Ex-Google engineer turned $7.2 billion AI CEO gets thousands of job applications a day but still can't find candidates with a strong work ethic

Many members of Gen Z feel disheartened by the current labor market landscape: ghosting has become prevalent during the recruitment process, entry-level positions appear limited, and looming fears surrounding job displacement due to AI are exacerbating their concerns. However, Arvind Jain, a former Google engineer and co-founder of Rubrik, reports a different challenge.

"Students believe jobs are hard to attain, but we find it difficult to locate the right candidates," Jain remarked in an interview with Fortune. This predicament is not due to a lack of applications.

Jain indicated that his $7.2 billion AI venture, Glean, receives thousands of job applications each day. The primary differentiator among the select few who receive responses is not their educational background, specific skills, or even a standout resume; rather, it is their strong work ethic.

"I firmly believe that hard work is the solution to every challenge," Jain stated. "When I collaborate within a team, my goal is to be recognized as the individual who contributes the most." He emphasized that this quality distinguishes the candidates his team avidly pursues from those whose applications are overlooked.

The challenge, however, lies in the high demand for candidates possessing that level of dedication.

"If you demonstrate hard work, your choices are plentiful. Every organization seeks to collaborate with you." The most exceptional candidates Jain encounters have multiple companies vying for their attention at once. The concern is not a scarcity of applicants, but rather a deficiency of individuals who demonstrate true commitment.

The core principle echoed by top CEOs: diligent work expands your opportunities

CEOs repeatedly emphasize that the foundation of success lies not in fortunate breaks or robust networking, but in relentless hard work.

For instance, Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon balanced two part-time jobs during his teenage years—one at Baskin-Robbins and another at McDonald's—while also participating in three sports and attending school. Even now, as he leads a $291 billion investment bank, he still dedicates time to his passion for DJing.

He has advised Gen Z graduates that his father instilled a solid work ethic in him—a lesson he eagerly shares as the class of 2026 steps into one of the most challenging job markets in history.

Similarly, Khozema Shipchandler, the CEO of the $30 billion cloud communications platform Twilio, has credited his professional success to a rigorous schedule, working from 4:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. every day, even during his college years.

By age 31, Shipchandler had already ascended to the position of CFO for a multi-billion-dollar GE division, attributing his achievements to the intensive hours he dedicated to his work. "If you invest effort, opportunities will be presented to you," he affirmed. "I was able to seize many opportunities."

"If you prefer a balanced lifestyle, coaching your children’s sports teams and having evenings for your interests, that’s commendable," Shipchandler noted, but added that he has "never encountered a peer" who doesn’t adhere to a similarly disciplined regimen.

NBA champion Metta World Peace, formerly known as Ron Artest, candidly articulated why putting in more hours than your competition is the most reliable method to advance.

World Peace once arrived at the gym at 8 a.m.—considered early by his standards—only to discover Kobe Bryant had already completed his workout. "He was all showered up. He was done," World Peace recounted to Fortune. "And I thought I was working hard." Determined to elevate his dedication, the next day he returned at 5:30 a.m. to witness Bryant's formidable work ethic firsthand.

The conclusion? Performance levels are relative. Regardless of how early you arrive or the number of hours you dedicate, there will always be someone striving harder.

As World Peace succinctly stated: "There's always somebody out there working harder."

An actionable step for Gen Z to differentiate themselves: Master AI

Jain recognizes the structural difficulties that young job seekers face today. In the U.K. alone, over 1.2 million applications were submitted for fewer than 17,000 graduate positions last year. Americans, too, report facing an unprecedented low probability of securing employment. One graduate with a degree in mathematics spent over a year applying for more than 1,000 positions in the U.K. without achieving a single offer before relocating his job search to Austria.

As AI and automation continue to eliminate numerous entry-level jobs, the competition for remaining positions has intensified. The volume of applications has become so overwhelming that even Glean's team can only review about 20% of submissions. "We're patiently awaiting applicants to visit our website," Jain mentioned. "We lack the resources to actively recruit." Therefore, it is imperative for applicants to make themselves stand out.

His most pragmatic advice? Acquire mastery in AI—and prioritize it immediately.

"This is a time of remarkable opportunity," he asserted. "You have access to an extraordinary tool that facilitates countless exciting endeavors." In Jain's view, a candidate who has effectively harnessed AI can operate at ten times the efficiency of someone who has not done so—and this disparity is expected to increase. "If you’ve mastered these tools, you can innovate incredible software, systems, applications, imagery, and videos. Showcase your creativity with them."

Fortunately, Jain believes that embarking on this path is more accessible than many may realize.

"AI is not an arduous subject. You need not endure a protracted course. Simply engage with any of these AI tools—be it Gemini, ChatGPT, or others—and interact with them as if they were colleagues. Request assistance with various tasks." This approach is applicable across all industries and job functions. "You can become the modern marketer or paralegal by embracing AI wholeheartedly."