Why Are Half of Recent College Grads Stuck in Jobs That Don’t Match Their Degree? (Full)

Jerremy Alexander Newsome and Dave Conley host 27-year-old New York HR professional Kathryn Conley. She earned an international studies degree equipped with soft skills yet mistrustful of the system and drifted into HR amid a tough market. Kathryn describes starting fully remote during the pandemic, the disorienting shift to hybrid, paying $3,000 rent in Brooklyn, and needing early financial literacy on 401(k)s and Roth IRAs. They examine what actually gets you hired, ghost jobs on LinkedIn, lengthy interview processes, AI’s impact on HR, limited internal mobility, and rewriting the career social contract versus a simpler future centered on community and human connection.Timestamps:(00:00) Half of recent grads now work jobs that don’t match their degree – entry-level professional work is being cut faster than any prior downturn(00:20) Kathryn Conley fell into HR after international studies because the market was brutal – she graduated with soft skills and deep distrust of the system(01:08) College taught soft skills but nothing about actual career reality – grads enter the workforce unprepared for what employers truly value(05:20) Pandemic remote start meant learning workplace norms the hard way later – the shift to hybrid felt disorienting after full remote(08:42) $3,000 Brooklyn rent forces early financial planning most never learned in school – 401(k)s and Roth IRAs become urgent when living costs crush paychecks(11:46) Personal finance is never meaningfully taught – schools leave grads blind to basic tools they need immediately(14:51) Hiring now demands real professional experience – degrees alone no longer open doors(16:49) LinkedIn ghost postings waste everyone’s time – resume overload lets employers post jobs they never intend to fill(20:16) AI could replace large parts of HR ops – emails and core systems are already automatable(22:48) Lengthy multi-round interviews for junior roles are tragic – companies drag out hiring while talent burns out(24:42) The old social contract is broken – career ambition now competes with desire for community and human connection(34:11) Many daydream about quitting for a coffee shop and land – stability and neighbors matter more than climbing(42:13) At 45 she wonders what she’ll wish she had done differently – hopes and fears shape the long view(47:10) Lightning round reveals no default four-year degree by 2035 – hiring will hinge on who you know and real skills(51:37) Hosts debrief the gap between ambition and reality – phones, addiction, and community loss loom large(01:00:01) Closing leaves the tension unresolved – system change feels distant🌍 Connect with us: Instagram | YouTube | X