Ben Weatherford


Career development 3d
I think I blew the interview yesterday because of how I answered one question “What would you do if you were the only survivor of a plane crash?”
I said that if I was fine and no one else needed help, I’d look through the passengers’ stuff to find a phone and call the police or rescue services. That seems pretty logical to me. But the HR immediately asked if that counts as stealing.
That really... made me stop and think, mainly about whether I even want to work there. If they already annoy me during the interview, it’ll probably be way worse once I’m actually working there. What do you think?

 more
14   

  • DERRICK KARANI

    2h

    You better do your own thing.

  • Steward Tony Pacheco

    1d

    Always answer honestly. As a professional headhunter, I was impressed with your answer & survivor reasoning. That’s what’s leaders do in tragic... situations while others cry over superficial idiocies. more

    2
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Donald Pirson


Career development 17h
I just got a project - building in Mumbai. A few issues came up with the contractors, so now I have to go there myself. I really don’t want to fly to India, especially for two weeks. I know it can be pretty dirty and not very safe. My boss is pushing me hard. I don’t want to risk my job, but I also don’t want to get sick while I’m there.
What would you do if you were me?

3   
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Career development

 9h

How India's Budget 2026 can future-proof hiring against workforce fraud


Authored by: Ajay Trehan, CEO and Founder, AuthBridge

India's Budget 2026 has an opportunity to embed trust into recruitment by addressing rising threat of workforce fraud.

Rapid digitisation has transformed how companies onboard talent. While digital techniques offer speed, they have resulted in a new vulnerability -- workforce fraud. From fake credentials, résumé inflation, to identity misuse... and impersonation, fraudulent hiring practices are increasingly undermining trust in recruitment systems across sectors.

Background checks in the BFSI sector have surged and in an extreme case 7,000 ghost workers were flagged across companies in Hyderabad. In the latter development, many ghost workers received salaries fraudulently with government departments. Instances of ghost employees, mule accounts and forged Aadhaar-linked records uncovered by government audits show that workforce fraud is no longer limited to private sector hiring.

This has implications for public finance, welfare delivery and national productivity and as India prepares for the national Budget 2026, there is a need to nip this fraud. A step at this juncture would also help redesign hiring ecosystems to ensure collective trust.

RECOGNISING THE STRUCTURAL THREAT

Workforce fraud dents confidence in India's job market and distorts the promise of merit-based employment. For employers, a single bad hire can cost up to a third of that employee's first-year salary when accounting for training, lost productivity and replacement. For jobseekers, especially honest ones, fraudulent practices crowd out fair competition and erode faith in formal employment pathways.

This challenge is amplified by India's labour structure where nearly 85% of the workforce remains informal and where misrepresentation of skills, unverifiable work histories and proxy credentials are harder to detect. High youth unemployment -- particularly among those aged 15 to 29 -- has also driven desperate tactics, including invented companies, fake experience letters and even AI-generated deepfakes during interviews.

Technological availability has complicated the challenge. Fake documentation is now as easily procured from the dark web as designed using AI tools. Advancements such as 3D-printed IDs, voice cloning and synthetic profiles blur the line between real and fabricated identities. What was once a human resource issue has become a systemic risk to organisational integrity and public trust. Although companies and regulators are responding with tightened employee background checks as frauds, these may be insufficient. A set of policy reforms are the need of the hour.

EVIDENCE OF EVOLVING FRAUD PATTERNS

Recent findings from Workforce Fraud Files 2025 reinforce how deeply embedded hiring fraud has become across sectors.

In the BFSI sector, the report highlights a high incidence of employment history discrepancies, including inflated tenures, undisclosed exits and fabricated past employers. Address and identity mismatches also remain prominent in BFSI background verification checks, raising serious concerns in an industry governed by strict regulatory and compliance frameworks. These discrepancies underline that workforce fraud in financial services is no longer just an HR concern, but a systemic compliance and reputational risk.

Across white-collar hiring, the report identifies resume mis-match as a key risk, with candidates overstating job roles, responsibilities or project experience when compared against verified records. Alongside this, moonlighting cases, where employees take up undisclosed secondary employment, have emerged as a growing concern in professional and tech-driven roles. These trends indicate evolving fraud patterns in India's white-collar workforce and reinforce the need for continuous verification rather than one-time background checks.

POLICY IMPERATIVES

Budget 2026 can influence fraud resilience not only through punitive measures but by strengthening the infrastructure of trust. Six unique models could be activated to regain trust. Since the focus has been around verified credentials, the budget could influence policies around leveraging Aadhaar and DigiLocker as verifiable platforms for credentials.

Secondly, the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, which has created a timely framework for responsible data use, could have more potency by adding clearer standards for anonymisation, purpose limitation and auditability while ensuring fraud detection does not become surveillance.

There is a strong case for public-private collaboration in building AI-led verification platforms that flag anomalies, detect duplicate identities and identify behavioural red flags early. Government funding or viability gap support for such platforms would enable smaller firms and startups to access sophisticated fraud prevention tools that are currently affordable only for large enterprises.

Linking incentives such as GST rationalisation in accordance with digital verification standards could simultaneously expand formal employment and shrink fraud havens that thrive in opacity. At the same time, Budget 2026 can promote smarter enforcement through risk-based audits and proportionate penalties for employment fraud. This approach protects honest businesses while creating strong disincentives for organised credential fabrication and identity misuse.

ERA OF CONTINUOUS TRUST

As India's hiring landscape becomes more digital, distributed and dynamic, the notion of a one-time background check is rapidly becoming obsolete. Secure onboarding today requires continuous screening, where credentials, conduct and compliance are monitored across the employment lifecycle.

AI-led verification, behavioural analytics and real-time identity validation are already transforming how companies mitigate risk. Budget 2026 can accelerate this shift by making regulatory tech an integral part of workforce governance, not an afterthought.

In doing so, India can turn a growing menace into an opportunity: to position itself as a global benchmark for trusted, future-ready hiring. A labour market where credibility travels with the worker, and fraud finds no easy hiding place, is not just good for business but foundational to inclusive growth. more

Career development

 11h

Performing Arts CV & Cover Letter


I have a graduate-level résumé and cover letter that are headed to academic postings in the performing arts, and I need a sharp editorial eye to polish both documents so they read with absolute clarity and align with typical hiring-committee preferences. The content is complete, but wording, structure, and formatting still feel uneven. I'm looking for someone who can: * refine language for... academic tone without losing my artistic voice, * highlight research, directing, and teaching credits in a way search committees instantly notice, * implement a clean, ATS-friendly layout that keeps to common academic CV conventions, and * craft a complementary cover letter that speaks to teaching philosophy, creative practice, and service in no more than two pages. Final deliverables: an editable Word file for each document plus a PDF ready to send. Turnaround within one week is ideal. Familiarity with MLA or Chicago style, as well as knowledge of faculty search norms (statements of teaching, diversity, etc.), will be a strong advantage.

Project ID: 40192764

About the project

Open for bidding

Remote project

Active 56 yrs ago

Place your bid

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Career development

 12h

Executive Resume & LinkedIn Refresh


I need an accomplished executive-level career writer to sharpen the documents I already have on hand and turn them into stand-out, ready-to-use assets. You'll be working with my current résumé, a personal SWOT analysis, and a 100-day leadership plan -- all of which will be provided in editable format -- so your focus is refinement, not starting from scratch. Here's what I expect: * An updated... résumé that highlights C-suite achievements, is keyword-optimized for modern ATS filters, and remains succinct enough for busy recruiters. * A tightened SWOT analysis that reads clearly, is visually skimmable, and can double as talking points for board-level interviews. * A concise, outcome-oriented 100-day plan formatted for mining executive presentations. * A LinkedIn headline, "About" summary, and key experience bullets that I can simply copy and paste into my profile without formatting hassles. Everything should project an executive tone, emphasize measurable results, and align seamlessly across all four documents. Please build in one round of revisions so the final versions land exactly where I need them. I own a stud cattle company called victory cattle co which we focus on creating elite animals that are in the best of the speckle park breed. Look at Facebook page to get an understanding of what we are trying to achieve and our level of professionalism. I am currently the secretary / director / Organizational development subcommittee board liaison for speckle park international. This is the organization who leads the direction of speckle park cattle in Australia. I have created the sub committees structure and strategic plan drive. Involved in negotiating contracts for employees, partake in board meetings and help set direction for the breed. Go onto speckle park international and research quickly myself and what we do to give you understanding of what to use for this project. I want to use the colour light green in the documents to break them up.

Project ID: 40192728

About the project

16 proposals

Open for bidding

Remote project

Active 3 mins ago

Place your bid

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FRANCIS WANYINA
Career development 17h
Hello professionals, Pr. Francis Wanns here in Kampala Uganda.

With my 10 years of Insurance Sales and middle management Experience both in Life and non Life products and at age 50 now, I feel like changing my job to a more settled one with better professional benefits to reduce physical hustles.

Please guide on what would be the very best response to this usual question by interviewers that... .... "how much do you expect to be paid here just in case you succeeded through this interviews and what other benefits would you look at from us"

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1   

Career development

 14h

Remote Customer Service Applications


Need help getting my resume in front of the right hiring managers for fully-remote customer service roles. The task is two-fold: first, comb through new openings on Indeed, LinkedIn and Glassdoor that match my profile; then tailor and submit each application, including a concise, job-specific cover letter you'll draft for me. I supply the base résumé and a few highlights of my experience. You... refine the résumé if minor tweaks improve relevance, compose the cover letters, and complete the application forms on the three platforms. All log-in credentials and any two-factor codes will be provided securely. Deliverables * A shared tracker (Google Sheet or similar) listing every position applied to, with links, date, and status * One unique cover letter per application, uploaded to the tracker as text or PDF * Confirmation screenshots or submission receipts for each completed application Acceptance criteria * Minimum 10 quality applications per week that meet the job type and remote requirement * Cover letters use the hiring company's name, mirror key keywords from the posting, and stay under 200 words * No duplicate submissions; all entries in the tracker must be verifiable Experience with job-search tools, ATS-friendly formatting, and professional writing will make this go smoothly, but the most important thing is consistent, accurate execution and airtight confidentiality of my data. more

Career development

 17h

I Got U


I Got U

"The one quality most absent in leadership today is the one we overlook the most -- the ability to connect, to relate, to truly see others. When we teach our daughters that this is not a burden but a brilliance, we raise women who lead with power, heart, and unshakeable truth."

I'm not a perfectionist.

It felt safer that way.

But I never mastered the politics of networking.... Surface-level conversations drained me, and in a large corporate system where promotions hinge on visibility, I never wanted to compete for airtime in front of directors. It felt inauthentic.

"People will value me for the work I do," I insisted once to my counterpart, Megan.

She shook her head. "No they won't. It's all about networking."

And she was right. Megan is a manager now -- one of the few women in leadership in a system where women still hold less than half of all management roles despite making up nearly half the workforce.

When I graduated college in 2002, I had no idea what I wanted to do. With a communications degree, I figured maybe something creative -- an advertising agency, perhaps. I sent out dozens of résumés and heard nothing back. Three months after graduation, the panic set in. This was not how I pictured my post-grad life: living at home with my parents, waiting.

Then our neighbor called. Her friend was a VP at a global high-tech public relations firm and could get me an interview for an account coordinator job. I bought a suit, sensible heels, and interviewed with the account director. A week later, she called me back: they went with someone else.

I was disappointed, but something in me sparked.

"Could I do an internship?" I asked.

I'd done an unpaid internship before, so I figured -- why not try?

"Yes, we can do that," she said. And the bonus? It was paid. Barely ($8 an hour), but still.

I started immediately, assisting account coordinators across teams, and picked up a retail job on the side to cover my bills. Three months later, they offered me a full-time coordinator role -- with one caveat: I'd also be assisting the VP and covering administrative duties around the office. I didn't hesitate. I had a salary ($25K -- peanuts, but at the time, I felt like I'd made it) and business cards. I was coming up in the world. I was finally able to move out... until I wasn't.

"It's just temporary," they promised -- without ever giving an end date.

My plate was as full as a Thanksgiving table.

Every day, I was the first to arrive at 7 a.m. and the last to leave at 7 p.m. I was barely hanging on. The stress began showing up on my skin -- hives all over my face. I thought it was acne until an aesthetician gently told me, "This is stress. You need to slow down."

Sure. Easy for her to say.

Then it all came to a head.

"Where are the press kits?" the account director asked, her voice icy.

My stomach dropped.

I had forgotten to FedEx them.

It was the kind of mistake you don't recover from in PR. I was put on probation and, at my year-end review, instead of a 4% raise, I was given 1% because of that single error. My one win -- the journalist meeting -- was eclipsed entirely by the one mistake.

And just like so many girls and women, my strengths were minimized while my shortcomings were magnified. A skill that should have been celebrated became invisible, overshadowed instantly by the one thing I didn't get perfect.

After that, I became hypervigilant. I second-guessed everything. I overthought every detail, terrified of getting anything wrong again.

The shame consumed me.

Not long after, I quit.

No job lined up. No plan. I just... quit.

I saw myself as a failure. I told myself I wasn't cut out for public relations and needed something safer -- something I wouldn't ruin.

And here's the kicker: when I left, they filled my role with seven people.

When I look back now, I can see it clearly: I was overperforming. Not because I was ambitious, but because that's what girls are taught to do. Society reinforces it at every turn -- that our value comes from output, from holding everything together without complaint, from doing the work of seven people and never dropping a single ball. And when one finally slips? Instead of someone stepping in to help, we're corrected, shamed, or punished.

I've always known I was strong. I never doubted that. What I doubted was whether I was allowed to have moments where I wasn't carrying the mental, emotional, and physical load. I didn't question this pattern until I saw it reflected back to me in the most potent mirror I have: my daughter.

I assumed our kids would inherit those traits from him rather than my overperforming, people-pleasing tendencies.

And at first, Ali did seem to take after him -- fearless, relentless, going after the ball with a certainty I envied. We'd take her to pickup games at the local field when she was six, and she'd be battling it out with eleven-year-olds like it was nothing.

Ali's talent emerged early.

"She's really smart," Justin would say constantly. "She just gets things."

I saw it too -- the maturity, the perceptiveness, the emotional intelligence that surpassed most adults. But I didn't interpret any of it as extraordinary. John's communication challenges had set the bar differently, and Ali's quickness felt more like a relief than a revelation.

She was easy. I didn't need to worry about her.

And how often do we do this as mothers?

We assume our daughters are fine because they function well.

We mistake competence for resilience.

We see their gifts as evidence that they don't need us in the same way.

Without meaning to, we treat our daughters differently from our sons because that's how society differentiates them. We teach girls that their talents exist to make them useful -- productive, efficient, helpful. Our boys are taught productivity too, but their strengths are framed as exceptional, as signs they are meant to stand out.

Leadership today is built around positional power, and boys are ushered toward it.

Girls, though?

Their gifts are reframed as responsibility.

Growing up, my brother was diagnosed with attention deficit disorder. Now every kid under the sun has the diagnosis, but in the 80s, it was a relatively new label, and my mother had to fight for every service he needed -- all while running a construction company with my father. Her bandwidth was stretched thin, and I was the easy child. The one with good grades. The one she didn't have to worry about.

I remember getting an F on a social studies test in elementary school. We had to label directions on a map, and for the life of me I couldn't remember north, south, east, and west. (I still can't. Thank God for maps apps.) I needed a parent's signature and dreaded showing it to my mom. If I could have asked my dad, I would have. But he wasn't available.

I handed her the test, bracing myself.

Instead of being asked what happened or whether I needed help, I was reprimanded. Told I should've done better. Another problem added to her overflowing plate was simply too much.

And because I was "the smart one," the child who required no extra attention, I learned early that needing help was not an option. If I didn't understand something, I had to figure it out myself. If I struggled, I had to hide it. That was my role: competent child, low-maintenance daughter, self-sufficient girl.

My emotional awareness -- the trait that would eventually shape my entire life -- wasn't seen as a strength. It became a tool I used to smooth situations, ease tension, and make others more comfortable. And in the process, I learned that to keep the peace, I had to keep overperforming.

That was the cost of maintaining the status quo.

The other day, I was driving Ali and her friends, and they were talking about the time Ali guest-played with her friend's soccer team two years back. Her friend casually mentioned something she'd overheard from her coach on the sideline:

"Yeah, he said you're really good, but you don't pass the ball."

My blood boiled. Not at her friend -- she's an unaware ten-year-old -- but at the fact that an adult male coach made that comment loudly enough for eight-year-old girls to absorb it.

"Yeah, I know," Ali said, half-laughing. " I was a ball hog then."

"Everyone's a ball hog at eight," I told her, because it's true. And most of them still are. Funny how no one minded when she scored eight goals in that same game -- but the moment she didn't pass, that became the thing they highlighted.

Meanwhile, her own daughter didn't pass either.

The moment Ali shifted from fearless little girl to tentative performer didn't happen all at once. It happened in tiny, almost invisible moments -- the kind girls collect quietly because they've been trained to. When teammates told her to pass but never passed back. When she was called a ball hog for doing what every eight-year-old naturally does.

But because she had more talent, more awareness, she was expected to overgive -- to adjust, to be accommodating, to be "better" -- instead of being allowed the same space to learn and grow as everyone else.

Because this is what girls learn early: be brilliant, but only when it benefits others.

When she began scanning faces before making decisions. When she was excluded from social plans simply because she did different activities. When her hard work was treated as expected rather than exceptional.

And that's the trap so many girls fall into: instead of having their natural empathy recognized as insight, we treat it as ordinary -- nothing special, nothing noteworthy.

Why?

Our daughters are our mirrors, yes -- but we are also theirs.

And just like my skill in landing that impossible journalist meeting was minimized and overshadowed by one mistake, our daughters' relational brilliance is so often overlooked -- not because it lacks value, but because we've been conditioned to see only their shortcomings, never their strengths.

I used to think leadership was about who spoke the loudest or moved up the fastest. Now I understand it's about who carries awareness -- and who gets taught to carry it alone.

If we don't hold our own gifts as worthy of recognition, how can we expect them to believe theirs are?

The glass shattered recently.

The little girl I had always been so proud of -- the one who was fierce where I was fearful -- began to pull back. She started cracking her knuckles, chewing on erasers, paper clips, anything she could get her hands on. I took her to the orthodontist to evaluate her underbite, and the doctor asked if she grinds her teeth.

"She doesn't, but my son used to," I said automatically.

"No... I do," Ali whispered.

"You do?" I asked, stunned.

I used to lie in bed with both her and John when they were younger. John ground his teeth loudly every night at age five -- I heard every sound of it. But Ali? Never.

That's when it hit me: She had been carrying more than I ever realized.

And I hadn't noticed.

Because I wasn't looking.

Because I assumed she was fine.

Because she was the one I thought I didn't have to worry about.

And that's when I did the most honest evaluation of myself I've ever done.

It wasn't her father she was modeling -- it was me.

That's what my daughter has been studying all along.

We can tell our daughters to be strong, to follow their dreams, to speak their truth -- but if we're not living those truths ourselves, our words fall into a void.

Yes, I had an awakening at forty-five, but it wasn't a dramatic come-to-Jesus moment. It was a quiet breakthrough: the realization that no one can show my daughter what good looks like more than I can.

So when people ask -- or silently wonder -- what happened to me, the answer is simple:

I don't want my daughter to shrink.

I don't want her to become the old version of me.

I want her to become my 2.0 -- the upgraded version.

But to make that possible, I have to update my operating system first.

When I was pregnant with John, I announced it the moment the first trimester ended. But when I was pregnant with Ali, I didn't tell most people until six months. It wasn't that I didn't care -- it was that I felt like no one else really did.

At one ultrasound, the tech printed a photo of Ali -- the fetus staring straight at the camera -- and a thought flashed through me:

Do you even notice me?

I didn't realize then how much that question would echo years later, not just for me, but for her.

Because this is what we pass down without meaning to:

the belief that our visibility depends on how much we do, how well we perform, how little space we take up.

But we can teach our daughters something different.

We can teach them that to be powerful leaders, they don't need to abandon who they are or adopt traits that don't fit them. Sensitivity, intuition, emotional awareness, the ability to read a room -- these are not liabilities.

They are leadership skills.

They are superpowers.

They don't have to say yes to everything.

They don't have to carry what isn't theirs.

They can set boundaries and say, My plate is full.

They can be celebrated for their insight and intelligence, not just their output.

And the only way we teach our daughters this is by consciously integrating it into our own lives. By showing them, not telling them, what "good" looks like. That you can be strong and soft at the same time. That you can stay rooted in who you are without letting others trample over you.

I'm only at the beginning of this practice myself, so check back with me in a few years -- but truly, it's never too late to start. Once you see the pattern, you can't unsee it.

And even the smallest shifts today can become the biggest leaps tomorrow.

. more

Anonymous member


Career development 1d
I am 72 years old and not able toretire. I hadca incidence recently where I started a position working from home in a company I had never heard of. I started training on January 12, very intense training, which was saw using five different systems. The training jumped all over the place. There was no consistency at all to it. We were off on MLK birthday so when we came back to work, we had an... additional day of training tacked on. That was a total of two weeks. I work for a total of five days and then was terminated saying I did not catch on quick enough. Little did I know they have training every 2 weeks to onboard new nurses. I could not believe in 5 days with a preceptor and me asking questions with her answering half the question, I was terminated. D you think this is fair? more
4   

  • Uma Aggarwal

    17h

    Two weeks training is a large investment by the company. May be their needs did not grow as expected. When you work for a voice at the other end of... the phone, it is hard to develop a rapport. Hope you did some due diligence on the company on the company before accepting the job.
    In any case, you were not crazy about the way things were going. So better to cutoff early. Let it be their loss and a lesson for you. Do not let it get you down and continue your search. Good luck     more

  • Shawn P

    22h

    would you rather have a day off for Trumps bday?

    -1
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Career development

 19h

C-Level CV Layout Design


I already have the finished copy for a Commercial Director résumé and reference images of the David Thompson executive template. What I need now is a designer who can mirror that clean, black-and-grey style, preserving its precise hierarchy, spacing, and overall layout & structure. Key points * This is layout only -- no rewriting of text. * Strictly black and grey, no icons, graphics, or colour. *... Strong, highly readable typography that matches the reference. * Two pages preferred (three only if absolutely necessary). You'll receive the content in Word along with the reference screenshots. In return, I require: * A fully editable .docx that replicates the reference style. * A print-ready PDF version of the same file. If you can faithfully recreate the look and feel of the David Thompson C-level résumé, I'm ready to get started right away. more

Career development

 23h

Students or statistics? How technocracy is seeping into classrooms and changing education's picture


As data systems and algorithms reshape education, decisions once guided by teachers and counsellors are increasingly driven by metrics and predictive tools. While technocracy promises efficiency and career clarity, it also risks reducing students to data profiles. The article explores how automated systems influence learning and hiring, urging institutions to preserve human judgment, creativity,... and mentorship in shaping students' futures.

Education has always been a gateway to opportunity. For generations, classrooms were places where teachers guided students, counsellors offered advice, and career choices grew out of conversations, curiosity, and lived experience. Today, that picture is changing.

Across schools, universities, and workplaces, decisions once shaped by human judgment are increasingly influenced by data systems, performance metrics, and predictive software. From admissions shortlists and learning analytics to employability scores and automated hiring tools, a new form of governance is taking root, one driven by technical expertise and algorithms. This is technocracy entering education.

At its core, technocracy argues that complex systems work best when guided by specialists, engineers, economists, data scientists, rather than traditional institutions alone. In education, this approach promises efficiency, fairness, and measurable outcomes. But as classrooms become dashboards and students become datasets, an important question emerges: who really controls the future of learning and work?

Once, progress was measured through grades, teacher feedback, and parent meetings. Today, students are tracked through attendance algorithms, engagement metrics, adaptive testing platforms, and predictive models that claim to forecast academic success.

Many schools now rely on learning management systems that monitor everything from assignment submissions to screen time. Universities use data to flag "at-risk" students. Career platforms analyse skills, behaviour, and past outcomes to suggest suitable professions. Recruiters increasingly depend on automated screening tools to shortlist candidates before a human ever reads a résumé.

Supporters say this makes education more personalised and career guidance more precise. And in some cases, it does. Early alerts can help struggling students. Skill-mapping tools can reveal new pathways. But these systems also reshape how learners are seen, not as evolving individuals, but as profiles built from historical data. A student's future, in many settings, now begins with an algorithmic assessment.

Technocratic thinking brings a strong focus on outcomes. Schools are ranked. Universities are compared. Courses are judged by placement rates and salary projections. Degrees are increasingly valued for employability rather than intellectual growth. This shift has changed how students approach education.

Young people are encouraged to optimise their choices early: select subjects with higher market demand, pursue certifications with proven returns, and build résumés from their teenage years. Career readiness has become a central goal, often overshadowing exploration and creativity.

For many families, especially in competitive environments, this feels unavoidable. When dashboards display placement percentages and income averages, education starts to resemble a financial investment portfolio. Students learn quickly that their worth is being calculated.

The risk is subtle but significant: learning becomes transactional, and curiosity gives way to constant performance.

Nowhere is technocracy more visible than in recruitment. Automated systems screen applications, analyse video interviews, and assess personality traits using artificial intelligence. These tools promise to remove bias and speed up hiring. Yet they are trained on past data -- data shaped by existing inequalities in access to education, language, and opportunity.

A student from a less-resourced background may already face barriers in schooling. When algorithms trained on elite profiles decide who advances in hiring pipelines, those gaps can quietly widen.

Career guidance platforms also rely heavily on labour market projections and skill taxonomies. While helpful, they tend to favour linear, predictable paths. They struggle to recognise unconventional talent, late bloomers, or those whose strengths do not fit neat categories. In effect, technology is beginning to curate ambition.

As systems grow more sophisticated, the role of educators is evolving. Teachers are asked to interpret analytics alongside lesson plans. Counsellors must balance algorithmic recommendations with personal insight. Administrators are judged by performance indicators that may not reflect classroom realities.

Many educators welcome tools that reduce paperwork and identify learning gaps. But there is also concern that professional judgment is being sidelined. When software flags a student as "low potential" or predicts dropout risk, it can shape expectations, sometimes unconsciously.

Education works best when adults see possibility, not probabilities. Human mentorship cannot be replaced by predictive models. A teacher's belief in a student, a counsellor's understanding of family context, or a mentor's encouragement can change trajectories in ways no system can anticipate.

Perhaps the greatest challenge of technocratic education is emotional. Students today grow up knowing they are constantly being measured. Every test, click, and application feeds into systems that evaluate readiness and rank potential. For many, this creates quiet pressure, to perform, to optimise, to stay competitive in an invisible race.

Yet young people are not spreadsheets. They carry doubts, creativity, resilience, and evolving interests. Careers rarely follow straight lines. Some of the most meaningful journeys emerge from detours, failures, and unexpected discoveries. When education becomes too tightly governed by metrics, it risks narrowing these possibilities.

Expertise and technology have an important place in modern education. Data can highlight gaps, expand access, and inform policy. But they should support human decision-making, not replace it.

Schools and universities must remain spaces for exploration, not just skill production. Career systems should open doors, not quietly close them through opaque algorithms. Most importantly, students deserve transparency, about how decisions are made and how their data is used.

As technocracy continues to shape classrooms and careers, the task for educators, policymakers, and institutions is clear: protect the human core of learning. Because while systems can predict outcomes, only people can nurture potential. And in education, potential is everything. more

Career development

 4d

Interviewers have been sharing the weird reasons they instantly decided not to hire candidates - 17 examples of how not to job hunt


Job hunting is a pain. As well as worrying about money, you've got to prepare a CV, write a covering letter, and win over people in the interview.

If you're looking for a job, improve your chances of success by avoiding the weird behaviour that DemonSkank stumbled across when they put the following question to interviewers over on r/AskReddit:

'People who have conducted job interviews, what's... something someone said/did that made you instantly decide not to hire them?'

Here are the top replies from people who are presumably still signing on...

1.

'Had a guy show up to a design interview with my work in his portfolio.'

-killersim

2.

'Told about how he stole goods from a store they worked at, put them in his buddy's car, called the cops so his buddy would get arrested. Then slept with his buddy's girlfriend while the buddy was in jail.

'All this in response to the question, "Tell us about a time when you had an ethical dilemma, what did you do, and what was the outcome?"

'Apparently his buddy's was cheating him on their shared drug business and so he told us what he did when his best friend wasn't splitting the profits 50/50.'

-C130IN

3.

'Candidate kept boasting about how many languages he speaks even though it was not a requirement for the position. Finally asked him in which foreign language he was most fluent, and he replied Spanish. Followed up with a simple question asked in Spanish. He did not speak Spanish.'

-L48Shark

4.

'She brought her boyfriend and the boyfriend was answering all the questions.'

-Medium-Sized-Jaque

5.

'He pulled his pants down to his knees, to fix/tuck in his shirt. Didn't break eye contact with me as he stood up to do it.'

-chrec

6.

'Interviewing for an IT position, asked a basic question about virus removal. "Oh I dunno my husband does that"

Well then tell him to apply'

-xMcRaemanx

7.

'Described former colleagues as 'bitches' within fifteen minutes of the interview starting. I ended it immediately.'

-GlitteringFlame888

8.

'She sat down, plunked her purse on the desk and started with, "I need to let you know, I have issues."'

-DrakeSavory

9.

'I worked at a big-box retailer and got called up to the service counter to deal with a customer who was upset. This was only a couple minutes before I was scheduled to conduct an interview with a potential new hire.

'I get up there, and this woman is berating the employee behind the counter, referring to her as "this bitch", etc.

'I ask her to lower her voice and please stop being disrespectful to my employee. She isn't happy but she does eventually calm down enough to be reasonable and we resolve the situation at the service desk. I turn to walk away, thinking we're done here, and she goes

'"Anyway, I'm here for my interview."

'I can't believe that this is actually happening, it seems like awful rom-com movie type shit, but this rude ass woman actually expected me to proceed with interviewing her.

'"I'm sorry ma'am, that position is no longer available."'

-DamnitBlueWasOld more
4   

Sloan Bochkorr


Career development 2d
About a week and a half ago the head of our department really started feeling sick, went home and said she was put on sick leave. But the very next day she still came to work with a fever and a cough and barely managed to get through the day. Because she was worried that we wouldn’t cope with the project. After that, three more employees got sick and now I’m the only healthy person left working in... the department.
Could you please tell me if there is any legislation that forbids sick employees from coming to work and infecting their colleagues? Thank you

 more
4   

  • Steward Tony Pacheco

    1d

    If You Are Not A Medical Doctor, I Would Not Assume That One Person Is The Cause Of Everyone Illness. Especially In Business Were Interaction With... People & Infected Items Could Covertly Cause A Spread Of What Ever This Bug Is. This Person Could Be The Weakest Immuned Body & Reacted Wuicker Than Most, The Others Then Followed. Many Times Infections Can Be Spread By The Very People Who Appear To Be The Healthiest!  more

  • Elly Nyambok

    1d

    No person should wilfully infect another with infectious disease contrary to provisions of Kenyan public health act cap 242 LOK

Load more...

Byte Logic
Career development 4d
The US job market right now feels… confusing.

There are roles posted every day, especially remote and hybrid ones, but the competition is intense and timelines are slower than they used to be. I’ve noticed companies being more selective, asking for broader skill sets, and stretching interview processes longer than expected.

For anyone actively searching: consistency matters more than volume,... tailoring applications still makes a difference, and networking is quietly doing a lot of the heavy lifting behind the scenes.

Curious how others are experiencing it — are interviews moving forward, or stalling after first rounds?

#jobsearch #workfromhome #interview #application #advice #careers #techjobs more
12   

  • Last First

    19
    1d

    Don't bother with companies who may or may not have selective pursuits. When this Jagoff says "networking is doing the heavy lifting he means "the new... employee asked their friend for a job. They need you more than you need them. Get a union job instead more

Career development

 1d

Should you list 'olive oil' as an interest on your résumé? Recruiters weigh in on the latest internet debate


One recruiter said hobbies were necessary in the age of AI. Another said they were risky. Tell us what you think in our survey.

Some people like reading or long walks. Others like olive oil.

But would you list olive oil as an interest on your résumé? That's the latest internet debate after a post about the interests section on résumés went viral on X.

The person, who said they were reviewing... résumés for a banking role, wrote that applicants needed to be "normal" and "well adjusted."

"I reviewed a resume that listed 'olive oil' as an interest. That is not an interest," they wrote. "It's been hours and I cannot stop thinking about it. There will not be an interview."

The identity of the X user, @90daysliquidity, isn't clear, but they list "Tech Analyst" in their bio. They did not respond to a direct message from Business Insider.

The post caused a stir online. Memes abound, both celebrating and scoffing at the supposed olive oil-enjoyer.

Is it really so bad to list "olive oil" -- or any offbeat hobby -- on your résumé? Business Insider asked five recruiters what they thought.

Paula Mathias Fryer would want to see just one more word added.

The SLO Partners senior director from California has been a technical recruiter for 15 years. She would have preferred olive oil "taster" or "grower," she told Business Insider.

"It would have explained it a bit more," she said. "Just those two words is a bit odd."

Brianne Sterling, a New York-based director at Selby Jennings who leads investment banking recruitment, also wants more information. Are they just eating olive oil all day long?

"Do you make your own olive oil?" Sterling said. "If someone made their own olive oil, I would find that really interesting, and I might want to speak to them."

Sterling is a fan of chocolate, but doesn't plan on putting it on her résumé anytime soon.

Hobbies offer a common interest between the applicant and the hirer, Sterling said. She listed some popular ones in investment banking: football, basketball, travel, and World War II history.

It poses a question: what makes a good résumé hobby?

The off-limits topics are more obvious: politics, religion, anything you wouldn't talk about at the dinner table. Picking the best hobby, on the other hand, depends on the recruiter.

Margaret Buj, a London-based principal recruiter at Mixmax, wants candidates to be interesting. Olive oil was "weird" to her -- but better than the answers that are "cliché and vague."

"Traveling, socializing, reading," Buj said. "Who cares? We all do that."

Space on a one-page résumé is a precious resource. Hobbies don't display relevant work experience, and they don't directly show what your contribution to the team would be. Is it even worth listing them?

Mathias-Fryer used to vote no. She saw hobbies as "less professional," an unnecessary waste of space. Then came AI, which has upended recruitment and filled hiring managers' inboxes with identical, ChatGPT-generated CVs.

Applicants now need to do "whatever they can do to stand out," she said. "If that's a hobby, so be it."

Matt Stevenson disagrees. The New York-based managing director of executive search agency 33eleven loves to see a quirky hobby. It's another thing to connect about, he said. But, on the candidate side, Stevenson thought that hobbies were too risky.

"You don't know who is going to be reviewing that résumé, what their hobbies are, and what their personality is like," he said.

As for that X user, endlessly thinking about the olive oil-loving applicant?

"I would pick up the phone and call the guy," he said. "Scratch that itch." more

Career development

 1d

Your horoscope for Jan 30 - Feb 5


Your spot-on horoscope for work, money and relationship from Guru by the Bangkok Post's famously accurate fortune teller. Let's see how you will fare this week and beyond.

Mar 21 - Apr 19

(⏰) Your ambition hits full throttle and your brainpower shifts into high gear. You'll crush deadlines, flip challenges into wins and make your performance impossible to overlook. Higher-ups will approve your... ideas and give you more say. Certain colleagues could drop the nice act and show their true colours. Ignore the toxic vibes and keep going.

(₿) Financial negotiations will go your way. Messy disputes will get smoothened and contracts will get signed. You can handle must-pay expenses with ease. Just steer clear of gambling and group investments. Next-gen Ponzi scheme or MLM scam might come knocking. Protect your wallet.

(♥) Petty jealousy, family drama and comparisons over who's doing better in their career might spark a fight with your partner or push you into saying something you'll regret later. Think twice before letting sharp words fly. Their win isn't your loss. Your patience will pay off.

(⚤) Someone you've been vibing with will go quiet and surprisingly you're unbothered. You might suddenly fall for a married colleague or friend. Don't let your heart trick your brain. Keep your head clear. Not every crush is meant to be.

Apr 20 - May 20

(⏰) Communication flows effortlessly. Everyone in your department gets along. Your to-do list is easily doable. Expect a new assignment with a senior colleague to guide you through it. You'll discover you're better than you think and might uncover a hidden talent. Got a big presentation, job interview, or PR/marketing campaign? The results will make you smile.

(₿) Promised payment may be delayed. A friend from afar could bring you a money-making opportunity or a heartfelt gift. Sudden expenses involving your living space, vehicle, or devices might come up. Save your wants for later.

(♥) You two act as co-pilots for all major life moves, listening and levelling up together. Think symmetrical synergy, where one side never overpowers the other. That's super rare. New exciting experiences or uncharted adventures await you two. If you have a side piece, prepare for a soft-land, drama-free closure.

(⚤) Currently seeing someone? They'll want a serious label while you're still window shopping for better options. Don't blame yourself for keeping your choices open. A friend of a friend may confidently shoot their shot at you.

May 21 - Jun 20

(⏰) You'll keep tasks, people and resources running in perfect sync. Solo missions flow and team efforts land a sweet win that might spark a small toast. Unexpected travel or an impromptu pitch could land on your calendar. No need to freak. It's a golden shot disguised as chaos.

(₿) A long-awaited payment or refund could arrive while a surprise source of support or income might pop in. Something you own or a skill you've got may suddenly become hot and spike in value. Keep late-night online shopping in check. BNPL isn't free money. If you're traveling overseas, watch out for pickpockets.

(♥) Expect grown-up conversations about shared investments, joint accounts and long-term stability. A fresh routine, a shared hobby or exploring somewhere new could keep the spark alive and deepen the connection. Your sexy time combines familiar heat with new fantasies.

(⚤) You may be fascinated by someone from work or at a work-related social event. You two should get to know each other in secret to avoid gossips. Also, someone online will slide in with a flirty DM.

Jun 21 - Jul 22

(⏰) Every curveball could be a win. You tackle your to-do list with full force and focus until there's nothing left. A surprise chance to change department, relocate or jump ship for a new organisation may show up. It'll come with limited time to decide, so don't spiral into overthinking. Your instincts will know what's right.

(₿) Money will match your hard hustle. Extra cash might slide in from under-the-radar work or a grey-area project, so pretend you didn't hear that from us. You'll knock out essential payments with zero stress and shop intentionally, not impulsively. A friend may ask for a loan or beg you to guarantee their debt. Say no and protect your wallet.

(♥) You and your partner will enjoy quality time and create a few Insta-worthy moments. Whether it's soft intimacy at home or in the middle of a lively crowd, your connection feels smooth and effortless. Friends may admire you two as couple goals. Someone unaware you're off the market may try to rizz you up.

(⚤) You might catch feelings for the same person whom your friend is also into and their preference for your friend will be painfully obvious. Ouch, but don't let envy ruin the friendship. Dating app users, you may run into ONS hunters or FWB seekers. Maybe staying solo isn't actually that bad.

Jul 23 - Aug 22

(⏰) Your effort is turning into tangible results. A key project might land exactly the way you intended and the right eyes will notice you. More chances to show what you've got will roll in from both your main job and side hustle. You're on track with different priorities while growing your savings. Job interview this week? A swift yes is likely.

(₿) Cash comes in strong and so does the temptation to spoil yourself and upgrade your lifestyle. Treat yourself but don't drift into a Yolo mode. Beware of new-gen Ponzi schemes or MLM scams. Partnership contracts deserve patience and careful reading.

(♥) No matter how busy life gets, you two manage to stay connected. Your sexy time may be less frequent, but it's spicy every time. A relative, who is known to be nosy, may ask when you two are going to have a baby and you'll handle it with grace and a smile.

(⚤) You'll focus on building a bigger bank balance and a better version of yourself. Still, someone from work or a work-adjacent scene will likely try to get closer and look for excuses to connect. A friend or cousin might play matchmaker and set you up with someone high profile.

Aug 23 - Sept 22

(⏰) This week you're a productivity powerhouse. You'll breeze through your to-do list ahead of schedule. Colleagues will be knocking on your door more than usual, asking for help and collaboration. Your boss might assign you some mentoring duties and offer you a chance to level up, grow your network and tap into fresh perspectives on the work landscape.

(₿) Several parties and gathering with friends cost more than expected but an income opportunity will surface and spark hope. If you're selling or brokering big-ticket items, expect success and clean contracts. Just watch out for scammers posing as friends or family members.

(♥) You'll both pour energy into building the life you've been dreaming of. Schedules might get packed and priorities might shift, but mutual respect and steady support will keep the bond solid. Every moment you carve out for each other will feel invaluable. Between the sheets, comfort meets creative chemistry.

(⚤) If you're getting to know more than one admirer, you might soft-launch with the one who truly matches your energy. Single and searching? Someone could captivate you, though a language barrier or class gap might be a hurdle. Still, the differences could be what makes the connection electric.

Sept 23 - Oct 22

(⏰) Your instincts, imagination and logic work in perfect sync. You read the room fast and make the right calls without hesitation. No wonder higher-ups trust you with confidential matters. You'll be your team's trusted guru, peacekeeper and unofficial therapist. From your main job to side hustle and all the projects in between, you'll stay busy and score results that feel rewarding.

(₿) Travel or your network could open doors and bring you real earning potential. Some of it may involve AI. Some of it won't. Something essential may break. You may have to deal with an unexpected fine. Spend with intention.

(♥) Words will connect and mutual support will feel solid. You two might create a healthy new routine, discover a shared interest or explore new territory that keeps the chemistry between you two fresh. Expect quality family time and a wave of support from either side that lifts up the relationship.

(⚤) Kinda seeing someone? Expect mental disconnect. Your attitudes aren't aligning and things might slowly drift into a quiet silence. You won't chase romance or rush anything. Still, someone's got their eye on you through your work circle or a regular hangout spot.

Oct 23 - Nov 21

(⏰) Miscommunication and new rules will pile on the pressure while higher-ups and clients won't stop raising the bar. Team drama might bubble up, so stay cool. Turn frustration into fuel. The payoff at the end will be worth every ounce of effort.

(₿) Extra cash is coming your way, but so is the urge to splurge on quick thrills and luxuries. Yolo and Fomo energy will have you hitting "buy now" before logic kicks in, putting your financial freedom goals on pause. Still, joy beats regret ATM and you'll smile more than you stress.

(♥) This week demands next-level patience with your partner. Spending, lifestyle choices and parenting differences could spark friction. If you're in a LDR, choose your words wisely. Using break-up threats as a mind game could backfire to your face.

(⚤) Someone you've been texting or flirting with might fade out and go quiet, and you won't feel the need to chase. A new spark will appear and make your heartbeat do wild gymnastics. The twist is they might be a foreigner, a single parent or not your usual type. You'll quietly question whether you're compatible enough to make it work.

Nov 22 - Dec 21

(⏰) Your tough mission or project is closing with a clean win. Don't get comfortable yet, though. A tougher one is arriving with resource constraints and legal complications. It may feel chaotic, but fate's revealing bigger-picture insights and sharpening your strategising skill. Protect your energy like currency because this marathon needs stamina.

(₿) Money follows effort and this week shows receipts. A delayed payment or refund finally lands. You could also score an unexpected windfall. Keep it quiet or word spreads and suddenly everyone's calling you their "bestie" with empty pockets. Unexpected expenses might pop up to bite your wallet.

(♥) Talking money with your honey might feel tense and frustrating. But after some healthy back-and-forth, you'll land on the same page. Expect cosy moments and warmth in your relationship. Between the sheets, familiar rhythms meet new positions.

(⚤) You'll prioritise building wealth and becoming your best self. Someone from your work circle will try to get closer and find cute excuses to talk with you. An old flame may resurface, acting caring and nostalgic, but they just want your cash or a casual hook-up.

Dec 22 - Jan 19

(⏰) Colleagues will cooperate and play nice. A senior may share their expertise to sharpen your skills and prep you for a bigger role. You'll crush deadlines and deliver clean results regardless of where you work from. Job hunting? Opportunities in health, food, service or creative industries could pop up unexpectedly.

(₿) Cash conflicts could crop up with someone close to you. Urgent expenses around health, home, or vehicle may hit your wallet without warning. Skip big buys and bold bets. Do a no-buy week.

(♥) This week exposes what's been hidden. A sudden moment might force you both past the silence and into dealing with what you've been avoiding. Tempers may flare fast. Fights might spark and reveal where you don't see eye-to-eye. Choose your words with care and patience.

(⚤) If you're dating or seeing someone, their main squeeze might show up armed with receipts and ready to confront you. You'll get a front-row seat to your person's true colours when threats and pressure hit. A friend online or IRL might flirt as they want more, but you'll keep boundaries solid and stick with friendship.

Jan 20 - Feb 18

(⏰) Your current headache will soon be gone. Don't celebrate yet, though. The next challenge is already on the way. Brace for crossed wires and twisted truths from colleagues or clients. Meetings may feel like a strategy game with quiet ego battles. Fate is refining your people skills and awakening sharper problem-solving.

(₿) Financial friction could spark. Someone might eye your earnings or try snatching one of your income streams, though you'll have the upper hand. Essential bills get sorted with zero stress. Watch out for next-gen phishing and new-wave scams dressed up as fun deals or "treat yourself" moments. Stay sharp, stay skeptical.

(♥) You'll both pour energy into building the future you dream of. Life might get busy with responsibilities, but mutual respect and steady support will hold the connection tight. Every moment you carve out for each other will feel meaningful and fulfilling.

(⚤) Dating or talking to someone? The vibe may fade and you two could slowly become polite strangers. You meet fresh faces IRL and online. However, none meets the standard that you aim for. Expect drama because someone may call you a snob.

Feb 19 - Mar 20

(⏰) Expect real returns. The results speak and people notice. Work will feel less like a chore and more like your main stage. A chance to step up might come out of nowhere. Collaboration flows and your network expands with almost zero friction. Entrepreneurs, get ready to meet a big fish.

(₿) Your income(s) will match your effort. Major win-win vibes are coming for financial talks; contracts will be signed, sealed and delivered smoothly. Your friend might clue you in on a new passive income worth exploring. You'll spend with intention, save with confidence and remain financially disciplined.

(♥) If your love has been lukewarm, things may get spicy again. You'll talk things through, forgive sincerely and find your rhythm again with warmth and playful energy. You'll laugh more, flirt more and remember why you picked each other. A shared win or unexpected gain could be the perfect excuse for a toast together.

(⚤) You get to know several admirers of the same and opposite sex. You wonder if you really have your orientation figured out. Trust your instincts. Follow the spark. Sometimes the heart wants what logic can't explain. Let desire teach you its language. more

Career development

 1d

How I built a Serverless Job Sniper using AWS Lambda & Telegram (to find my next remote job)


The Problem Job hunting is a full-time job in itself. I found myself opening 20+ tabs every morning -- WeWorkRemotely, Remotive, Himalayas, Authentic Jobs -- just to filter for "Python" or "DevOps" roles. It was inefficient and exhausting.

The Solution: Automation Instead of manually checking, I decided to let the cloud do it for me. I built DevPulse, a serverless bot that "snipes" fresh job... listings and delivers them straight to my Telegram.

The Stack

How it works

The Result Now, I don't check job boards anymore. I just wait for my phone to buzz.

Since the infrastructure is already running, I decided to open it up for the community for free. If you are looking for a remote role, you can join the channels here:

Happy coding and good luck with the hunt!

P.S. Let me know in the comments if you want me to write a detailed tutorial on the code! more

Career development

 1d

GEN Z CORNER: Why it's getting harder to land a job


I used to think the scariest part of my final year on campus would be exams. Turns out it was something else: the silence. The kind that followed me from my hostel to graduation and then into real life.

During my final year, I would refresh my inbox at 2:17am for the fifth time, hoping for anything, only to find another no-reply rejection that began with We regret to inform you... I learned those... words before I even learned how to walk across a graduation stage. Two months after graduating, they are still showing up, like a habit I cannot shake.

Back then, everyone kept congratulating me as if I were approaching a finish line. But graduating did not feel like winning. It felt like being gently pushed off a cliff with a résumé in my hand and no clear place to land.

Statistics have consistently shown a gap between the number of graduates and the opportunities available. Most jobs are created in the informal sector, which deprives graduates the salaries and benefits they seek.

"The job market is tough," people said during my final year, and they are still saying it now -- an expression I have learned is adult code for good luck surviving.

My days now look like this: Wake up, open LinkedIn, scroll past motivational posts from CEOs who dropped out of college in 2008 and somehow bought houses at 23, then apply for jobs that ask for "entry-level" candidates with five years of experience and "a demonstrated track record of impact".

One posting I saw last week wanted a fresh graduate who could code, design, manage clients, analyse data and "thrive under pressure". The compensation? An unpaid internship with "exposure".

This is not just personal frustration. Gen Z entered the workforce during a perfect storm: post-pandemic layoffs, inflation, automation and companies quietly deciding that one overworked employee can do the work of three.

We were told to study hard, get degrees, build portfolios and network aggressively -- and we did. Now we are being asked why we are surprised that the system is not catching us when we jump.

What makes it harder is the emotional whiplash. On campus, I was told I was "employable", "articulate" and "full of potential". Online, I am one of thousands of applicants for a junior role that may never be filled. I once tailored a cover letter so carefully it felt like writing a love confession. Two weeks later, I received an automated rejection at 6.04am. That was the entire exchange.

'TARMACKING' TESTIMONIES

Some people believe Gen Zs are simply impatient, that we expect too much, too soon. There is some truth to that. We grew up watching 20-year-olds online buy luxury cars and call it "passive income".

But impatience is not the same as entitlement. What we want is stability. Health insurance. Pay cheques that are not swallowed in full by rent. Work that does not require sacrificing every weekend and ounce of self-worth.

I have met Gen Zs who adapted by abandoning the white-collar path altogether. One of them, 26-year-old Denson Wanjala, spent three years applying for corporate jobs after graduating.

"I did everything right," he told me. "Internships, certifications, networking events where I smiled until my face hurt. After the 200th rejection, I just snapped."

He invested his savings in a small perfume business, blending scents in his bedsitter and selling online. Today, it is profitable. "The job market didn't want me," he said, "so I made my own door."

Stories like his are often shared as inspiration, proof that hustle culture works. But for every success story, there is someone still waiting.

Salome Mukami, a 29-year-old Gen Z graduate with a Master's degree, has been searching for a job for five years. "At first it was optimism," she said. "Then it was embarrassment. Now it's just routine. I apply, I get ghosted, I try again."

She survives on occasional gigs while her degrees sit unused. There is no viral pivot, no triumphant ending.

REALITY CHECK

Both stories are valid. Both reflect the Gen Z experience. Together, they expose a common misconception: That the problem lies in individual effort rather than a broken pipeline between education and employment.

The broader issue is not that Gen Zs do not want to work. It's that work, as currently structured, does not want us, at least not on humane terms. Employers want loyalty without security, flexibility without benefits, and passion without pay. We are told to be grateful for "learning opportunities" while student loan interest quietly grows.

I am skeptical about my chances of securing a job, not because I lack ambition, but because I have watched too many capable people stall at the starting line.

Still, skepticism is not surrender. It is a refusal to accept comforting myths. If Gen Z sounds angry, anxious or sarcastic, it is because we can see the gap between what we were promised and what is actually on offer. more

liliane mboua
Career development 1d
How to develop my carreer of agricol technician

Career development

 1d

8 Common interview mistakes and how to avoid them


What shouldn't you do at a job interview? WRS take a look at some of the most common job interview mistakes and offer advice on how to avoid them!

Start your preparation a few days before your interview. Research the company by looking at their website, social channels and press releases. Get familiar with your CV and prepare for possible interview questions.

Avoiding last minute prep will help... you remain as relaxed as possible the night before, allowing you to get a good night's sleep so that you are fresh and energised for your interview, and ready to make a great impression on your interviewer.

Plan ahead, research the location of the interview and plan your route. Try to arrive no more than 10 minutes early, it suggests good time management skills, and respect for the company, the position, and even your interviewer. Turning up late to an interview gives the impression that you are not enthusiastic about the position even if you are.

Make sure you've eaten and are well hydrated before the interview, a trip to the toilet just before you get there will mean that you are comfortable and able to give complete focus to your interviewer.

Unless the interviewer broaches the subject, you shouldn't discuss salary on your first stage interview. The same applies to benefits such as holidays, flexible working and company perks. Save these topics for subsequent interviews.

According to a recent survey by CV library a staggering 84.9% of interviewers describe overconfidence and arrogance as a job interview turn-off. It's important to be confident and to give the recruiter proof of your achievements and abilities, rather than walking into the interview like you've already got the job.

One of the best ways of doing this is to give your interviewer figures, stats and facts from your previous work experience, showing them unequivocal evidence that you get results and why you're a strong applicant for the role.

Often the interviewer will ask you why you are thinking about leaving your current role. If you say you hated your line manager or the company it may make the interviewer doubt your motivation for the position and your attitude. Avoid being critical, try saying that you want a new challenge or that you wish to be part of a bigger or smaller company, these are perfectly understandable and suitable reasons.

Avoid being tempted to use your phone at the interview, leave it in your car. Or put your phone on silent and put it away in your bag. Texting, or taking a call during your interview is not only rude and disruptive, but it sends a clear message to the hiring manager that the interview is not your top priority.

Don't be tempted to look at your phone when you're waiting to go into your interview. Instead, pickup some company literature and read through it whilst you wait or look at any marketing material/corporate messages on the wall. This makes a far better first impression.

If you feel like your attention is slipping, try to make every effort to stay engaged. If you're feeling tired try to take in deep breaths and sip some water to re-hydrate. Remember to keep eye contact and make an active effort to listen.

Not listening could lead to you misunderstanding the question and giving a poor answer. Don't let yourself zone out during an interview. Your potential employer will question your ability to remain focused during a day on the job.

Keep your answers concise, no matter how welcoming or friendly the interviewer seems. An interview is a professional situation so don't get side-tracked and start talking about your personal life too much.

At the end of the interview the hiring manager will always ask if you have any questions. Surprisingly, the most common answer to this question is no. This is a missed opportunity to find out more about the company and to highlight your interest in the position and reinforces your suitability as a candidate. Ask questions related to the job, the company and the industry. Don't ask questions that you should have covered in your research! more