Alex, a 22-year-old computer science senior, finally has a job offer after months of applications. Instead of feeling secure, he has begun worrying that the offer could disappear before his first day.

Alex did what he was supposed to do. He earned good grades, developed technical skills, applied widely, and survived multiple rounds of interviews. When a technology company offered him a position beginning after graduation, he thought the stressful part was finally over.

Then he kept hearing about layoffs. Companies were cutting projects or restructuring teams. Other students talked about offers being delayed—or rescinded entirely. Alex began checking his email with a different kind of anxiety. He had successfully found a job, but until he actually walked through the door, he was not convinced he had one.

What does career security mean in an industry that can change this quickly? How should new graduates plan their futures when even an accepted offer may feel uncertain? And what does it mean to be “prepared for work” when some of the biggest challenges have nothing to do with how well you can do the job?