The Work Shift

Somewhere between the tenth auto-filled job application and the fifth ghosted interview, I started wondering if I was even talking to a human anymore. Then I asked myself something worse: am I even being a human in this process?

The job hunt was never perfect. But it used to be human. It had nuance. It had flaws. Your typos were yours. The awkward phrasing in your cover letter showed nerves. Maybe even excitement.

Now, everyone is suddenly perfect. But not in the "qualified, humble, ready-to-grow" kind of way. I mean GPT-polished, keyword-stuffed, grammatically flawless perfect. It’s like playing poker against someone who knows every card in the deck and still insists they’re just “really lucky.” It’s exhausting.

And the companies? They’re not much better. AI bots filter your résumé for terms like cross-functional or Kubernetes, then send you an autogenerated rejection from a no-reply address.

So here’s the real question: are we even talking to each other anymore?

The Job Market Is a Simulation Now

Apply. Auto-response. Assessment. Ghost. Repeat.

It feels like the hiring process has become a simulation. One where no one is actually present. You choose a class: scrappy marketer, battle-tested engineer, curious generalist. You write a backstory, your résumé. You enter the dungeon, LinkedIn. And then you disappear into the void of 1,200 other applicants. Some of them are bots. Some of them hired bots. The job might even be managed by a bot.

It’s not just impersonal. It’s post-human.

If you’re cynical, you might say we’ve already lost. But if you’re honest, you might admit we gave up control the second it got hard.

How to Cut Through the Noise

You stop trying to win the algorithm. You start trying to send a signal.

Now, being imperfect might actually be the most human advantage you have.

• A typo in your cold email might prove you wrote it
• A custom joke in your cover letter shows you read the job description
• A quiet stumble in a video intro proves you’re not a synthetic voice clone

When every résumé looks polished and perfect, authenticity becomes the new signal.

In a world of infinite, disposable applications, showing you’re real is the only thing that still matters.

Why Networking Still Works

I never thought I’d say this, but job fairs are relevant again. So is networking. So is "grabbing coffee."

Not because these are fun. But because AI can’t fake your vibe.

When you show up to a panel, a meetup, or a niche Slack group and speak like a real person, not like a GPT script, that signal cuts through.

AI can't recreate your energy, your timing, or your randomness. That’s the advantage now.

So yes, in 2025, the most futuristic job-seeking strategy might actually be talking to someone.

Interviewing Is a Job Now

Interviewing has become its own side hustle. Seriously.

To stand out now, you’re expected to do more than show up. You need to:

• Detect AI-generated interview questions
• Practice answers that sound human, not rehearsed
• Customize your story for every company, every role

It’s not overkill. It’s just what it takes.

As hiring teams automate everything else, real interviews are becoming tests. Not just of skill, but of humanity. You’re navigating traps. Carefully crafted ones, designed to figure out whether you’re a real person or just using clever prompts.

This isn’t about gaming the system anymore. It’s about proving you belong in it.

Where the Job Market Is Heading

Here’s the strange, possibly optimistic take. Maybe résumés were never that great to begin with.

They rewarded polish over potential. Formatting over creativity. Privilege over passion.

What’s coming next might be less perfect. But it might also be more real.

• Proof-of-work instead of long job lists
• Live problem-solving instead of bullet points
• Trial projects in place of “culture fit” chats
• Short-term trust that grows into something long-term

It won’t be clean. Or scalable. Or easy. But maybe that’s the point.

When every tool is designed to help you blend in, being human might be the only way to stand out.

If you’re in the game right now, whether you’re hunting, applying, or showing up, leave the door open. Let yourself be seen. Say something a little strange. Make a little noise.

And if it feels right, leave a typo.