• Handshake data seen by BI reveals federal job interest dropped 40% after a wave of executive orders.
• Meanwhile, interest in state and local jobs grew over 30% year over year in the second half of the school year.
• Some job seekers initially interested in government roles are also going back to the private sector.

A year ago, the hashtag "government jobs" was trending on TikTok, with videos of employees hyping up the stability and perks of the field and explaining best practices to get a job.

Interest in the industry was surging. Not so much anymore.

In a highly competitive year, federal employers were the only industry that saw year-over-year applications decline in the second half of the school year, according to Handshake data shared with BI.

The federal government lost more application share than any industry year-over-year, aside from tech, the platform said.

Government roles, including state, local and federal sectors, received about 4.4% of the Class of 2025's total applications, down from about 5.5% for the Class of 2024 last year, according to Handshake's Class of 2025 report released Thursday.

Last year, the hiring platform reported a significant uptick in job availability and interest from college students to work for the government. At the time, stability was the top priority for graduating students, and government jobs delivered exactly that.

"People presumed at the time, there's nothing more secure than a government job," Handshake chief education strategy officer Christine Cruzvergara told Business Insider in an interview.

Cruzvergara said the class of 2025 was on track to follow and surpass that trend until a series of executive orders signed by President Donald Trump hit the federal workforce in January.

Around mid-January, federal jobs were drawing 2.7 times as many applications as state roles or local roles, despite state and local roles outnumbering federal roles over six to one, Handshake told BI.

But by early April, state employers were receiving 1.5 times as many applications as federal employers, and local employers were just below, the platform told BI.

"January hits and, all of a sudden, government lost a ton," Cruzvergara said, adding that the federal government specifically "lost a ton of applications."

Increased interest in state and local roles

While federal job applications dropped 40% year over year in the second half of the school year, local roles increased by 31% and state roles by 35%.

Cruzvergara said there's essentially been "a flip" between the government sectors. Prior to the executive orders, students were more interested in federal jobs, and there was some interest in state and local roles. This year, interest in state and local jobs went up after mid-January.

That's not a total surprise. Trump implemented a federal hiring freeze just about as soon as he got into office. He also created DOGE, led by tech billionaire Elon Musk, which has been on a mission to reduce the federal workforce and dismantle agencies.

Meanwhile, states like New York, California, and Virginia released hiring campaigns within their local and state governments for federal workers. Cruzvergara said that students who were really set on working in government likely ended up looking at state or local positions instead.

The priorities of this year's graduating class may have also influenced their interest in state and local positions. While stability was the top priority last year, it came in second this year, behind location, Handshake said in its report.

State and local roles allow job seekers more flexibility to choose where they want to work.

Back to the private sector

Cruzvergara told BI that some job seekers from the class of 2025 who had high intentions of entering the federal government are shifting back to the private sector. Handshake told BI that there was an increase in applications to roles in tech, finance, healthcare, and consulting among seniors who had previously applied to federal roles before the executive orders.

"You've got students that are going back into finance, back into tech, back into some of the areas that they were leaving to go to the federal government last year," Cruzvergara told BI.

Cruzvergara said that there have also been increases in applications to nonprofits, law, and even real estate, which can also intersect with state and local policy.

The choice to reconsider the private sector often came down to practicality, Cruzvergara. The Class of 2025, in particular, is less rigid about sticking to one path and more open to using their skills across different areas.

Handshake's report found that out of 57% of the Class of 2025 who started college with a "dream job" in mind, fewer than half still have the same goals.

• Elon Musk said Optimus production faces challenges due to China's rare-earth export restrictions.
• The Tesla CEO said China wants assurance that the parts won't be used for "military purposes." Musk said they wouldn't be.
• Musk said Tesla plans to solve the issue and produce thousands of Optimus robots by the end of 2025.

Tesla's Optimus production is getting squeezed by President Donald Trump's trade war.

Production of the humanoid robot could face some delays as Tesla deals with challenges, such as convincing China that some of the robot's parts would not be used for military purposes.

Elon Musk said during Tesla's first-quarter earnings call on Tuesday that Optimus production "was affected" by a supply chain issue in China. He said Tesla uses rare-earth magnets sourced from China for the actuators in the robot's arms.

The issue is that China recently started to require an export license for some rare-earth elements. Tesla also said in the earnings call that it's tried to find "alternative sourcing" for rare-earth magnets for years.

"Tesla as a whole does not need to use permanent magnets, but when something is volume constrained, like an arm of the robot, then you wanna try to make the motors as small as possible," Musk said.

The CEO said that the magnets are "just going into a humanoid robot," which is not a weapon system. However, the magnets can be used for a range of purposes, including building military weapons like missiles. Because of that, Musk said China is looking to be convinced that any magnets they supply to Tesla won't find their way into a weaponized system or robot.

"China wants some assurances that these are not used for military purposes, which, obviously, they're not," Musk said.

Beijing recently paused certain rare-earth element exports in response to Trump tariffs, which the President announced would "come down substantially" on Tuesday. In addition to impacting Tesla's Optimus production, the restriction could affect several industries dependent on rare-earth elements, including automakers and semiconductor manufacturers.

Musk said that Tesla is "working through" the supply chain issue with China, and will "hopefully" get a license to use the magnets. He said he's confident that the company will be able to solve the issue and produce thousands of robots by the end of the year. He also said Tesla expects to scale Optimus "faster than any product," and feels confident the automaker will produce a "million units per year" in under five years.

That's mostly in line with previous projections. Musk said during an all-hands employee meeting last month that Tesla will hopefully produce around 5,000 Optimus robots in 2025, and it aims to have enough parts to make 10,000 or 12,000 of the robots.

Musk added during Tuesday's call that "Optimus production will move as fast as the slowest and least lucky component" involved in the product. As a new product, Tesla is dealing with "like 10,000 unique things," as it builds the humanoid robots.

"Anyone who tells you they can predict with precision the production ramp of a truly new product doesn't know what they're talking about," Musk said.

• 42-year-old Vanessa Voss purchased a Cybertruck last year to help advertise her business.
• In the last two weeks, she and her business have received threats online, over the phone, and on Reddit.
• Voss spent $436 on a self-defense course for her office and directed her employees to leave before dark.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Vanessa Voss, a 42-year-old business owner living in Tacoma, Washington. Business Insider has verified her identity and recent harassment. This story has been edited for length and clarity.

Last year, we purchased a Cybertruck for solely business purposes.

It has our logo and branding on it, along with my photo on the front. We also have a Silverado and a Jeep Cherokee that is wrapped in my logo. It just made sense then to buy a vehicle that allowed further marketing and advertising for our business.

I'm the owner of Voss Insurance Group, an agency that helps people navigate retirement and transition to Medicare. We don't work for the federal government but we facilitate enrolling people in prescription drug coverage, Medicare supplements, and Medicare Advantage.

Part of what my agency does is do a lot of branding and advertising related to the enrollment and Medicare process by offering free guidance and local services.

The purchase was made before people set Cybertrucks on fire or took strong political stances on Tesla. The edges of the vehicle are flat and it allows for enough description and visual components to increase our branding.

As of two weeks ago, we have been harassed online, over the phone, and via email for having a Cybertruck.

Now, me and my business are under attack

The very first phone call that I received was from a gentleman saying that he was going to kill me.

The blocked caller also told me that I am a Nazi, cussed me out, and said I should kill myself. That day, I received a total of 12 phone calls, some of which were blocked and others that weren't.

I filed a police report over the phone after the initial death threat. I tried to report every number that called and we are still documenting calls and voicemails. There's not a lot the police can do as far as harassment unless someone shows up at our home or at our business and becomes violent. A police sergeant I'm friendly with recommended that I keep the Cybertruck in my garage until things subside though.

The calls have continued, although they've died down a little since that first weekend. The callers leave voicemails saying I should be embarrassed, that we need to take the trash out, and that I'm going to need a warranty because something is going to happen to it.

They even posted a picture of my vehicle in the driveway of my residence on Reddit so that people could further attack us on social media.

We also received three really terrible Google reviews and two on Yelp. We spent hours trying to get them removed and eventually were able to.

Most of the calls are directed at me, but some of my employees have also experienced harassment. One of my agents was speaking to someone who originally seemed interested in buying insurance and then started sending replies to her emails that were very vulgar.

We received a call this week from a gentleman who threatened to spread the word about my business negatively to the community. He was treated with professionalism but we did have to hang up on him for tying up our phone lines.

I believe it's a coordinated attempt since different people have been calling. They all communicate similarly, saying things like, "We'll tell everyone" or "We'll spread the word about you."

I hired a self-defense instructor to come to my office

I don't feel like I'm at the point where I am scared for my life, but I am certainly taking precautions to protect my staff. We are an office of four women and our building rests right on a busy street.

Soon after the harassment began, I paid $436 for a two-hour self-defense session. The instructor is scheduled to come to my office to teach my staff self-defense tactics in the event that the situation becomes violent, or if people physically show up here at my office or at my home. The session will focus on a number of methods including verbal de-escalation, active shooter and intruder response training, and escape from common holds.

My employees are a little uneasy. I work really hard to give them a really safe environment and make them feel welcome, but we can't control what society does. We had a conversation about protecting ourselves in the office and leaving before it's dark. We also made sure to tint the windows in the Cybertruck so people can't physically see us, although my husband is the one who drives it.

I feel disheartened

I am very disheartened by the fact that people think it's okay to attack any individual.

Under no circumstance is it okay to harass an individual. I don't think that these people really understand the role we play in helping people with Medicare and retirement. They're just assuming that we're adding to what's going on from a political stance.

If Social Security or Medicare were to dissolve, I would be the first out of a job. It doesn't make a whole lot of sense for me to support one way or the other. I just want to help people with Medicare and make sure that people who are retired have some peace of mind.

We all have opportunities and careers, but that doesn't mean we agree with everything that happens in the world.

I'm just more baffled than anything. These are behaviors exhibited by grown adults, which blows my mind. There is no level of respect that these people are giving us without even reaching out and getting our side of the story. It's just straight attack mode, which is really unfortunate.

I haven't considered selling the Cybertruck because it takes a whole lot of courage to consistently grow and work and strive really hard to be successful in business and help the community. I am not one that will be bullied. I'm just not going to allow a group of people to bully me into actually trading in my vehicle.

• Business Insider spoke to 6 cybersecurity recruiters about the top names to have on your résumé.
• Recruiters said the companies can vary depending on the sector of cybersecurity you work in.
• Recruiters mentioned Palo Alto Networks, the NSA, Big Tech, and the Big Four consulting firms.

If you work in cybersecurity, having the right skill set is a top priority — but having a strong name on your résumé doesn't hurt.

Domini Clark, founder and CEO of Blackmere Consulting, told Business Insider that "it's not terribly important" for entry-level candidates to have the most well-known names on their résumés. In fact, working for small companies can sometimes help provide a broader understanding of the space.

But as you climb the career ladder, Clark said a well-known company can provide "credibility" and indicate strong leadership experience exposure to handling enterprise problems.

While success in some tech career paths can be closely tied to the major tech giants or FAANG companies, cybersecurity can offer more versatility since it's integrated across almost every industry. Many companies have their own internal cybersecurity teams, for example, which means professionals in the field aren't limited to working at firms specializing in cybersecurity.

Business Insider spoke to six cybersecurity recruiting experts to hear which companies are considered the most powerful names to have on your résumé. Several mentioned that while there are big names in the industry, the right skills and experience are the top indicators of talent.

Recruiters also told BI that what is considered a top name depends largely on the sector of cybersecurity.

"A chemical company would be less interested in someone coming from Meta," said Brent Stokes, director of recruiting at staff company Blue Signal Search. In that case, an industry-specific company like Westlake would be of more interest.

Here's what recruiters said.

Palo Alto Networks

Palo Alto Networks was mentioned by most recruiters BI spoke to. It partners with a number of companies worldwide, including Google, to help them cloud and AI adoption securely.

Janelle Bieler, the head of US tech talent at global tech talent and engineering company Akkodis, said that the company is "focused on complex defense strategies" and is known to operate in a "very active environment" which many employers in the space find attractive.

However, it's worth noting that different companies have different specialties. If a candidate is interested in working on the product side of cybersecurity, Palo Alto is considered a top name, Stokes told BI. If they want to be on the consulting side, then a Big Four firm may be a better fit, he added.

Cisco

Cisco is a leading technology company offering companies software, networking security, and computing solutions. The company's security business has recently experienced significant growth, specifically with products like Cisco Secure Access, a "zero trust" security solution.

Art Zeile, CEO of tech careers marketplace Dice, told BI that big names like Cisco are doing "cutting-edge work when it comes to securing networks of all sizes."

But it's the skills you learned at the job and how you used them that are the most important, he added.

Crowdstrike

Crowdstrike is one of the most well-known companies in the cybersecurity space, and it's used by Big Tech companies like Microsoft.

Last year, Crowdstrike made headlines when a global IT outage resulted in worldwide disruptions to travel, banks, and supermarkets, causing potentially billions of dollars in damage. The company seems to have maintained a strong reputation in the space though, as it made the top of the list for most recruiters BI spoke to.

While the Crowdstrike outage was the kind of incident cybersecurity firms want to avoid, in general, exposure to challenges in the field is considered beneficial for candidates. Clark told BI that "cyber leaders who have walked through the fire" make for the most compelling candidates.

"Someone who has successfully navigated a company through a breach or major security event has invaluable experience and perspective," Clark said.

Federal agencies and contractors

A number of cybersecurity executives BI has spoken to came from government agencies, including the military, prior to joining the corporate world. Some have said that it provided a way to get hands-on experience right out of the gate.

Patricia Karam, founder of employment agency Mission Recruit, told BI that experience with agencies like the National Security Agency or Department of Homeland Security can carry a lot of weight.

"The NSA historically has a tremendous program," Stuart Mitchell, founder and recruiter at Hampton North, told BI.

Additionally, Karam said companies that contract for the Department of Defense, like Raytheon or Lockheed Martin, are also highly regarded for their "threat intelligence and operating in high-compliance environments."

Big Tech

Mitchell told BI that "the real prestige in security is mostly in tech."

"Particularly Netflix, Apple, and Google, have tremendous reputations in security," Mitchell said. "If I could rank it I'd probably say Apple, Netflix, Google."

Microsoft was also mentioned by several of the recruiters BI spoke to. Stokes, at Blue Signal Search, told BI that when a hiring manager sees a candidate from Microsoft or Amazon's AWS, "there's an assumption that the candidate has been vetted, trained, and exposed to mature and complex environments."

However, the big logos aren't everything and Stokes said some hiring managers also want to know that a candidate can wear multiple hats or adapt to a small team environment.

The Big Four consulting firms

Some recruiters BI spoke to said they consider the big consulting firms a strong indicator of solid experience on a cybersecurity résumé. The Big Four references the largest accounting and consulting firms, which are EY, Deloitte, KPMG, and PwC.

Clark, from Blackmere Consulting, said she's seen some candidates come out of the cyber divisions at the major consulting firms, including Deloitte and EY.

"With those firms, a candidate has the opportunity to see the problems in multiple environments," Clark said. "It serves as sort of a crash course on the different types of issues in different industries, regions, tech stacks, etc."

• Elon Musk recently streamed multiple gaming sessions from his private jet while testing Starlink.
• Gaming with his camera on and reflecting on a "stressful" week, the streams offer a glimpse into how he spends his downtime.
• Musk's gaming has also generated controversy in the community.

It's 2:17 in the morning. Elon Musk is gaming on his private jet.

His webcam is turned on and his face is visible, as is the interior cabin of his private jet, both of which are illuminated by the light from his computer screen as the plane travels through the night sky.

It's a glimpse into how the world's richest man spends his downtime, a look in real time at the late nights he frequently references.

Millions of people tuned in as he played video games for 44 minutes, much of which he spent in silence. The Tesla CEO's gaming livestream in the early hours of April 10 has accumulated 16.7 million views since being posted.

When he did talk, he mentioned turbulence, Starlink, updates to his AI chatbot Grok, the upcoming season of the game "Diablo IV" — and the fact that he'd had a "stressful" week.

"Today was a good day for Tesla," Musk said in the video. "It's been kind of a stressful week frankly. But today was a good day."

The billionaire CEO has been dealing with a lot: feuding with Trump's trade advisor, Peter Navarro, over tariffs, Tesla's declining sales and volatile stock price amid global protests, and his continued work with DOGE.

It's not the first time Musk has posted a livestream video of himself gaming. Usually, the billionaire does so under his gamer-focused handle @cyb3rgam3r420. The sessions sometimes last several hours and show glimpses of Musk taking care of his son, or discussing different topics, like what kind of armor Roman legions wear or whether Tesla would ever make a smartphone.

His most recent livestreams from his private jet, however, also served another purpose: testing out Starlink's "airborne connectivity" and talking up the satellite internet service ahead of some major launches. SpaceX, Musk's space exploration company, has recently signed partnerships to roll out Starlink in a number of airlines including Air France, Qatar Airways, Hawaiian Airlines, and United Airlines.

The recent gaming session livestreams also provide Musk, who has previously bragged about his gaming skills and achievements, an opportunity to get some street cred back after a YouTuber and gamer, NikoWrex, posted what he said where screenshots of a January conversation he had over DM with Musk. According to the screenshots, Musk talked about "account boosting," or paying other players to level up one's account, because it was "impossible to beat the players in Asia" otherwise — an idea some gamers said they agreed with.

Musk, who at the time reposted NikoWrex's video about the account-boosting conversation, didn't immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.

But the possibility that Musk was bragging about gaming achievements made while using an account others had been paid to play quickly generated criticism among some high-profile members of the gaming community, including the social media account for the hit game "Assassin's Creed."

While Musk's recent livestreams provided a look into how the CEO decompresses — in one case, during a flight to DC — they likely won't quiet the criticisms of his gaming skills.

Musk repeatedly died while playing "hardcore" mode (in his defense, one of his virtual deaths happened after receiving a "connection lost" message while using Starlink).

He decided to switch things up during his next livestream.

"I'm playing softcore instead of hardcore this time," he said.