AI is moving upstream into hiring and early-career employment, changing what employers expect from new graduates and what kinds of learning pathways translate into interview readiness. Hiring managers in a July survey reported they would invest in AI tools instead of hiring and training new graduates, with concerns focused more on workplace skills than credentials. Several respondents said they would only consider recent graduates without internships for certain roles, and many cited gaps in professional email writing and data interpretation. Separately, discussions around AI-native student cohorts emphasize that the question is no longer whether students use AI, but how generative tools are shaping expectations for learning, writing, and problem-solving on day one. For higher education leaders, the immediate implication is that career services, experiential learning, and skill alignment may need rapid updates to reflect AI-mediated workplace tasks—not just AI literacy as an isolated topic.