What Every New Graduate Needs To Hear In 2026

What Every New Graduate Needs To Hear In 2026

Why does it feel harder than ever to land a job after graduation? In this episode of The Work Hotline, Sho Dewan (@workhap) breaks down why recent grads are facing the highest unemployment rate in about a decade, with over 41% underemployed in jobs that don’t even require their degree. The truth is, the ladder didn’t disappear, it broke. Companies aren’t cutting jobs, they’re just hiring more experienced people and leaving entry-level roles flat. So Sho shares 3 things every new grad can actually control right now: building proof of work instead of just another resume, ditching the “apply to everything” approach for a more strategic search, and letting go of the pressure to find the “perfect” first job. Plus, he answers real calls from listeners feeling behind, overwhelmed, and unsure if they’re failing or just new: “Am I actually behind, or does it just feel that way?” Remember that your first job isn’t proof of your worth. It’s just the entry point. Subscribe to Workhap: www.youtube.com/workhap Pre-order Sho’s Get Hired book: www.workhap.com/book Want to be featured in our next episode? Leave a voice note: +1 (701) 888 9178 or em Fuel your success with Forbes. Gain unlimited access to premium journalism, including breaking news, groundbreaking in-depth reported stories, daily digests and more. Plus, members get a front-row seat at members-only events with leading thinkers and doers, access to premium video that can help you get ahead, an ad-light experience, early access to select products including NFT drops and more: https://account.forbes.com/membership/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=display&utm_campaign=growth_non-sub_paid_subscribe_ytdescript Stay Connected Forbes newsletters: https://newsletters.editorial.forbes.com Forbes on Facebook: http://fb.com/forbes Forbes Video on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/forbes Forbes Video on Instagram: http://instagram.com/forbes More From Forbes: http://forbes.com Forbes covers the intersection of entrepreneurship, wealth, technology, business and lifestyle with a focus on people and success. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

Why Nobody Is Retiring Anymore

Why are so many people rethinking retirement? In this episode of The Work Hotline, Sho Dewan (your Work Hype Man, former recruiter, and founder of Workhap) dives into a surprising trend: 61% of Americans say they don't plan to fully retire anymore. Instead of the traditional "work until 65 and stop," more people are choosing consulting, freelancing, passion projects, part-time work, and second careers. Retirement is evolving from an ending into something much more flexible. Sho breaks down the cultural shift happening around retirement, why more people are redefining work later in life, and what younger generations can learn from it right now. Plus, he answers real calls from listeners navigating career transitions, burnout, and the question many professionals are quietly asking themselves: "What do I actually want my life to look like?" Because maybe success was never meant to be one straight line, maybe you're allowed to evolve. Subscribe to Workhap: www.youtube.com/workhap Pre-order Sho’s Get Hired book: www.workhap.com/book Want to be featured in our next episode? Leave a voice note: +1 (701) 888 9178 or email here: podcast@workhap.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

Millennials Did Everything Right. So Why Are We Burned Out?

We were told there was a “success” formula: Go to college.→ Get a good job.→ Work hard.→ Climb the ladder.→ Be successful. But what happens when you do all of that... and still feel stuck? In this episode of The Work Hotline, Sho Dewan (your Work Hype Man, ex-recruiter, and founder of @workhap) dives into what many millennials are quietly experiencing right now: burnout, career confusion, and the realization that the traditional career path no longer works the way it used to. In this episode we talked about: - Why millennials are experiencing record burnout - Why success feels further away despite working harder - How layoffs changed the relationship between workers and employers - Why career pivots are becoming normal - How to redefine success on your own terms Subscribe to Workhap: www.youtube.com/workhap Pre-order Sho’s Get Hired book: www.workhap.com/book Want to be featured in our next episode? Leave a voice note: +1 (701) 888 9178 or email here: podcast@workhap.com Fuel your success with Forbes. Gain unlimited access to premium journalism, including breaking news, groundbreaking in-depth reported stories, daily digests and more. Plus, members get a front-row seat at members-only events with leading thinkers and doers, access to premium video that can help you get ahead, an ad-light experience, early access to select products including NFT drops and more: https://account.forbes.com/membership/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=display&utm_campaign=growth_non-sub_paid_subscribe_ytdescript Stay Connected Forbes newsletters: https://newsletters.editorial.forbes.com Forbes on Facebook: http://fb.com/forbes Forbes Video on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/forbes Forbes Video on Instagram: http://instagram.com/forbes More From Forbes: http://forbes.com Forbes covers the intersection of entrepreneurship, wealth, technology, business and lifestyle with a focus on people and success. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

AI Isn’t Taking Your Job… But It Is Changing It | How To Outsmart The AI Job Market

AI isn’t just changing jobs… it’s changing the entire way we work. In this episode of The Work Hotline, Sho Dewan (your Work Hype Man, ex-recruiter, and founder of @workhap) breaks down the REAL impact AI is having on careers in 2026 and why so many people feel anxious about the future of work right now. The question isn’t “Will AI take my job?” It’s: “What happens when my job changes faster than I can adapt?” If you’ve been anxious about AI, scared of falling behind, or wondering if you’ll still matter in the future of work… this episode is for you. Timestamps: Subscribe to Workhap: www.youtube.com/workhap [https://www.youtube.com/workhap]Pre-order Sho’s Get Hired book: www.workhap.com/book [http://workhap.com/book] Want to be featured in our next episode? Leave a voice note: +1 (701) 888 9178 Some caller questions/submissions may be recreated using actors or AI for clarity, production, or privacy purposes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

Stop Looking For A New Job And Do This | Top Career Advice

What if the best career opportunity you have right now is already inside the company you’re at? In this episode, Sho Dewan breaks down why internal mobility is the most underrated career move of 2026 — and how to actually pull it off without blowing up your current situation. Subscribe to Workhap: www.youtube.com/workhap Pre-order Sho’s Get Hired book: www.workhap.com/book If you’ve been thinking about a career change but the external market feels like a wall, this one’s for you. Timestamps: 0:00: Current State of The Job Market 1:15: Personal Update 2:30: Why Making An Internal Move Is The Right Move 8:41: Call #1 - Boredom A Good Reason To Leave? 11:26: Call #2 - No Internal Mobility 14:37: Call #3 - Teacher Pivoting To Corporate 17:51: Closing Remarks Want to be featured in our next episode? Leave a voice note: +1 (701) 888 9178 or email here: podcast@workhap.com Some caller questions/submissions may be recreated using actors or AI for clarity, production, or privacy purposes. Fuel your success with Forbes. Gain unlimited access to premium journalism, including breaking news, groundbreaking in-depth reported stories, daily digests and more. Plus, members get a front-row seat at members-only events with leading thinkers and doers, access to premium video that can help you get ahead, an ad-light experience, early access to select products including NFT drops and more: Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]