Tolu apply for a job as a college advisor for High schoolers, they went for it.

[G]

I got my offer letter end of February. I remember getting it, and I was just like, wow, I can, like, breathe. Like, I feel like a weight has been lifted off of my shoulders. Regardless of how I feel about how much money I'm making, I feel like I at least have something to support myself with to start the rest of my life with, and I don't have to beg in with my parents. Oh, my God. Oh, my God, guys. Like, no, I did cheer. Even though it's not in my field, I am quite passionate about paying it forward, right in the realm of college admissions. Like, the amount of people who I sent my common app essay to, my supplemental essays, too. Like, if it weren't for them, I generally don't know if I would have gotten into this school. And so getting to, like, genuinely, like, be who I needed for someone else, that's. I think that's going to be a really fulfilling experience, and I am excited for it.

[E]

Maren said while some of the people she spoke with over the past few months are still looking for jobs, others have finally figured it out. Like Bumi, when we spoke, it was the day before her Duke graduation.

[D]

I got a final interview for a job I found out the other day, and it's literally the same day as my graduation.

[A]

Oh, my God, it's tomorrow.

[D]

I know. And they were like, if you can't do this time, then we just have to give it to somebody else. And I was like, okay. So I'm that, like, the market is so dire that I'm trying to figure out how to. To fit in a final round interview the same day as I graduated from college, which is crazy. My graduation's at 9. The interview's supposed to be at 12. We'll see what happens.

[E]

Boomi made it in time for her interview, and a week later, she let us know she'd gotten an offer for a different job as a risk analyst in Chicago, the city she was hoping to land in.

[D]

I had a mentor of mine ask me, like, what's plan B? And I thought it was a funny question because for me, like, there is no plan B to being employed. You know what I mean? Like, I have to get a job. That's not really an option.

[E]

This is the Big Take from Bloomberg News. I'm Sarah Holder. To get more from the Big Take and unlimited access to all of bloomberg.com, subscribe [e-mail] if you like this episode, make sure to subscribe and review the Big Take. Wherever you listen to podcasts. It helps people find the show. Thanks for listening. We'll be back tomorrow.

[C]

These days it seems like AI agents are just about everywhere. You turn every field and every function. But without identity, you can't trust they'll serve your business instead of jeopardizing it. Fortunately, Okta helps you get identity right by securing your AI agents identities, giving you a single layer of control, a single standard of trust. So whether an AI agent supports a single user or your entire enterprise, with Okta you'll turn risk into opportunity. Secure every agent, secure any agent. Okta secures AI A business gift should do more than check a box. It should reflect your brand and show someone they're appreciated, recognized and truly seen. 4imprint offers thousands of high quality, customizable products like premium apparel, drinkware, tech and more, making it easy to create a gift that feels meaningful and on brand. And with 4imprint's expert support and their 360 degree guarantee, you can be forimprint certain your order will arrive exactly as intended. Explore gifting with confidence at 4imprint.com 4imprint

[F]

for certain when you're running a business, the best days are the ones where priorities stay on track. For midsize and large companies, risk can affect multiple parts of the organization at once, from property and liability to cyber and regulatory challenges. At that level, managing risk becomes an ongoing discipline. At the Hartford, the focus is on helping businesses manage risk before it turns into something more disruptive. And when losses do happen, that work is paired with insurance coverage shaped by years of underwriting, risk engineering and claims experience. Learn more@the Hartford.com riskmitigation policies provided by Hartford Fire Insurance Company and its property and casualty affiliates Hartford, Connecticut.