NPR recently ran a piece highlighting why recent grads are struggling in the current job market. One graduate submitted 450 applications and received 19 interviews (but zero offers), while another surpassed 500. They're still waiting for their breakthrough.

While economists debate whether AI is the culprit or if remote roles are shifting toward those requiring less training, both factors may be contributing to the problem. However, there is a something everyone seems to overlook: thousands of experienced professionals have been laid off this year, and are now competing for the same jobs.

It is not just ATS and AI filters that college graduates must now overcome. It is direct competition from a career pivoter with a decade of transferable skills, or a recently laid-off director looking for job stability. A 22 year-old with a degree and an internship is literally and figuratively fighting for their professional lives against the backdrop of highly qualified unemployed workers.

If you're a recent grad, it is time to stop playing the resume game. That is, keyword-stuffing and bullet points that look identical to every applicant. This will no longer set you apart. What will distinguish you is your ability to articulate how you solve problems, how you think, how you collaborate, and which human elements you possess that a resume cannot capture.

By presenting yourself as a complete person rather than a stack of qualifications, you can compete in a lane where you're not overshadowed by candidates with more years on paper.