🗞️ Here’s the Tea:
🤖 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 it’s 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 it’s 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.
🎙️ Mic Drop Moment:
“We’ve over-engineered recruiting so much that people think anyone can do it—and they can’t.”
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. She’s 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 it’s 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 couldn’t agree more! Orgs out here are obsessing over sourcing new talent while completely ignoring the incredible humans they already have?!
▶️ Press Play
📊 Data Is My Love Language:
Stat: Only 33% of US firms require full time in office—only slightly increased from 31% in Q2 2024.
My spiral: Despite what the news headlines are claiming the data doesn’t lie… most companies haven’t 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 Dell… all names that could entice someone to click.
📚 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 I’ll be sharing with y’all!
