Jack Weiss is a 30-year-old chemical engineering PhD from Princeton University who has applied to more than 2,300 jobs since completing his doctorate, according to The Wall Street Journal. Weiss has broadened his search beyond laboratory research to software engineering, consulting and even food preparation roles.
Weiss earned undergraduate honors at Rice University before entering Princeton’s doctoral programme, and his research on ice formation was cited by the Nobel Committee as an example of machine learning applied to science, as reported by news outlets. He has lived with his parents in Salt Lake City while continuing the search.
He found temporary work training AI models for a startup called Mercor at $70 an hour, but assignments became inconsistent and his contract later ended, the Journal reported. Weiss said many applications received no response, including roles at pharmaceutical companies and postdoctoral posts at national laboratories.
Weiss is considering law school and is developing an AI drone designed to remove invasive weeds as an entrepreneurial project. His mother Holly Carvers said, "It is truly unexpected. I don't know how to make sense of this situation." His father John Weiss said he never dreamed his child would struggle, according to reporting.
Labour Market Context And Recruitment Trends
Recent labour market data cited by Seoul Economic Daily and drawn from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York showed unemployment among recent college graduates at 5.6% and an underemployment rate near 42%. The underemployment figure reflects many graduates working in roles that do not typically require a degree.
Reporting described the market as one of low hiring and low firing, which reduces openings for job seekers while discouraging current employees from moving. A Gallup survey found just 34% of Americans said now was a good time to find a quality job. A Pew Research Center survey found more than 70% expect AI to reduce total jobs.
Several outlets noted that AI-powered recruitment tools may add difficulty for applicants, and Seoul Economic Daily cited commentary suggesting the spread of AI could affect entry-level white-collar jobs. Weiss’s experience was highlighted by Journal reporter Lindsey Ellis to illustrate broader hiring slowdowns and the challenges facing recent graduates.
