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A friend shared the iconic "Pivot" meme on Facebook the other morning, and honestly, I haven't stopped thinking about it since. If you are Gen X like me (or you just appreciate quality TV), you can hear this image. Ross Geller. A narrow NYC stairwell. A massive beige sofa. And one word being screamed over and over again until it lost all meaning: "PIVOT!" In the show, the result was a complete disaster. The couch got stuck, Ross lost his mind, and the furniture ended up cut i

If your job search feels busy but isn’t moving forward, this might sting a little. Most job seekers tell me the same thing: "I don’t have time to job search." So they do what feels efficient. They use AI to mass apply to hundreds of roles at once, hitting the "easy button" on every job board they find. They stay in constant motion, sending resumes late into the night. And they stay stuck. This is not because they are unqualified. It is because they are trapped on what I call

By Julia Levy We are on holiday walking through the streets of Bristol, UK, the hometown of legendary artist Banksy! Of course I had to go find some of his most iconic work. As I snapped a few photos, and read a bit more about his work, I realized there are parallels between street art and the future of work. (I know, another article comparing something random to job search, but I promise this has some good ideas) As we close the chapter on 2025 and look ahead to the New Year

I had a conversation with a frustrated job seeker recently who told me, "Julia, I'm treating this like a full-time job. I used an AI tool to auto-apply to 400 positions last week." They expected me to be impressed by their hustle. Instead, I had to give them the truth: "You didn't apply to 400 jobs. You spammed 400 companies applicant tracking systems. And you are likely going to get 0 calls back." In the age of AI, it has never been easier to apply for a job. There are bots

Parent hovering as a project manager, parent sitting relaxing as a coach. Student stressed over project manager parent, student relaxed reading From Hi to Hired. I’ve been in Talent Acquisition for over 25 years, hiring thousands of people for Fortune 500 companies. But I’m also a human being who knows exactly how stressful family dynamics can get during the holidays. We all know the "Holiday Dance." It happens over dinner or on the long car ride to Grandma’s. The air is fest

Are you frustrated watching your student's resume disappear? Stop the rejection! A 20-year TA Exec reveals the 3 critical mistakes that let the ATS/AI Filter delete their potential internship or first job application. The problem isn't their experience; it's bad formatting (like graphics and tables) and a lack of Quantification. Learn the insider Keyword Strategy to bypass the "Robot Gatekeeper." This is the essential strategy to ensure their hard work is finally seen by a Re

By Julia Levy December calendar with Offer Signed on December 15 If you are hitting "pause" on your job search because you think "no one hires in December," I need you to stop listening to bad advice. I spent over 20 years leading Talent Acquisition for Fortune 500 companies. And I can tell you a secret that most career coaches won't: I loved hiring in December. Why? Because the noise stops. In January, a recruiter’s inbox is a firehose. Everyone returns from the break with a

Treat your job search like The Rivalry. From game film to tailgating, here is the winning playbook for student athletes.

By Julia Levy If you are one of the estimated 80 million Americans traveling this Thanksgiving (like me), you already know the drill. You’ve checked the weather, you’ve packed your bags (probably overpacked), and you are mentally preparing for the inevitable delays. Whether you are staring down a 3 hour TSA line or stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic on I-95, you are actually in the perfect headspace to understand the modern job market. Strangely enough, the chaotic pilgrimage

We all know that the traditional hiring process often feels like a game where no one quite explained the rules. As someone who wrote a book to help the next generation win at the Game of “Work-Life,” I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about how to make hiring processes and candidate experiences better. This past weekend, my husband and I traveled to Philadelphia with comfortable sneakers and waded into a sea of 30,000 people for PAX Unplugged. PAX Unplugged is a massive conven

I had one of those moments that got me thinking. I was visiting with a childhood friends new home and they had this super cool metal guitar pick art that said, "Buy the Ticket." Simple, right? But it hit me like a power chord. It got me thinking about how often we hold back, how we play it safe, especially when it comes to our careers. Life is short.  We're not talking about a dress rehearsal; this is the main show! And so often, we get stuck in the rhythm of routine, of what

By Julia Levy, Career Strategist & Author Over the years, I have seen most job seekers stumble over one simple roadblock: They talk about their duties instead of proving their impact. During interviews they tell me they 'managed projects' when they should be telling them they 'reduced project completion time by 15% using agile methodology.' This is the heart of data literacy, and it needs to be your new core skill because it is the language of leadership, it instantly signals

Did you know that Sesame Street just celebrated a very special birthday? For 56 incredible years, this groundbreaking show has been a foundational teacher, instilling crucial life skills in children around the world. But here’s a secret: the wisdom of Sesame Street isn't just for toddlers learning to share their cookies. It's packed with powerful, practical lessons for adults navigating the modern job market! The world of job searching can feel like a grown-up labyrinth full

Are You Applying for Jobs That Don't Exist? If you’ve spent hours perfecting an application, only to be met with a silent, digital black hole, you've likely run into a Ghost Job. It’s exhausting, and it’s not your fault. The modern job search is governed by impersonal software and strategic corporate maneuvers. But here’s the truth, from someone who has spent two decades running Talent Acquisition for Fortune 500 companies: You can stop playing the application lottery where t

Job hunting can feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. With the power of artificial intelligence, you can navigate your job search more effectively. Think of AI as your co-pilot, enhancing your visibility and appeal as a candidate. Instead of relying on generic responses, use AI to highlight your unique strengths and qualifications, helping you stand out in a competitive market. To tackle common job search challenges, consider these key areas: Translating Transferable

By Julia Levy The polite term is "benefit expiration." The reality, however, is a hunger cliff . As the temporary boost to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) faded away, millions of American families who are unemployed, underemployed, or simply working low-wage jobs suddenly lost hundreds of dollars in food assistance each month. Simultaneously, we are all watching grocery prices continue to soar. This is a crisis of immediate, essential need. Food banks, th

By Julia Levy, TA Executive and MS Counseling This time of year is full of intentional fear, ghosts, ghouls, and jump scares. But for those recently impacted by layoffs at Amazon, Target, or any large corporate restructuring, the real fear is unintentional. It’s the genuine anxiety that whispers: What if I’m not good enough anymore? That anxiety is a monster, and it is the single most destructive force in a job search. It prevents you from networking, forces rushed applicatio

By Julia Levy, TA Executive and MS Counseling  If you or someone you know was part of the recent corporate layoffs at companies like Amazon or Target, the first message I have for you is this: The loss of your job is a financial event, not a moral verdict. I’ve sat on both sides of that table. I’ve delivered the news, and I’ve received the news. The most dangerous fallout from a layoff is not the lost paycheck; it’s the toxic self-doubt  that whispers, "I wasn't good enough,

Female student sitting at desk while parents hover over. You and I both know, your parents mean well.They’ve spent two decades keeping you safe, fed, and (mostly) on track. But now, you’re searching for internships or jobs, and suddenly they’re hovering like you’re about to cross a busy street alone for the first time. They want to help. You want to breathe. And somewhere between their “Did you hear back yet?” and your “Please stop asking me that,” things get tense fast. Here

A frantic parent juggles multiple phones at an old call center, promoting their child's talents, while tangled in wires and beseeching recruiters, reflecting the pressure of securing a future in a competitive world. Let’s start with a true story. A few years ago, a recruiter on my team received a voicemail from a parent. The message went something like this: “Hi, my daughter met you at a career fair two weeks ago and applied for your internship program last week and hasn’t he