I did something similar (unsolicited design review of skyscanner app) to hunt for my first job 10 years ago. AI wasn’t an option then, so this human written hyper personalised bet in this age of AI slop makes it even more special. When others zig, you zag!! Congrats on the job Anna, hope you’re crushing it there!
I just wrote a similar article about AI generated content. If you just want a bunch of quantity out there and all of it to be mediocre then go for it. But it's not going to be engaging and it's not going to convert readers into customers.
Good point! I believe Anna and I share a similar approach to a problem: think outside the box! Creative thinking can be a great tool.
How is it that the general population does not realize: if it's too good to be true, then...
My experience has taught me there are no buttons that would lead to an outcome which required no work on your part. Struggle and work are a part of the learning process.
Perhaps it is my age that puts me in this skeptical about AI camp.
What I appreciate about your essay Justin is that it validates something I read about two years ago: soft skills will be the next sought after skills in the job market. (That paraphrase is off a bit, but I think it's pretty close to the original meaning.)
Adding value before you ask for anything in return - I love that approach and I find it works in many walks of life, not just job search. Anna took that to the next level though! Great essay
Great article, Justin… a pointed reminder that while AI has given everyone the ‘Easy Button’, it has also started making ‘everyone sound the same’. Anna Reich did an amazing job of ‘getting out of the box’ and thinking differently about using AI to accomplish her goal. That takes ‘human-in-the-loop’ mental energy that few seem to want to apply.
I got my second job in a similar way. I created a deck outlining the marketing strategy I’d execute if I were hired and sent it over. Originally, I just wanted to put my thoughts down on paper... I didn’t really intend to stand out. But given the current job market, I’d definitely do it every time now.
I agree with your general sentiment. Job search skills are not intuitive. It’s never been a numbers game. At the same time, let’s not pretend that those who take initiative and do the deep dives always get the job. They face rejection. Networking and trying to make connections are very much iterative processes that don’t always generate the results we are looking for. It’s still very much a competition. The fact that one job post receives 3000 applications is a problem. If only 10% were viable, that’s still 300 people that are putting their best foot forward. The reality is the job search is a process where you can do everything right and things still not work out. I’ve experienced this personally in my career as well as professionally as a career coach.
Of course, it's still difficult. And there will always be competition. And doing something like what Anna did is by no means a guarantee. Those things are all true. But what Anna did is significantly better than hitting the auto-apply button a thousand times. All of those things can be true at one time...right?
Yes they are both true. But one side gets highlighted as if it is a guarantee. I guess I’d like to see/hear a more fulsome conversation on the topic because everybody is not passive in their search but have the same outcome as those who are passive. And the way we distill analysis in this country renders everyone without a job as passive ot their situation is if their own making, when that couldn’t be further from the truth
This is an essay about being passive, and you're being passive about what you wish existed in the world. You just described the piece you want to exist. An essay about people who do the real work, skip all of the shortcuts, and still don't get hired. You're a career coach with years of experience on both sides of this. That makes you the most qualified person to write it. So go write it. Publish it under your name. I'd love to read it. Create the thing you want to exist, Johanna. Who better than you?
If I were writing primarily as a career coach then I would. But I've broadened my scope. Instead I left a comment on your post to round out the discussion you started. However, you are welcome to check out my newsletter if you'd like.
Thanks for covering my story, Justin :)
You’re welcome, Anna. Thanks for leading the way!
I did something similar (unsolicited design review of skyscanner app) to hunt for my first job 10 years ago. AI wasn’t an option then, so this human written hyper personalised bet in this age of AI slop makes it even more special. When others zig, you zag!! Congrats on the job Anna, hope you’re crushing it there!
Thanks Sue! Love that you did that 10 years ago! I'm definitely having a blast :)
Anna, congratulations on your “dare to make it happen” way of life and business approach!
I just wrote a similar article about AI generated content. If you just want a bunch of quantity out there and all of it to be mediocre then go for it. But it's not going to be engaging and it's not going to convert readers into customers.
Agreed.
Good point! I believe Anna and I share a similar approach to a problem: think outside the box! Creative thinking can be a great tool.
How is it that the general population does not realize: if it's too good to be true, then...
My experience has taught me there are no buttons that would lead to an outcome which required no work on your part. Struggle and work are a part of the learning process.
Perhaps it is my age that puts me in this skeptical about AI camp.
What I appreciate about your essay Justin is that it validates something I read about two years ago: soft skills will be the next sought after skills in the job market. (That paraphrase is off a bit, but I think it's pretty close to the original meaning.)
I think you nailed it here. Soft skills are the future...
And here's the thing, new capabilities make what Anna did easier. Especially around pure information gathering.
For sure!
This is the danger of invisible confirmation bias.
This is simply fantastic and well done essay!
Thank you!
The problem hit me a year ago.
Instead of waiting I approached my great mentor and dear friend who knows a perfect headhunter…
After 3 rounds and one case study I ended up with the best offer of my life as a lobbyist.
Many years I had been doing the 1000CVs method, hoping that it would click.
Guess what, it did not.
Who I was at before and at that interview changed the course of everything.
Finding a job is a job itself. If you don't put in the effort, you aren't going to succeed.
Adding value before you ask for anything in return - I love that approach and I find it works in many walks of life, not just job search. Anna took that to the next level though! Great essay
Great article, Justin… a pointed reminder that while AI has given everyone the ‘Easy Button’, it has also started making ‘everyone sound the same’. Anna Reich did an amazing job of ‘getting out of the box’ and thinking differently about using AI to accomplish her goal. That takes ‘human-in-the-loop’ mental energy that few seem to want to apply.
High quality. High value.
There's more than a hint of irony in this piece.....
What's ironic about it?
I got my second job in a similar way. I created a deck outlining the marketing strategy I’d execute if I were hired and sent it over. Originally, I just wanted to put my thoughts down on paper... I didn’t really intend to stand out. But given the current job market, I’d definitely do it every time now.
Damn, I love the BS callout. I have thought the same. Thanks, great read.
I think of it like this:
The "system" may or may not be "rigged." Or partially rigged.
If it is and you can fix it, then go try and fix it instead of complain about it and do nothing.
If it is and you can't fix it, may as well at least try to succeed. If you don't act, you're guaranteed to fail.
I agree with your general sentiment. Job search skills are not intuitive. It’s never been a numbers game. At the same time, let’s not pretend that those who take initiative and do the deep dives always get the job. They face rejection. Networking and trying to make connections are very much iterative processes that don’t always generate the results we are looking for. It’s still very much a competition. The fact that one job post receives 3000 applications is a problem. If only 10% were viable, that’s still 300 people that are putting their best foot forward. The reality is the job search is a process where you can do everything right and things still not work out. I’ve experienced this personally in my career as well as professionally as a career coach.
Of course, it's still difficult. And there will always be competition. And doing something like what Anna did is by no means a guarantee. Those things are all true. But what Anna did is significantly better than hitting the auto-apply button a thousand times. All of those things can be true at one time...right?
Yes they are both true. But one side gets highlighted as if it is a guarantee. I guess I’d like to see/hear a more fulsome conversation on the topic because everybody is not passive in their search but have the same outcome as those who are passive. And the way we distill analysis in this country renders everyone without a job as passive ot their situation is if their own making, when that couldn’t be further from the truth
This is an essay about being passive, and you're being passive about what you wish existed in the world. You just described the piece you want to exist. An essay about people who do the real work, skip all of the shortcuts, and still don't get hired. You're a career coach with years of experience on both sides of this. That makes you the most qualified person to write it. So go write it. Publish it under your name. I'd love to read it. Create the thing you want to exist, Johanna. Who better than you?
If I were writing primarily as a career coach then I would. But I've broadened my scope. Instead I left a comment on your post to round out the discussion you started. However, you are welcome to check out my newsletter if you'd like.