Mark Cuban is not known for soft takes. When he gives career advice, it usually cuts straight to the point. His latest message to new college grads does exactly that. Forget chasing big company logos. Look at small and mid-sized businesses instead.

The 67-year-old billionaire believes the smartest move in the age of artificial intelligence is to focus on where your skills actually matter. For many grads, that place is not a massive corporation with layers of approval and bloated teams. It is a smaller company that needs help now.

The ‘Shark’ has shared this idea across social media and interviews, and the logic behind it is simple. New grads can become hard to replace at smaller firms. They can move quickly, shape systems, and teach companies how to utilize AI in ways that directly impact revenue and productivity.

That kind of impact is rare at large companies, especially in the early stages. Cuban thinks that difference can define the first five years of a career.

Small Businesses Need You More Than Big Companies

Cuban / IG / Large corporations already have deep tech benches. They employ AI teams, data scientists, consultants, and vendors. A new graduate with AI skills often blends into the crowd.

You might be smart and driven. But you are still one of many.

At a small or mid-sized business, the story flips. These companies are usually run by founders and lean teams. They focus on customers and cash flow. They lack the time and staff to test new tools or reevaluate systems. AI often sits on the wish list, not the roadmap.

That gap is the opportunity Cuban is pointing at. He argues that new grads can walk in and solve real problems fast. The ‘Shark’ describes these companies as entrepreneurially driven. They want to grow, but they lack bandwidth. A new hire who understands AI can become the person who unlocks that growth. That is how you become indispensable early in your career.

Teaching AI Agents, Not Just Using Tools

Cuban focuses heavily on agentic AI. These are AI systems that can handle multi-step tasks on their own. Most small businesses are unaware of how to utilize these tools effectively. They hear the buzzwords. They see the headlines. But they do not know where to start. This is where new grads come in.

Cuban believes that graduates can teach companies how to utilize AI agents to automate tasks that would be too expensive to do manually. Think customer support workflows. Inventory tracking. Marketing follow-ups. Internal reporting. These tasks eat up time and energy at small firms.

Cuban / IG / Job postings have dropped, and competition has surged. In that environment, big companies become even harder to break into.

Hiring a new grad to build or manage these systems costs less than hiring a senior engineer or outside firm. The return is immediate. Productivity jumps. Costs drop. Teams move faster. That is a win for everyone involved.

Cuban has pointed to his own company, Cost Plus Drugs, as proof that AI can be used this way. The lesson is clear. You do not need a massive budget to get value from AI. You need someone who knows how to apply it.

The Job Market Is Tight, SMBs Have an Edge

Cuban frames SMBs as a smarter play in this market. Smaller companies are still hiring. Many are hiring faster than large firms. They are willing to take bets on potential, especially when the skill set is practical and current.

Data already shows that new grads are moving this way. Over a third of full-time applications now go to companies with fewer than 250 employees.