#593
Couch vs Cubicle
Published:
May 31, 2025
Author:
Sarah Parsons Wolter
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Graduation season marks a pivotal transition, but this year’s crop of college students appears to have at least the option of two sharply different tracks.
On one end, summer internship programs—especially on Wall Street—are thriving. Despite widespread concern about AI displacing junior roles, firms remain committed to the traditional model: competitive recruiting, long hours, and in-person apprenticeships. As Bloomberg notes, AI isn’t replacing 20-year-olds willing to work late, ask questions, and sit in on meetings. For now, relationship-building and endurance remain more valuable than automation.
At the other extreme, a quieter shift is taking hold. According to the Wall Street Journal, a growing number of young graduates are unemployed by choice and living at home. These so-called “stay-at-home sons” aren’t just struggling to find work; they’re actively disengaging. Citing burnout, disillusionment, or simply indifference, many are stepping off the career track entirely, at least for now.
The contrast reflects more than just economic divergence. It highlights a generational split in motivation, structure, and how early career success is defined. While some institutions double down on pipelines and performance reviews, others may need to rethink how they engage a workforce that’s less motivated by corner offices and more by flexibility—or maybe Final Jeopardy.
Still, the game isn’t over. Whether from the couch or the cubicle, the next move is theirs to make.
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Couch vs Cubicle
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