I’ve said this before, and I’ll say it again…
The education-to-employment pipeline in the USA is a zombie factory. Students are expected to take what they’re fed and not question anything, and then they come out on the other side still taking what they’re fed and not questioning anything—but this time with real-world consequences. They have to figure out how to survive in the “real world” with large amounts of debt and an unfulfilling career for 50+ years.
And we’ve reached a breaking point.
This moment we’re in matters because, I believe, the mass layoffs and the recession indicators that both seasoned and young professionals are facing are the “wakeup serum.”
For years, I’ve taught college and career readiness classes and workshops to high school students, college students, and young professionals, and I see the same challenges across all three groups.
They’re lost, anxious, unsure of their next steps, and ultimately confused, even if they have all the resources at their fingertips. And this is troubling, because they’re the leaders of tomorrow.
I didn’t realize how deep the challenges ran until I started stepping into workforce development meetings with employers. They’re annoyed…
They say things like:
- There’s no accountability or time management skills
- There’s no critical thinking, flexibility, or innovative thinking in the workplace from employees
- The students don’t know basic workplace manners or decorum
My question is: how do they learn if not at home (home training?) and/or if the education system doesn’t expose the future leaders of tomorrow to these things?
The answer is they don’t, and we end up in a situation like the one that we’re in now.
And with AI being the newest biggest, baddest wolf, now some parents are nervous for their kids’ future career prospects too.
Matt Stephenson, CEO of Code2College, mentioned in a recent LinkedIn post that for decades, there has been a loose [life] roadmap:
- Do well in high school
- Get into a good college
- Pick a major with solid job prospects
- Graduate and get hired quickly
- Work hard, advance, repeat”
and now, he argues that this path feels like a “moving target”. To make matters worse, tuition is also skyrocketing, the value of a degree is being questioned, and there are a growing number of reports that say recent college graduates have a lack of job opportunities because of AI.
Despite these reports and fears, I’m still a big advocate for education (IF you use it to your full advantage to advance) because you don’t know what you don’t know. That knowledge gap, the “not knowing”, is also why I strongly advocate for using, learning, and understanding how Artificial Intelligence (AI) can help advance your goals. But I do acknowledge that there are cracks in the matrix, a lot of them, and the education-to-employment system requires a LOT of finessing if you want to come out on the other side successful.
Here’s how I see it:
Outdated jobs, AI, and robot workers aside, there are still core functions that every single business needs in order to make sure it doesn’t go out of business, functions that a human will always need to be in the loop for.
So…
If you’re reading this and you’re absolutely confused about your next step, or you’re helping your students maneuver the job market, let’s be strategic. Start by looking for roles and industries that will always require a human to be “in the loop.”
According to Forbes, there are 13 distinct business functions that every business needs in-house, including finance, quality control, and relationship management. I also found an excellent high level breakdown from career coach Matthew Louis, that mentions functions like procurement, logistics, service development, and aftersales management as being core business functions.
And instead of being scared of AI, I teach my students and clients to use it! They use AI to analyze job market trends so that they’re always 5–10 steps ahead of their colleagues. You can do this too. Use the AI prompt below to get started.
Instructions: Copy the prompt below into the chat box here. Fill in the blanks in the prompt with your details before hitting enter. Review your results, and note which roles, industries, or skills stand out. Use this information to guide your next job search.
Job Trend Hunting Prompt:
“Act as a career trends analyst. Based on recent hiring data, what industries are growing the fastest and what emerging job roles have appeared in the last five years?
Include:
– Top 5 growing industries (with a short reason why)
– 3–5 new or hybrid roles blending multiple skills (ex: design + AI, marketing + data)
– Key skills or tools mentioned in those job descriptions
I’m a college student majoring in [your major/field], located in [city or state], interested in [specific field or type of work].
Please focus on entry-level or early-career roles that pay around [$–$ per year].”
Next…. There’s still the matter of foundational skills that a lot of these conversations skip over. A lot of adults forget that what they know now and how they function in a workplace took years to learn.
A lot of graduating high schoolers and some college students have never been exposed to that type of work ethic or those functions within a business, don’t problem-solve at a level that’s needed for a workplace, and aren’t as digitally literate as we think.
“But what if we just equip everyone with AI in the workplace?” — a question I get asked often.
We also have to remember that context is important. If you have no foundational skills and have never worked in a particular industry or role, even if you use AI, you won’t be nearly as efficient or effective as someone who knows what they’re doing because they practiced the skill or craft BEFORE the use of supports like AI.
“But Ms. Deja, what about just being an entrepreneur, content creator, or influencer?” — questions I get from students.
I’m not saying it’s not possible, but everyone will NOT be an entrepreneur or influencer. Many don’t yet have the business foundations (bookkeeping, marketing, client management, budgeting, etc.) and need stability to build their career foundation first. The sooner they understand that, the less stressed they’ll be when they hit 25 or even 30. 👀
Because our K–12 system in the USA largely produces students who have no clear path forward post-graduation, college, alternative training, or other buffer programs still play a critical role. They’re not a guarantee of success, but they are a place to gain skills, direction, and the ability to navigate uncertainty. These environments also teach students how to learn at a higher level, apply what they learn, and problem-solve when things don’t go as planned.
So, we have to change the conversation completely, especially when we know exactly what employers are focused on. (Hint, hint: It’s soft skills like a positive attitude, a strong work ethic, adaptability, openness to feedback, punctuality and strong interpersonal skills.)
One of the most common questions parents ask is, “Will what they learn in a college or training program be outdated by the time they graduate?” It comes up a lot, but it’s not the right question.
The correct questions are:
- Will students learn how to learn, research, apply what they learn, pivot when needed, and self-direct when needed in these programs?
- Will students be able to connect their career dots and understand how to take control of their own career paths and not depend on an employer to take the reins for them?
- Will students develop the foundational soft skills employers actually care about, things like a strong work ethic, adaptability, punctuality, and the ability to work well with others?
For some, college will do that. For some, it will be training programs or trade schools. For others, it might be entrepreneurship or on-the-job training.
The adults (parents, teachers, counselors, etc.) who are closest to the future talent need to be realistic and help guide them down the correct path that fits them.
When I say “guided,” I truly mean a guided, hands-on approach. There needs to be an emphasis on slow exposure to both career pathing and soft skills as students move through K–12. That exposure should come through experiences like after-school activities, clubs and organizations (i.e., Junior Achievement), sports, field trips, job shadowing, summer camps, workshops (i.e., Home Depot hosts fantastic kid-friendly workshops), career tech schools, and dual enrollment programs.
Some students have more agency than others and will seek out external resources and continue to explore their curiosities on their own, while other students will need to be guided, encouraged, and motivated consistently.
Now that you have this information, the ball is in your court. What part will you play in shaping our future workforce?
