3   
  • 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

  • would you rather have a day off for Trumps bday?

    -1

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

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   
3   
  • 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

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

12   
  • 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

    1
  • I’d praise The GOD of my understanding and be grateful I survived. AMEN

11   
  • 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

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

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

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

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

Employee uses AI to rewrite resume, response rate triples -- debate erupts over whether it's cheating or fairplay


For years, job seekers were told to craft résumés that "sound human," authentic, and polished. Yet thousands report little to no traction. One candidate spent weeks refining language, voice, and flow -- only to receive zero interview calls. Then they pivoted. Last month, they fed their full work history and target job description into ChatGPT. They instructed the AI to use the exact terminology... from the posting and tailor the résumé for automated résumé scanners known as Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS). The result: response rates tripled.

This shift reflects a broader labor market reality. Research shows that more than 98% of Fortune 500 companies use ATS software to filter candidates before a human ever sees a résumé. Recruiters report spending just 6-8 seconds scanning a résumé before deciding whether to move forward. That means algorithmic matching and keyword relevance often outweigh narrative flair in early screening stages.

Writing for machines isn't about laziness -- it's about strategy. Job seekers now compete in an ecosystem where AI tools influence outcomes on both sides of the hiring process. Optimizing for ATS and recruiter expectations can level the playing field, especially for applicants overlooked due to formatting or keyword gaps. This article explores why AI‑driven résumé strategies are replacing traditional advice, backed by expert insights, data, and practical guidance for candidates.

In theory, résumés should tell a story: who you are, what you've done, and where you want to go. In practice, the first gatekeeper is often software. Applicant Tracking Systems scan for specific keywords, skills, and role‑specific phrases. If your résumé doesn't include the language the software expects, it can be rejected before a recruiter sees it.

ATS prevalence and keyword matching: According to industry estimates, over 90% of medium and large employers use ATS to handle incoming applications. These systems score résumés based on keyword frequency, relevance to job criteria, and structured data like dates and job titles. Even highly qualified candidates can be filtered out if their résumé uses synonyms instead of exact matches. For example, a project manager résumé that uses "oversaw initiatives" may be scored lower than one that matches the job posting phrase "project leadership" or "project coordination." This isn't subjective -- it's algorithmic.

Human screening time is brief: Recruiters often make rapid decisions. Eye‑tracking studies show recruiters look at contact information, current job title, and skills section first. If ATS has already flagged a résumé as low match, the recruiter may never see it. Even when a human reviewer opens it, decisions are made in seconds, not minutes.

The mismatch between "voice" and visibility: Traditional résumé advice emphasizes voice and tone. However, machine screening prioritizes structure and keywords. Spending hours fine‑tuning prose without aligning terms to job requirements can waste effort. Job seekers who ignore this shift may inadvertently design résumés that read well to humans but fail technical filters.

AI résumé tools like ChatGPT can analyze both your history and a job posting, then generate tailored content optimized for ATS and recruiter expectations. Instead of generic narrative language, these tools extract and integrate keywords, skills, and performance metrics that match the job criteria.

Exact terminology and matching: AI can parse a job description and identify high‑value keywords related to skills, certifications, tools, and outcomes. It then rewrites résumé bullets to reflect those terms. For example, if a job description emphasizes "data‑driven decision making," AI can ensure that phrase appears in measurable résumé achievements -- such as "Led data‑driven decision making that reduced operational costs by 15%."

Structured, concise formatting: AI doesn't just add keywords; it helps shape the résumé into ATS‑friendly formats. That means clean headings, consistent date formats, and clearly labeled sections for experience, skills, and education. These structural elements improve machine readability.

Quantifiable achievements: Recruiters and ATS alike favor quantifiable accomplishments. AI prompts can encourage inclusion of metrics -- like revenue growth percentages, team sizes managed, budget ownership, or process improvements. These make accomplishments clear and scannable.

Rapid iteration and personalization: Instead of manually rewriting for each application, job seekers can generate customized résumés quickly. This saves time and ensures better alignment with each role's requirements. Candidates who tailor their résumé for every application increase the likelihood of ATS match scores exceeding thresholds set by employers.

Candidate success story: The individual who tripled their interview responses after using AI to align their résumé with job descriptions illustrates this trend. By shifting focus from "personal voice" to "match quality," they harnessed tools designed to meet recruiters and software where they actually operate -- not where traditional résumé advice says they should.

Critics sometimes frame AI résumé tools as "cheating" or a shortcut that sacrifices authenticity. This perspective misunderstands both how hiring technology works and what job seekers need to succeed. AI isn't replacing the candidate; it's enhancing their capacity to communicate relevance. The goal of any résumé is to secure an interview, not to craft prose that only impresses after human review.

Authenticity meets strategy: AI optimization doesn't erase your experience -- it reframes it in language that resonates with both machines and humans. You still control content, metrics, and factual accuracy. AI helps you highlight what's most relevant.

Ethics and transparency: There's no ethical violation in using tools that help you represent your true skills and experience more clearly. What would be unethical is fabricating or exaggerating qualifications. AI should assist in clarity, not in misrepresentation.

Expert voices: Career coaches now routinely recommend keyword analysis and ATS optimization as part of modern job search strategy. Many even suggest starting with AI tools to draft résumés then refining for tone and nuance. This reflects evolving industry standards, not laziness.

Recruiter perspectives: Recruiters say they value clarity and relevance. When a résumé clearly demonstrates skill match and measurable impact, it improves efficiency on both sides. Tools that enhance that signal benefit job seekers and hiring teams.

Tools as leveling mechanisms: For entry‑level candidates or mid‑career professionals transitioning industries, AI tools can help bridge experience gaps by articulating transferable skills in ways that align with job expectations. This can democratize access to opportunities that might otherwise be obscured by formatting or keyword mismatches.

Q: Why does using AI to optimize a résumé increase interview response rates?

A: AI helps align your résumé with Applicant Tracking Systems, which d optimization, highlighting the efficiency of tailoring content for both software and recruiters.

Q: Is using AI for résumé writing considered unethical or "cheating"?

A: No. AI is a tool to enhance clarity and keyword alignment, not to fabricate experience. Candidates still control their work history, achievements, and metrics. Ethical use involves accurately presenting skills while formatting for ATS and recruiter requirements. This approach is widely accepted by career coaches and HR professionals in the U.S. job market.
 
more

At 1:50 am, a job applicant gets a rejection email.


Didn't Get the Job -- An Algorithm Said No. Now Workers Want to Know Why

At 1:50 am, a job applicant gets a rejection email. No interview. No human contact. No explanation. Just an automated "no," often delivered while most people are asleep.

That moment, impersonal and instant, is becoming the default experience of job hunters. And now, according to a report by The New York Times, a group of... job seekers is fighting back in court. They're trying to pry open what they call the "black box" of AI-driven hiring.

Legal Woes

The lawsuit filed in California is targeting Eightfold AI, a company whose software screens résumés for hundreds of employers. The plaintiffs argue Eightfold's system functions a lot like a credit bureau: it quietly collects data about you, assigns you a score, and uses that score to determine whether you're allowed to move forward in life. Or, in this case, whether a human ever sees your application.

Their claim is simple but disruptive: if AI hiring tools act like credit agencies, they should be regulated like credit agencies. That means transparency. Disclosure. And the right to challenge errors.

According to The New York Times, the lawsuit invokes the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), a 1970 law designed to stop people from being silently punished by bad data they can't see or fix.

Algorithmic Hiring at Scale

Eightfold AI sells itself as an efficiency machine. It boasts a dataset built from LinkedIn and other sources that includes more than a billion worker profiles, a million job titles, and a million skills. When you apply for a job routed through Eightfold, the system scores you from one to five and decides whether you advance.

If that score is wrong, or based on outdated or inaccurate information, you'll likely never know. There's no report card. No appeals process. No "hey, we think your skills are a mismatch because X."

To the algorithm, you're not a person. You're a pattern match. Or not.

A Highly Qualified Human Being

One of the plaintiffs, Erin Kistler, isn't an underqualified applicant lobbing résumés into the vast machine. She has a computer science degree and decades of experience in tech. She also meticulously tracked her job search over the past year.

Out of thousands of applications, just 0.3 percent led to any follow-up. Several of those applications were screened by Eightfold.

"I think I deserve to know what's being collected about me and shared with employers," Kistler told The Times.

That's the core human problem here: you can't improve, respond, or correct what you're never allowed to see.

Why This Matters (Even If You're Employed)

Supporters of these tools argue that algorithms are just doing what recruiters have always done; sorting candidates into piles. But there's a critical difference: human recruiters can explain themselves. Algorithms can't -- or won't.

As one employment lawyer quoted by The Times put it, these systems are "designed to be biased", meaning they're built to find a certain type of candidate. That's not automatically illegal. But it does become dangerous when the bias is invisible, unchallengeable, and scaled across millions of people.

The Fair Credit Reporting Act exists precisely because lawmakers realized decades ago that automated scoring systems, left unchecked, ruin lives quietly. You don't lose your house or your job in a dramatic single episode. You just keep getting denied. Over and over and over again. With no reason given.

A Legal Reckoning for AI?

This lawsuit doesn't stand alone. Other cases, like Workday, are testing whether AI hiring tools illegally discriminate against older workers, disabled applicants, and Black candidates. In that case, a federal judge found it plausible that algorithms were rejecting people for reasons unrelated to qualifications.

Regulators once seemed aligned with this concern. In 2024, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau said plainly that hiring scores are consumer reports. But under the Trump administration, that guidance was rescinded.

As Jenny Yang, a former chair of the EEOC and now one of the plaintiffs' lawyers, put it: "People were getting rejected in the middle of the night and nobody knew why."

That's not a bug of modern hiring. It's the feature.

And for the first time, job applicants are saying: if machines are going to decide our futures, they don't get to do it in secret.

Now sit back and wait for the fun of social scores or central bank digital currencies that determine where you can live or what you can buy...
 
more

Study Reveals the UK's most Googled Interview Questions | FE News


Job interviews can be daunting - especially if you've been caught out by a few tricky questions in the past. If you've ever searched online for tips on how to impress recruiters with the best answers, then you're certainly not alone.

HR software provider Ciphr analysed Google data to find out the most searched for interview questions that thousands of job hunters are looking up every month, and... provided answers for the most common queries.

There were over 756,000 searches for the term 'interview questions' in the UK last year. And that's just counting the people asking Google questions about interview questions, not every query about interview questions and the recruitment process (that would be significantly higher).

The most popular questions reveal which interview topics appear to cause people the most difficulty. Top of their list of queries is around what questions to ask during (or at the end of) an interview, with about 17,520 average monthly searches. According to Ciphr's HR expert, Claire Hawes, having a good selection of questions to hand helps show employers you're genuinely interested in them and have taken the time to understand what the role really requires.

The next most searched for type of questions are for more general advice on common interview questions and how to answer them (with a combined 14,410 monthly searches).

According to Ciphr's study, some of the trickiest job interview questions - based on the number of people Googling for help to answer them - are those that ask about their strengths or weaknesses (5,480 monthly searches), managing conflict or stress at work (4,070), and problem-solving or handling difficult situations (2,570).

The simple sounding, yet seemingly tough to answer, 'tell us about yourself' interview question is searched about 2,170 times a month. Interview questions about time management and organisation, and motivation, also have thousands of people turning to Google search for the answers (2,180 and 2,140 monthly searches respectively).

These types of questions are intentionally challenging, says Hawes, as they assess self-awareness and behaviour, soft skills, values and culture alignment. They help interviewers gain more insight into what makes someone tick and how to get the best out of them. She advises candidates to prepare evidence-based examples to draw from (using the STAR - Situation, Task, Action, Result - method can help to structure answers) and not to shy away from talking about the things they are great at.

The interview questions that people most want help answering are:

For expert suggestions on how to answer some of the most common job interview questions, including 'what questions to ask at the end of an interview?', 'what motivates you?', 'what is your weakness?', and 'where do you see yourself in 5 years?',

Claire Hawes, chief people and operations officer at Ciphr, says:

"People can get anxious about job interviews, but, with preparation and practice, the recruitment process usually gets easier as your career progresses. Especially when you've got more industry experience to talk about. And you're more confident about your skills and capabilities.

"Each step up the career ladder can present different interview challenges. For example, most senior roles will require multiple rounds of interviews, possibly presentations, and lots of tough, in-depth questioning. Remember that it's a two-way conversation. You're interviewing them too, so do try to relax and enjoy it!

"To help you prepare effectively, start by thoroughly researching the company and role, including recent news and industry developments. This will help you understand more about who they are, their values and any challenges they might be facing.

"Practice talking about your achievements using specific examples. Following the STAR method can help keep your answers simple and easy to follow. Outline the Situation and the Task - why it mattered and what you were responsible for. Next, focus on your Actions, what you did and how you contributed (because interviews are all about telling your story). Then list the Result and, where possible, any measurable outcomes and impacts. Try to end with a quick takeaway about what you learned or maybe what you'd do differently.

"It's also worth preparing some thoughtful questions to ask your interviewers, as this demonstrates genuine interest and helps you assess whether the role is right for you.

"Finally, don't underestimate the practical stuff: plan your journey in advance (or if it's online, check you have the correct meeting link and software, and that everything's working to avoid any technical glitches), choose an appropriate interview outfit, and give yourself plenty of time to arrive (or log on) feeling calm and collected, and ready to impress."
 
more
6   
  • I will explain like this -- You are not seeing colors now but if some one donates eye to you then you will see and enjoy colors. Yellow is what ripe... banana or ripe lemon looks like.  more

  • I believe the question should focus on feelings, since the kid is blind. I will say
    "Yellow feels like the warmth of the sun on your face when you... step outside". We can also use yellow to signify a smile or joy based on brightness. The kid should be able to relate to the color in that light more

    2