From Passive Job Seeker to Creating Your Own Job

Talking about the Future Of Work is one of my passions, and in last week’s workshop we looked at what’s actually changing: tighter requisitions, skills-first hiring, and managers who remember strong interactions far more than a stack of 500 resumes. My message to students was simple: in this market, the advantage goes to those who shift from passive applicant to outcome-creator—people who understand the business context, ask better questions, and show up (online and in person) with a clear “Here’s how I can help” mindset.

What we’re seeing across the market: These shifts explain why the “create your own job” mindset matters.

Generative and agentic AI are reshaping tasks, titles, and entry paths. McKinsey flags early signs of fewer internships/entry-level roles and a tilt toward adjacent skills, with uncertainty as the watchword.¹ Pair that with a cooler economy: in Canada, youth unemployment has climbed, with summer 2025 rates for returning students the highest since 2009 (ex-pandemic)—a clear sign of tighter entry doors. In short: fewer public postings, more skills-first screening, and heavier competition for visible roles.

What we see at Talent Balloon:

Across campus visits and employer conversations, we hear the same themes:

• Fewer openings, sharper priorities. Teams are trying to “do more with less,” concentrating work in specialized areas.

• Tighter screening and faster ramp expectations. The ability to adapt quickly and the need for specialized skills make the screening process even tighter. The future of work requires resilience. 

• In-person still wins signals. Recruiters can’t meaningfully sort 500+ junior applications, but they do remember students who asked sharp questions and followed up after an event or conversation. Even in an AI era, in-person impressions at events, meetups, and info sessions travel further inside companies than a cold application.

What this means for you: Shift your mindset from “pick me” to “here’s how I can help" - Here are Five Mindset (5 shifts) with examples:

Bottom line: Don’t let the market decide. Create your outcome - learn how a team creates value, be curious in person, and make it easy for people to remember you for the right reasons.

Centennial College - Job Search & Resume Check