Mark Cuban's Advice: Why New Graduates Should Consider Small Businesses

In a recent statement, Mark Cuban, the well-known entrepreneur and investor, suggested that recent graduates should focus on roles in small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

Cuban explained that these smaller businesses present a unique opportunity for graduates to make a significant impact. He emphasized the potential for graduates to introduce and implement AI technologies that many SMEs are not currently equipped to handle due to resource constraints.

"Large corporations don't have the same need for graduate-level input in this area," he noted. "However, SME leaders will greatly appreciate the new skills and perspectives graduates bring."

Cuban pointed out that job seekers should recognize the importance of AI agents in these scenarios. These virtual helpers are capable of managing tasks independently, from initiation to completion, without ongoing instructions, offering new grads an area to deliver immediate contributions that businesses may not initially realize they need.

This year has seen an increase in the adoption of AI agents. According to a survey involving more than 400 businesses, conducted by Jellyfish, the uptake of agentic AI within these companies surged from 50% in late 2024 to 82% by May.

In January, Nvidia's CEO, Jensen Huang, stated, "We are entering the era of agentic AI," while Sam Altman of OpenAI compared AI agents to entry-level employees.

Morgan Stanley's analysis predicted that by 2030, AI-driven shopping agents could contribute an additional $115 billion to the American e-commerce sector.

Current job market trends are less favorable for new grads, with fewer positions available. Employment data from the platform Handshake highlighted a 15% drop in job postings as of May, compared to the previous year, while applications per listing rose by 30%.

Notably, Handshake identified that over a third of all job applications from new graduates were directed to businesses with 250 or fewer staff members.

Moreover, many small firms are courting Gen Z graduates by offering what they value highly: the chance to work remotely. Experts in workplace dynamics mentioned to Business Insider in July that these smaller entities are providing flexible work options to attract top-tier talent away from larger corporations.