Why Half of New Grads Are Underemployed After Following All the Rules

The traditional American playbook is breaking. Jerremy Alexander Newsome and Dave Conley explain how school, credentials, and work no longer deliver as half of new grads end up underemployed, AI reprices desk jobs, and first-year pay lands closer to $35,000. Guest Spencer Conley got the deal he was promised through non-conventional choices. He attended a small liberal arts college on a strong financial deal and graduated nearly debt free. He shares early work in a presidential campaign and DOD consulting, contrasting contractor responsibility with government protections. Most of his peers carry heavy student debt limiting their options. This episode sets up how AI is changing hiring and job value. Timestamps:(00:00) Half of new grads are underemployed with AI repricing desk jobs and starting pay near $35k – Jerremy Alexander Newsome and Dave Conley say the school-credentials-work playbook is broken(01:27) Spencer Conley took an unconventional path at a small liberal arts college with a strong financial deal and graduated nearly debt-free – he still got the outcomes the old system promised(04:36) Early presidential campaign work and DOD consulting showed contractor responsibility beats government employee protections – Spencer contrasts the two paths(07:48) Consulting in AI, sustainability, and economic development – Spencer explains his current role as a manager(09:43) Skills matter more than degrees in today's market – the shift happening now(11:40) Student debt limits life options for most peers – the college debt trap in action🌍 Connect with us: Instagram | YouTube | X