Gen Z Jobseekers Get Free Career Platform from New Work Foundation
Gen Z college graduates are struggling to find their first job in a market where many tasks that once justified hiring them are now handled by software, according to the New Work Foundation. To address this issue, the nonprofit co-founded by Clara Shih and Nick Mehta has launched dearCC, a free career platform that connects Gen Z jobseekers with mentors and peers who are also chasing similar roles.
The site provides a weekly briefing on how AI is reshaping various lines of work, as well as a plan for landing those jobs. This approach contrasts with many other programs meant to help workers adapt to AI, which focus on coursework and certifications.
Shih, who spent two decades building AI products at Salesforce, Hearsay Systems, and Meta, says that her experience pushed her to start the foundation. She notes that nearly nine in 10 college graduates (89 percent) told Monster.com in a survey conducted in January 2026 that they're concerned that AI or automation could replace entry-level roles.
DearCC is composed of four components designed to 'replace the isolation and guesswork of the modern job hunt.' These include signing up, connecting with mentors and peers, receiving weekly briefings on how AI is reshaping various lines of work, and walking through a plan for landing those jobs.