š¤ Tech workers are having an even harder time finding work, thanks to AI
The TL;DR: Tech workers are struggling to find jobs as AI automates basic coding tasks, hiring processes slow to a crawl, and employers hold out for "perfect" candidates. Layoffs have flooded the market with talent, while early-career coders are especially vulnerable as AI has proven to be able to somewhat handle entry-level work. HR teams are facing an employer market but itās a bit complicated by a talent rich market, fake applicants, and some skills gaps!
My POV: AI has been an unavoidable hot topic all year with CEOs crafting manifestos and disruptions to work and processes and itās only going to continue.
HR folks need to get ahead of this to remain strategic and understand how AI could shape their business and talent.
šļø Mic Drop Moment:
"Weāve over-engineered recruiting so much that people think anyone can do itāand they canāt."
On the mic this week: Keirsten Greggs is the founder of TRAP Recruiter, a recruiting leader with 24+ years of experience, and a fierce advocate for equity in hiring. Sheās been recognized as a top recruitment influencer, HR Unite TA Trailblazer, and hosts her own show, TRAP Chat. Known for her unfiltered honesty and deep expertise, Keirsten helps both employers and job seekers navigate the chaos of hiring with strategy and heart.
Pin this:
The hiring process is extremely bloated. Two interviews should be enough for most roles.
Networking is the linchpin of a successful job search, not your resume.
AI can streamline job searching and recruiting, but itās a tool, not a fix.
Recruiters need to reclaim their voice in broken TA systems and push back on inefficiencies.
My H*ly Sh*t Moment: Kirsten said recruiting is retention, and I couldnāt agree more! Orgs out here are obsessing over sourcing new talent while completely ignoring the incredible humans they already have?!
Stat: Only 33% of US firms require full time in officeāonly slightly increased from 31% in Q2 2024.
My spiral: Despite what the news headlines are claiming the data doesnāt lieā¦ most companies havenāt returned to 5X days a week in the office. In fact, hybrid is dominating as the preferred work model!
So, why do we keep seeing headline after headline about RTO? Well, the data shows that full time in the office amongst Fortune 500 companies jumped from 13% in Q4 2024 to 24% in Q2 2025. And those tend to be the names that are wildly recognized by folks and stir up headlines. Think Amazon, JP Morgan Chase, AT&T, and Dellā¦ all names that could entice someone to click.
š Curious about the state workplace flexibility policies? My friend Brian Elliott just released the Q2 2025 Flex Report. I geeked out over it yesterday and def have some findings Iāll be sharing with yāall!
š£ļø UNMUTE YOURSELF
You and I both know there are some HR practices still floating around that shouldāve been buried next to dial-up internet.
So hereās what I want you to think about: Whatās one people practice you think is outdated AF?
No judgment, just curious what you'd set on fire if you could! š„
š ļø TRY THIS TOMORROW:
Look, we both know your calendar is a circus of back-to-back activity.
Half those meetings could be Slack messages, and that 'quick sync'? It's been bleeding hours from your week since Q2.
Here's your homework: Revisit your calendar and remove one thing thatās not mission-critical.
š OVERHEARD IN SAFE SPACE
Woooof this comment HIT ME HARD.
Yeah, I think *A LOT* of HR folks feel this way sometimes.
Also you? Join us in Safe Space where we're having real convos like this DAILY.
Reminder: You are doing FAB WORK. Sometimes people don't realize all the things we do to make the experience better. But we know. I SEE YOU. <3
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