Here's a challenge for every job seeker this week:

🤯 Instead of obsessing over how to use AI to customize your resume, why not use it to help you identify target companies?

🤯 Instead of learning AI to improve your resume bullets, why not create a prompt to find related roles/job titles you may be a good fit for?

🤯 Instead of investing time finding job boards and recruiters, invest in reaching out to people you worked with, volunteer with, went to school with, did business with, or know.

🎯 Focus on human-to-human interactions.

Learning AI skills isn't wrong or bad...

but

is it distracting you from building relationships and connecting with people?

6 Things You Can Do - That Are In Your Control - To Increase Your Chances Of Landing An Interview - Sarah Baker Andrus

Simple, straightforward, no tricks here. From applying early to following up. Bottom line, invest more time with each job you are interested in and you’ll see greater returns. It just takes focus. 

Commenting Is The New Posting - Liam Darmody

Have you noticed that any comment you write now shows how many impressions it received? This is proof that LinkedIn values commenting! Read Liam’s suggestions for how to tap into the power of commenting! 

Here's exactly what you should do to prepare for an interview - Hannah Morgan

The investment you make in preparing gives you confidence and THAT is what you need. You don’t need to memorize answers word for word. You just need to be strategic about which stories you tell and be able to tell them concisely!

AI Learning Resources & Guides - Anthropic

I can’t believe I’m putting this in here! But here’s why. You do need to learn how to use AI and who better to learn it from than a creator. Start with the basics and see what it can do. (And all these resources are at no cost.)

Curiosity And Learning Agility (To Beat AI) - Lars Schmidt

What do you need to know about Anthropic’s recent report about AI and the workforce? The fear that AI is stealing jobs and will continue to do so just isn’t accurate. Lars explains that we’ve been through these significant transformations before and those who survive have curiosity and learning agility. Please read his take and if you want, read the full report “Labor Market Impacts of AI” by Anthropic.

Generative AI Is Eroding Trust - Kelli Hrivnak

Is it real or is it a scam? That’s how everyone (both recruiters and job seekers) view every email and message today. It’s a shame. Kelli links to the article in Business Insider (behind a paywall) about other ways job seekers are trying to stand out (online portfolios, or as Kelli references, creating videos). There are many ways a recruiter or sourcer can find someone, but it’s the conversation that really makes a difference. 

Your LLM Resume Isn’t Helping - Steve Levy

Take it from a recruiter, using AI to write your resume isn’t helping. He explains the problems- resumes all sound similar, hallucinations, vague language without proof. Read to the end, because he does explain the role LLMs play as editors.

Time Isn’t the Problem — Your Choices Are - Frank Sonnenberg

There’s a question we don’t ask ourselves often enough. “Is this worth my time?” And there are important follow-up questions to help you determine how important that thing is that you’re supposed to do.

If you wanted help preparing for job interviews, which one of these services would you be most willing to pay for?

You can learn so much about a role by the questions you ask… and even more from the answers they sidestep ✨

Smart questions help you gather real intel while exposing potential red flags. They help you:

Here are 8 of my go-to questions every candidate should keep in their back pocket:

1️⃣ What are the most important elements of this job? (Gives you the blueprint for what to emphasize in your responses.)

2️⃣ Why is this position open? (Reveals whether this is growth or turnover.)

3️⃣ What did the last person in this role go on to do, and what were they like? (Shows the career path and the qualities they valued before.)

4️⃣ How is performance evaluated, and how often? (Helpful when negotiating compensation and expectations.)

5️⃣ What goals do you expect someone to achieve in the first 30, 60, 90 days (or first year)? (Points to the real priorities beneath the job description.)

6️⃣ What do you enjoy most about working here? (A peek into the culture from someone living it.)

And then ALWAYS ask these:

7️⃣ What are the next steps in the process?

8️⃣ What’s your timeline for updating candidates?

These signal confidence and help you stay in control of your search.

Creating a Network from Scratch

How To Work With A Recruiter To Find A Job

30+ Unique Interview Questions To Ask Employers

CAREERONESTOP - Professional Association Finder

One way to find people who are interested in the same things as you professionally is through professional associations. 

You can use this resource to quickly identify groups or organizations related to your career interests. Some of these groups require membership fees. And some offer discounts to students, or those unemployed. 

Tip: If you volunteer at an event, often your admission fee is waived. 

You can also use AI to do research on professional associations, groups, organizations or online communities that cater to your career interests.