Career development

Monica Hills

1w

Hey everyone! I’m a mom on maternity leave. I’ve been home for a year already. My job was expecting me to come back on March 1, but I’m pregnant again and told them I’m going on maternity leave again, so I won’t be returning yet.
They said I can stay home for 4 more months and then that’s it, otherwise they’ll fire me.
Is that even allowed? Can they fire someone who’s pregnant and on maternity... leave? Thanks!

more

5

Kitty Troeger
1d
Well they can't fire you while you are on leave, but they don't have to hold your job. (At least not in the US Private Sector) What this means is that... when you come back, you will most likely have a different role. However, from what you are saying I would plan my exit strategy and find a remote role that will allow you to work part time and still have benefits. I am in the process of building several businesses, and I plan to offer generous packages to my employees. Tell me more about what you do and what kind of work you would be interested in. more
1 reply
Ruth N
1d
Congratulations, these things happens when least expected and one become a subject for criticism. But it is good to mind others too.

However, there... are other ways to get income when you are stay home mums and mums and dads who strive to have time with their kids in their critical stages.

If you would like get more info on this, we can connect more

Finch Vane

Career development

15h

I had a strange interview at a big real estate company. The HR lady first asked me what settings I changed on my phone. I just made something up so I could answer. Then she asked when was the last time I lied. It felt like a trick question.
They said they would call me in a few days to tell me if I got the job, but I’m shocked and don’t think I passed. What would you say if they asked you about... lying?
Thanks

more

2

Lucy Auma
1h
Tell the truth you never go wrong. No need to panic or be anxious - if the job is yours , you will get it.
1
dave edgar
3h
You have the wrong mindset. they are not doing you a favor by hiring you. YOU are doing THEM a favor by offering to work and make money for them
1

Career development

2d

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

11

LOKUT PAUL
3h
its really too real but i suggest if the complete interview questions can be shared
Polly Akot
8h
Good information

Career development

9h

From Stripe to start-up: Talexa targets costly HR blind spots

Talexa aims to help organisations understand their real skills gaps - and adopt AI responsibly

Phuong Vu has almost a decade's experience of building and scaling global teams, most recently at Stripe. Her remit covered global talent acquisition and research as well as workforce data and strategy, and she had become acutely aware of the HR challenges faced by organisations as they grow and... scale.

What Vu saw repeatedly was that while the concept of having a workforce hired for its skills is widely understood and accepted, there's a gap when it comes to execution. Put simply, most organisations don't have a clear picture of the skills they already have or the skills they need. As a result, they often make poor and costly hiring decisions.

In May last year, Vu left Stripe to address this problem and has since developed Talexa, a workforce intelligence platform that provides organisations with accurate visibility of their existing skills and capabilities, helping them build and implement HR strategies that blend the best of human capabilities and AI.

"Working in the talent space for over nine years (with Stripe and international recruitment company, CPL, before that) I interviewed thousands of people from employees to senior executives across global enterprises," Vu says.

"The same concerns surfaced repeatedly: a lack of visibility into workforce skills, top talent being underutilised, limited career development opportunities, persistent skills gaps despite money being wasted on misdirected learning and development and cycles of over-hiring and lay-offs. Poor AI adoption was also a problem, as was failure to implement change and transformation.

"Skills-based organisations have been around for years, yet most companies still struggle to adopt the model in practise due to its complexity, inconsistent data, and lack of a clear starting point. More importantly, many organisations find it difficult to connect workforce data to real decisions.

"They need to understand what skills they have now, which roles need to change, where capability gaps exist, and where AI can responsibly improve productivity. This challenge has become critical in an era of rapid AI adoption and workforce disruption, where skills, roles, and capacity must be planned far more dynamically than before.

"Talexa was built not only to solve this problem, but to help organisations build a modern people infrastructure that can keep pace with rapid business and technology change, including the responsible adoption of AI."

She says Talexa is particularly relevant for organisations that recognise the need to move towards a skills-based approach but struggle to adopt it. "We also work with organisations undergoing workforce transformation or disruption, helping them plan more effectively by using skills data as the foundation for decision-making."

[ Nervousness pervades the Irish jobs market as days of strong multinational sector growth recedeOpens in new window ]

Vu says that most existing tools are limited to skills mapping, static role profiles and HR reporting, whereas Talexa focuses on human capability in actual business and commercial contexts. In particular, it can hone in on the real work being done, the capabilities this requires, and which aspects of human capability can be AI-assisted at different levels.

"This enables organisations to move from AI curiosity to targeted pilots, specific roles, specific work, and measurable impact, with governance in mind," Vu says. "It also gives executives a trusted foundation of skills intelligence to make workforce decisions that drive real business outcomes, not just activity."

Vu is originally from Vietnam and majored in maths and IT before moving to Ireland in 2013 to study for a degree in business and management. She also has a master's in talent, leadership and HR strategy from DCU and a higher diploma in software development.

Vu has carried out much of the platform development herself - with some outside help - on a shoestring budget of about €8,000, plus the €15,000 stipend that goes with participation in the New Frontiers start-up programme. She is currently on phase three of the programme at TU Tallaght.

"New Frontiers provided the runway and structure needed to turn early chaos into a business, while keeping us accountable and constantly pushing us to take the next step," she says.

While Vu has been able to accelerate the development of the business by being intensely focused and working seven days a week with no salary, Talexa has now reached the point where it needs more substantial investment. In has recently been approved for pre-seed funding of €100,000 by Enterprise Ireland.

[ Irish start-up aims to offer pay-as-you-go finance researchOpens in new window ]

The platform, which has been in beta with a pilot group since last September, is now live. Talexa's sweet spot is organisations with 500-plus employees. However, the company also has a separate package for small businesses that don't yet have an employee planning/management system or the capability or knowledge required to implement AI effectively.

The company's main revenue model is subscription-based, with a charge of between €5 and €15 per employee per month, depending on volume. An onboarding fee may also apply, depending on the level of integration required.

Talexa will focus on the Irish and UK markets to start with, and its ideal users will be progressive organisations where workforce transformation and AI adoption are priorities.

Supporting the company's delivery of skills identification, workforce planning and management is an in-house research unit which conducts its own analysis of sectors, services, products and industries to ensure that companies are hiring and plugging skills gaps for future trends, not just for their immediate needs.

"What really differentiates Talexa is our focus on commercial execution. We link skills and capability data directly to real business outcomes, enabling leaders to make decisions that drive measurable impact rather than static reporting," Vu says.

"The hardest part of setting up has been balancing speed with trust while also educating the market. We're building something very ambitious with long-term value in a space where decisions are sensitive (because of the interplay of people, jobs and AI), while ensuring the product is practical, credible, and delivers value quickly." more

Kira Merriweather

Career development

1w

What should I do? I used to work as a primary school teacher, but I couldn’t earn enough money there. So now I work as a private tutor. I help kids get ready for elementary and middle school. I make good money.
But my parents don’t understand why I left a government job with benefits and a future pension. I tell them it’s better to earn more now and save money for the future, but they still think... I should go back to school work.
They say I will spend all my savings anyway, and that without a pension I won’t have money when I’m old.
What should I do?

more

2

Life Simon
12h
You can still open a pension account with any of the pension managers, walk up to any of their offices and chat with their officers. Sure you can have... both. more
Steward Tony Pacheco
5d
Well if you just want to be comfortable for the rest of your life, stay with the teachers gig and get burned out like many others in that field, then... you will have a pension which may not cover your developed lifestyle.

You could also make more money freelancing as a "ME.INC" trainer and consistently build a network that will sustain your earning potential throughout the course of your business building speaker career.

Those titles are Trainer, Teacher, Coach & Speaker which command attractive fees but is a learning process. You Must Think Big, Not Safe.

But that ball is in your court. Everything takes training and action. You don’t really need motivation because one can motivate an idiot and all they would have is a motivated idiot. Training is key and faith in your abilities as a sharer of ideas.

Expand on what you know already and learn, not to teach curriculum, but to train others in leadership success. It’s another world but it also helps those who want to train today’s youth.

I suggest John C Maxwell Leadership Training which is where I decided to connect
more

Career development

15h

Why a physics degree is so valuable in today's uncertain job market

Today's graduates face a shifting job-market influenced by AI, funding cuts and evolving industry demands - but their skills remain valuable across various numerous roles, as Sophia Chen discovers

Nothing stays static in today's job market. Physicist Gabi Steinbach recalls that about five years ago, fresh physics PhDs could snag lucrative data-scientist positions in companies without job... experience. "It was a really big boom," says Steinbach, at the University of Maryland, US. Then, schools started formal data-science programmes that churned out job-ready candidates to compete with physicists. Now, the demand for physicists as data scientists "has already subsided," she says.

Today, new graduates face an uncertain job market, as companies wrestle with the role of artificial intelligence (AI), and due to the funding cuts of science research agencies in the US. But those with physics degrees should stay optimistic, according to Matt Thompson, a physicist at Zap Energy, a fusion company based in Seattle, Washington.

"I don't think the value of a physics education ever changes," says Thompson, who has mentored many young physicists. "It is not a flash-in-the-pan major where the funding and jobs come from changes. The value of the discipline truly is evergreen."

In particular, a physics degree prepares you for numerous technical roles in emerging industrial markets. Thompson's company, for example, offers a number of technical roles that could fit physicists with a bachelor's, master's or PhD.

A good way to set yourself up for success is to begin your job hunt two years before you expect to graduate, says Steinbach, who guides young researchers in career development. "Many students underestimate the time it takes," she says.

The early start should help with the "internal" work of job hunting, as Steinbach calls it, where students figure out their personal ambitions. "I always ask students or postdocs, what's your ultimate goal?" she says. "What industry do you want to work in? Do you like teamwork? Do you want a highly technical job?"

Then, the external job hunt begins. Students can find formal job listings on Physics World Jobs, APS Physics Jobs and in the Physics World Careers and APS Careers guides, as well as companies' websites or on LinkedIn. Another way to track opportunities is to read investment news, says Monica Volk, who has spent the last decade hiring for companies, including Silicon Valley start-ups. She follows "Term Sheet," a Fortune newsletter, to see which companies have raised money. "If they just raised $20 million, they're going to spend that money on hiring people," she says.

Volk encourages applicants to tailor their résumé for each specific job. "Your résumé should tell a story, where the next chapter in the story is the job that you're applying for," she says.

Hiring managers want a CV to show that a candidate from academia can "hit deadlines, communicate clearly, collaborate and give feedback." Applicants can show this capability by describing their work specifically. "Talk about different equipment you've used, or the applications your research has gone into," says Carly Saxton, the VP of HR at Quantum Computing, Inc. (QCI), based in New Jersey, in the US. Thompson adds that describing your academic research with an emphasis on results - reports written, projects completed and the importance of a particular numerical finding - will give those in industry the confidence that you can get something done.

It's also important to research the company you're applying for. Generative AI can help with this, says Valentine Zatti, the HR director for Alice & Bob, a quantum computing start-up in France. For example, she has given ChatGPT a LinkedIn page and asked it to summarize the recent news about a company and list its main competitors. She is careful to verify the veracity of the summaries.

When writing a CV , it's important to use the keywords from the job description. Many companies use applicant-tracking systems, which automatically filter out CV without those keywords. This may involve learning the jargon of the industry. For example, when Thompson looked for jobs in the defence sector, he found out they called cameras "EO/IR," short for electro-optic infrared instruments. Once he started referring to his expertise using those words, "I got a lot better response," he says.

Generative AI can also assist you in putting together a résumé. For example, it can make résumés, which should be one page long, more concise, or help you better match your language to the job description. But Steinbach cautions that you must stay vigilant. "If it's writing things that don't sound like you, or if you can't remember what's written on it, you will fail at your interview," says Steinbach.

Companies fill job openings quickly, especially right now, so Thompson also recommends focusing on networking. "It's fine to apply for jobs you see online, but that should be maybe 20 percent of your effort," he says. "Eighty percent should be talking to people." One effective approach is through company internships before graduation. "We jump at the opportunity to hire former interns," says Saxton.

Thompson suggests arranging a half-hour call with someone whose job looks interesting to you. You can find people through your alumni networks, LinkedIn or APS's Industry Mentoring for Physicists (IMPact) program, which connects students and early-career physicists from any country with industrial physicists worldwide for career guidance. You can also attend career fairs at your university and those

organized by the APS.

Once a company is interested in you, you can expect several rounds of interviews. The first will be about the logistics of the job - whether you'd need to relocate, for example. After that, for technical roles you can expect technical interviews. Recently, companies have encountered candidates secretively using AI to cheat during these interviews. They may eliminate the candidate for cheating. "If you don't know how to do something, it's better to be honest about it than to use AI to get through a test," says Saxton. "Companies are willing to teach and develop core skills."

However, with transparency, showcasing AI skills could be a boon during job interviews. A 2025 survey from the American Institute of Physics found that around one in four students with a physics bachelor's degree (see the graph) and two in five with physics PhDs routinely use AI for work. The report also found that one in 12 physics bachelor's degree-earners and nearly one in five physics doctorate-earners who entered the workforce in 2024 have jobs in AI development.

The emerging quantum industry is also a promising job market for physicists. Globally, investors put nearly $2 billion in quantum technology in 2024, while public investments in quantum in early 2025 reached $10 billion. "You'll have an opportunity to work for companies in their building stage, and you're able to earn equity as part of that company," says Saxton.

Alice & Bob are in the midst of hiring 100 new staff, 25 of whom are quantum physicists, including experimentalists and theorists, based in Paris. Zatti, in particular, wants to boost the number of women working in the field. more

Oswald Mkanda
13h
How can I get in touch with Alice and Bob?

Career development

13h

CareerSprinter Pro combines résumé and interview tools for $49.99

TL;DR: The CareerSprinter Pro Plan lifetime subscription is available for $49.99 (reg. $499), providing job seekers access to AI tools for résumés, cover letters, interviews, and salary research.

Job searching often means revamping your résumé, cover letter, and other interview prep across multiple job boards. All the steps that take up a lot of brain power and time. However, CareerSprinter Pro... is designed to bring those steps into one platform, helping users organize and refine their approach without having to use multiple different tools. For a limited time, the lifetime subscription is priced at $49.99 (reg. $499).

CareerSprinter Pro focuses on the foundations of the application and interviewing process. The software offers unlimited applicant tracking system (ATS) checks and résumé enhancements, using AI to spotlight strengths and fine-tune formatting so documents mesh well with today's screening algorithms. Cover letter generation is built in as well, so users can spin up tailored drafts in less time.

Aside from application materials, this software leans into preparation and research. Salary research tools provide data-backed ranges to help users understand market expectations before negotiations. Mock interview sessions simulate common interview scenarios and deliver feedback that users can review and polish up over time. CareerSprinter also includes industry and company research features, providing context on trends, growth areas, and workplace culture before you submit your application.

The Pro Plan removes all limits. Subscribers enjoy unlimited résumé enhancements, salary research, mock interviews, and priority support. This appeals to active job seekers, career switchers, recent graduates, or professionals returning to the workforce who expect to run several applications at once.

CareerSprinter is a guided platform and not a replacement for human judgment, so the results depend on how users put its feedback to work. It's also best suited for those comfortable with AI tools and digital recommendations. more

Anonymous member

Career development

1d

Hello Everyone!
im an independent contractor for the theatre, tv, movie, fashion and cruise ships as a tailor. I'm looking for a remote job with flexibility when i get called in for work where i can stop and go back to it when i finish my job. Does anyone know of any job like this ? any other ideas ? im already doing food delivery and uber which i dont want to do it anymore been doing it past 7... years more

4

Demon Enterprise
21h
Email me
Demon Enterprise
21h
YouTube that link or type Forex Trends Investment Group

Career development

15h

Online Job Application Form Assistant

I need a sharp, detail-minded assistant to complete a set of job application forms that sit directly on our company website. Every field has to be filled accurately, cross-checked against the résumé and supporting documents I will supply, and submitted within the timelines I provide. You will be working exclusively with online forms (no printable or hybrid versions), so you should already be... comfortable navigating browser-based application flows, uploading attachments, and capturing submission confirmations. Because the forms live on our own site, you will receive secure login details and must treat all candidate data as strictly confidential. Deliverables * Each assigned form submitted successfully, with a time-stamped confirmation or screenshot for my records * An update log noting any field you could not populate and the reason (rare, but I need transparency) Accuracy and consistency matter more than speed, yet I still expect a steady pace so we meet internal hiring deadlines. If you have prior experience completing job application forms online and are ready to start right away, let's talk. more

Career development

15h

You might love olive oil, but don't put it on your CV

The foodstuff was apparently listed as an interest on a job résumé, according to a viral social media post. It might make you stand out, but not in a good way, writes Polly Hudson

The foodstuff was apparently listed as an interest on a job résumé, according to a viral social media post. It might make you stand out, but not in a good wayompetition in the jobs market is ferocious, so today's... applicants must attempt to stand out.

However, it now transpires, not too much. Online debate has been raging over one employment hopeful's decision to list "olive oil" as an interest on their CV, after anclaimed that doing so had blown the applicant's chance of an interview. In their eyes, this failure of judgment in providing an acceptable interest was a dealbreaker. It spoke completely to the prospective candidate's character, and it had nothing good to say there. It rendered everything else on the page moot. Harsh, or fair? Is it even the olive oil that's the problem, or just that they chose to include it? I wonder whether AI wrote the CV and, if it did, whether word will now spread among the next generation that it's a false friend when attempting to get your foot on the career ladder. Maybe olive oil has accidentally saved all our livelihoods. Oil-gate does raise the question: what interests should you put on your résumé? Especially as everybody is well aware that such claims are probably all lies, apart from socialising and reading The hard truth is that what you should declare probably depends on something even the most thorough job hunter can't know: exactly who will see your CV. The nugget you believe makes you uniquely interesting can provoke unanticipated negative feelings, as has been seen.is another's personal passion that will gain you the advantage of instant kindred spiritship. But going hard with olive oil may lead to going home without an interview, and by the time you discover that they've reacted in a balsamic manner, it will be too late. Socialising and reading it is, then.Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our

Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines

Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.

'We don't tolerate antisemitism': Queensland's new hate speech laws put to parliamentThe reforms, which include bans on controversial slogans and symbols, have been introduced to parliament in Queensland this morning.

Read more "

Queensland government appoints tenderers for new oil and gas exploration in Taroom TroughThe Queensland government has approved new oil and gas exploration in a region they believe could become Australia's first new major oil province in 50 years.

Read more "

Health warnings about ultra-processed foodsSarah Ferguson presents Australia's premier daily current affairs program, delivering agenda-setting public affairs journalism and interviews that hold the powerful to account. Plus political analysis from Laura Tingle.

Read more "

ASX 200 LIVE: ASX to slip amid renewed selling of software stocks on Wall Street; Atlassian drops; results pending from AMP, ASX, South32Renewed selling in software companies hits the Nasdaq; Atlassian, Iren each shed another 6pc; bitcoin plunges below $US67k; gold, oil edge higher. Follow live.

Read more "

My friends are trading in their 'alpha' husbands for a different kind of manWhen looking for love, beta is better.

Read more "

My friends are trading in their 'alpha' husbands for a different kind of manWhen looking for love, beta is better.

Read more " more

Career development

18h

Are cover letters still relevant or are they Victorian-era essay? Employees debate whether HR actually reads them

A Reddit post sparked debate on cover letter relevance, with one user claiming ditching them improved callback rates by focusing on resume alignment. While some recruiters reportedly ignore them, others insist on their importance, highlighting industry variations and the overall confusion in modern job hunting.

A blunt Reddit post has reignited one of the most exhausting debates in modern job... hunting: are cover letters still worth the effort, or are they just outdated rituals nobody truly reads anymore? The discussion, sparked by a user who says ditching cover letters actually improved their callback rate, quickly turned into a crowded comment section filled with contradictions, frustration, and lived hiring experiences.

ALSO READ: Who is Jesse Strang? In the Tumbler Ridge shooting, the transgender identity of alleged suspect sparks online firestorm

The original post came from Reddit user. According to them, job seekers are "wasting HOURS" writing elaborate cover letters that recruiters barely glance at, if at all. They argued that once they stopped obsessing over perfectly crafted letters and instead focused on aligning their resumes with job descriptions, interview invites started coming in.

ALSO READ: Quote of the Day by Bruce Lee: 'Mistakes are always forgivable,...' -- Inspiring quotes by the renowned martial artist

In their post,the user described spending entire afternoons polishing cover letters to sound like the ideal "cultural fit," only to see no results. The turning point, they said, was treating the job search like a data-matching exercise rather than a creative writing project.

From their perspective, recruiters are overwhelmed with hundreds of applications and are more interested in whether candidates can do the job, not whether they can write what they called a "Victorian era essay" about passion and purpose. Their workaround? If a portal requires a cover letter, they upload a short note expressing interest in the role and direct recruiters back to the resume. "It is not about being lazy," they wrote. "It is about being efficient with your energy."

ALSO READ: Google offers voluntary exit packages to employees as company ramps up AI strategy

The comments that followed showed just how divided job seekers are. Another user pointed out that every cover letter discussion splits the same way: some hiring managers swear they haven't read one in years, while others insist they won't consider a candidate without one. With no clear consensus, many applicants feel forced to play it safe.

That confusion resonated with the another user, who summed up the broader job-search chaos. They listed conflicting advice applicants hear daily, from messaging hiring managers versus never contacting them, to tailoring applications for hours versus mass-applying as fast as possible. "What are we actually supposed to do?" they asked. "It's a hellscape out here."

ALSO READ: Word of the Day: Crestfallen

Not everyone agreed with the original post. Several users pushed back hard. Someone said they were explicitly told they landed an interview because of their cover letter. While others as well echoed that sentiment, saying interviewers often referenced details from their letters.

ALSO READ: Quote of the Day by Maya Angelou: 'There is no greater agony than bearing...' -- Inspiring quotes by the world-famous author

Others stressed industry differences. One Reddit user, who hires in nonprofit policy work, said cover letters are just as important as resumes for evaluating communication skills and mission alignment.

Meanwhile, some commenters landed in the middle. One usummed it up neatly: "Nobody reads them, but they all check if you made an effort to include one."

ALSO READ: Employee quits on the spot after raise request, then wonders if he overreacted - Internet weighs in

The thread never reached a clear verdict. Some users argued applicant tracking systems still scan cover letters and can flag inconsistencies. Others admitted they use AI tools to generate them quickly, seeing the letter more as a checkbox than a storytelling opportunity.

What's clear is that the job market feels inconsistent and opaque. Whether cover letters are ignored, skimmed, or carefully read seems to depend heavily on the role, the industry, and the individual doing the hiring.

ALSO READ: Word of the Day: Woebegone

Do recruiters actually read cover letters anymore?

Some do, some don't. The Reddit thread shows practices vary widely by industry and hiring manager.

Is skipping a cover letter risky?

It can be. While some candidates see no downside, others report landing interviews specifically because of theirs. more

Loren Davies

Career development

3w

I’m interviewing for a kindergarten teacher position. Yesterday I had an interview with the director and he asked only one question “How would you explain the color yellow to a blind person?”
I’m still in shock! Is this how he treats children? Does he think they’re blind or stupid? Or was he just messing with me?

6

Vasant Barve
2w
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
1
Alokan Ayodeji
2w
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
31 reply

Career development

19h

Believe It or Not, Parents Are Accompanying Their Gen Z Adults to Job Interviews

Gun Content May Be Targeting Your Kid Online, Warns New Report Calling for Transparency

We've all heard of helicopter parents who do their teens' homework, write their college essays, track their every move, and micromanage their high school schedules.

But accompanying their adult kid to actual job interviews? That's the shocking reality for over half -- 51% -- of Gen Z adults, according to the... results of a recent survey.

And that's not the only way parents are getting involved with their young adult's job search, found the Resume Templates survey of 1,000 Gen Z job seekers ages 18 to 23.

In addition, 75% of recent Gen Z job seekers say a parent submitted their job applications, 65% say their parent completed at least one candidate test for them, and two in three employed Gen Zers say a parent has communicated with their manager on many occasions to discuss scheduling, promotions, or workplace accommodations.

Young men consistently reported the most parental involvement, with 70%, for example, admitting their parents applied for them vs. 59% of young women.

In a separate poll of parents by the career service company, 71% said their adult kid requested the help, often because of anxiety, inexperience, or challenges of a difficult job market.

"Parental involvement in early-career job searches isn't uncommon," said Resume Templates chief career strategist Julia Toothacre in a press release. "Most high schools don't teach career readiness skills, and while colleges have career offices, those resources are often underused, especially in the early years. In that gap, parents often step in to provide support."

However, she adds, "many parents are crossing the line from support into over-involvement." Because while it's appropriate for parents to review resumes, explain how the job search works, or offer feedback on applications, she said, they should not be taking over or be present in the process.

In fact, a recent study found that being over-involved in your young adult's life may negatively impact their ability to launch -- specifically when it comes to their burgeoning careers.

Speaking with the College Fix, Toothacre added, "When I was doing career development at the college level, we would see parents come in to talk about majors and sometimes career choices, but they weren't sitting in on interviews or communicating with managers." She suspects it's greater anxiety among youth and over-involvement patterns held over from the pandemic that are to blame. more

Career development

21h

Need a DJ CV? Here's how you stand out - Mixcloud Blog

Struggling with your DJ CV? Learn what promoters actually want to see -- and how to curate your experience properly.

A DJ CV isn't a corporate résumé. Treating it like one is one of the fastest ways to get ignored. Most DJs either don't have a DJ CV at all, or they build one like a job application: long, chronological and keen to prove how busy they've been. That's not what promoters, bookers,... radio producers or festivals are looking for.

A good DJ CV is a curated document. It's designed to communicate taste, credibility and trajectory quickly. It helps the right people understand who you are as a DJ, how you operate, and whether you belong in their world.

In this article, we'll break down exactly what a DJ CV is, when you actually need one and how to curate it properly so it works the best for you.

A DJ CV is a short, structured overview of your work as a DJ. Unlike a traditional CV, a DJ CV doesn't need to be chronological and it should never be exhaustive. Its entire purpose is to make a fast, confident case for why you make sense in a specific context.

If someone opens your CV, they should understand who you are in under 30 seconds.

Think about it the same way you think about a DJ set:

Your DJ CV should be curated with the same discipline.

Not every booking requires a CV, but there are plenty of situations where having one ready makes you look organised and professional.

You're most likely to need a DJ CV when:

In these situations, a DJ CV isn't overkill. It's useful context.

A strong DJ CV is usually one page. Two at most, if you feel your work genuinely justifies it. Essential sections for a strong CV include:

If you send the same DJ CV to everyone, you're doing it wrong. One CV rarely fits every situation perfectly. You should have one master CV, then lightly adapt it depending on where you're applying.

For example:

Often, this is just a matter of reordering sections, not rewriting everything.

Curating a DJ CV uses the same skills you use behind the decks: selection, context, and intention. It's about clearly showing who you are as a DJ, where you sit culturally and why your work matters. Get that right, and your CV stops being a formality. It becomes a tool for your growth as a DJ. more

Jimmie Opakovsky

Career development

4d

I’ve been working at a karaoke bar for a couple of weeks, and honestly, drunk people are driving me nuts. They can’t sing or carry a tune, but they still scream through songs and ruin them. Every day it’s getting worse. Do you think I’ll ever get used to it, or should I just quit and find something else?

3

Monty Mertes
21h
Jimmie, first things first, if you are not enjoying it don't stay. If it's a part job, sometimes you have to deal with the crowd and if the money is... good that will make it tough to leave. Find a place you enjoy to save you. more
David Beal
2d
I'm not working these days but I am a karaoke host. Your experience is pretty much the norm. As a host I try to mix up my singers so that patrons... don't have to hear one really bad singer after another. I also tell my singers if they scream they be taken off the roster. It's really hard on the mics. If the host is not doing these things then they're not a very good host. Good hosts attract good singers. If the bar is marriedvtonthis host, it's not going to change. You can get accustom tonit a little. But I'd be looking for another bar. more
3