0.0s
My Wharton degree was not enough to land a single offer in 2025. This was a pooooop year.
1.1s
was not enough
1.9s
to land a single
2.8s
offer
3.8s
in 2025.
5.0s
This was a pooooop year.
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The government says we added 119,000 jobs last month. LinkedIn says there's basically one posting for one job seeker. So why did I spend 180 on LinkedIn Premium to compete against 847 people for jobs I'm overqualified for and still can't get an interview? If you're in your late 20s or 30s, you have a good resume,
16.9s
we added 119,000 jobs
18.9s
last month.
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LinkedIn says
20.8s
there's basically one posting
22.7s
for one job seeker.
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So why did I spend
25.2s
180 on LinkedIn Premium
27.5s
to compete against
28.7s
847 people
30.2s
for jobs I'm overqualified for
32.3s
and still can't get an interview?
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If you're in your late 20s or 30s,
36.4s
you have a good resume,
37.4s
you checked all the boxes, and you're still getting ghosted and auto rejected, then this video is for you. There are two realities that we're seeing. If you look at the headlines, the story is jobs are being added, unemployment is low, the economy is resilient. On the flip side, if you look at your inbox, the story is
38.7s
and you're still
39.9s
getting ghosted and auto rejected,
41.7s
then this video is for you.
43.6s
There are two realities
44.8s
that we're seeing.
45.7s
If you look at the headlines,
46.8s
the story is
48.0s
jobs are being added,
49.3s
unemployment is low,
50.6s
the economy is resilient.
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On the flip side,
53.7s
if you look at your inbox,
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the story is
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I have a Wharton MBA, I have recognizable logos, I thought I did everything right. But I can't even get a human to look at my resume. Those are two realities coexisting in this market. And if you feel like you're going crazy trying to make the sense of these two realities, you're not alone. You're not imagining it
57.3s
I have recognizable logos,
59.1s
I thought I did everything right.
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But I can't even get a
61.8s
human to look at my resume.
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Those are two realities
65.0s
coexisting in this market.
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And if you feel like you're going crazy
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trying to make the sense of
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these two realities,
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you're not alone.
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You're not imagining it
74.0s
and you're not overreacting. On paper, you look fine. You might be doing some freelance or part-time work. But in practice, you are stuck in limbo unable to access the opportunities that you know you could crush. If we haven't met before, hello, this is Yoojin. I'm a management consultant based in Boston. Today, let's talk about three things.
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On paper, you look fine.
77.8s
You might be doing some
78.7s
freelance or part-time work.
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But in practice,
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you are stuck in limbo
83.0s
unable to access the
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opportunities that you
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know you could crush.
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If we haven't met before,
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hello, this is Yoojin.
90.2s
I'm a management consultant
91.4s
based in Boston.
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Today, let's talk about three things.
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First, why is this happening? Second, where you actually sit in the job market map? And third, what you can start doing now so that 2026 will feel very different. Let me start with my own little horror story, LinkedIn Premium. So I paid 30 a month for nearly six months, and that's 180, to buy front row tickets
96.4s
Second, where you actually
98.1s
sit in the job market map?
100.1s
And third,
100.8s
what you can start doing now
102.4s
so that 2026
104.1s
will feel very different.
105.8s
Let me start with my own little
107.6s
horror story,
108.8s
LinkedIn Premium.
110.2s
So I paid 30 a month
112.1s
for nearly six months,
113.7s
and that's 180,
115.3s
to buy front row tickets
117.3s
to my own rejection. Every week, I watched in real time 300 applicants, 600 applicants, 1,847 applicants. For roles where descriptions, might as well have been copy-pasted for my resume. I felt like I was a really good fit. And still, no response or an auto rejection email on Saturday at 4am. I know that no one's actually looking
119.3s
Every week, I watched in real time
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300 applicants,
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600 applicants,
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1,847 applicants.
126.0s
For roles where descriptions,
127.6s
might as well have been
128.5s
copy-pasted for my resume.
129.9s
I felt like I was a really good fit.
131.5s
And still,
132.3s
no response or
133.7s
an auto rejection email
135.0s
on Saturday at 4am.
136.4s
I know that no one's actually looking
138.0s
at my resume at that time. At this point, I was starting to feel glad when I got a rejection email. At least someone or something triggered it to say something, not just ghosting in silence. One night, I was coming back from the Boston airport past 1am and staring at my resume at the back of an Uber.
139.4s
At this point,
140.2s
I was starting to feel glad
141.4s
when I got a rejection email.
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At least someone or something
144.8s
triggered it to say something,
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not just ghosting in silence.
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One night, I was coming back from
150.6s
the Boston airport
151.7s
past 1am
153.0s
and staring at my resume
154.4s
at the back of an Uber.
155.6s
Mr. GPT said that my ATS score for my resumes was 98. I was using the right keywords, dropping in brand name schools, promotions, numbers like 19 million, 27, 5,200 employees impact. And still, rejection after rejection, even for roles I had referrals. I did a case interview for one company, did a full strategic deck, multiple late nights,
157.3s
ATS score for my resumes
159.0s
was 98.
159.9s
I was using the right keywords,
161.2s
dropping in brand name schools,
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promotions,
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numbers like 19 million,
165.6s
27, 5,200 employees impact.
169.2s
And still,
170.0s
rejection after rejection,
171.3s
even for roles I had referrals.
173.2s
I did a case interview for one company,
175.3s
did a full strategic deck,
177.0s
multiple late nights,
178.3s
only to get a rejection for lacking relevant experience. Then why was I interviewing in the first place? Meanwhile, the macro story says, Companies keep saying they have huge skill gaps. So on paper, they're desperate for talent. In your inbox, they're eager to ignore you. And this gap has been creating a very specific kind of shame for me.
179.8s
lacking relevant experience.
181.7s
Then why was I
182.7s
interviewing in the first place?
183.9s
Meanwhile, the macro story says,
186.0s
Companies keep saying
187.0s
they have huge skill gaps.
188.6s
So on paper,
189.8s
they're desperate for talent.
191.0s
In your inbox,
191.9s
they're eager to ignore you.
193.5s
And this gap has been creating a very
195.5s
specific kind of shame for me.
197.4s
I started to think, Maybe my experience isn't as good as I thought. Maybe other candidates really is 10 times better than I am. Maybe I'm the delusional one. Or maybe I'm too old for this role. But let me clarify this for both of us. The shame that you and I felt is not a personal failure.
198.4s
Maybe my experience isn't as good as I thought.
200.8s
Maybe other candidates
202.2s
really is 10 times
203.8s
better than I am.
204.5s
Maybe I'm the delusional one.
206.0s
Or maybe
207.2s
I'm too old for this role.
208.5s
But let me clarify
209.2s
this for both of us.
210.4s
The shame that you and I felt
212.2s
is not a personal failure.
213.7s
It's a sign that the map that we've been using for so long for our career no longer matches what's actually out there. My late grandmother from Korea survived the Korean War. Her advice in life was very simple. Work hard. Don't complain. Do more than you're asked Show up early. Stay late. And the universe will pay you back.
215.6s
been using for so long for our career
217.8s
no longer matches
218.8s
what's actually out there.
220.6s
My late grandmother from Korea
222.3s
survived the Korean War.
223.8s
Her advice in life was very simple.
226.0s
Work hard. Don't complain.
227.3s
Do more than you're asked
228.8s
Show up early.
229.6s
Stay late.
230.5s
And the universe will pay you back.
232.4s
For her generation, that was mostly true. Study hard. Good school. Good job equals stability. Naturally, her mentality was passed on and I grew up in that equation. Collect the right grades, the degrees, and the right logos. And you'll be okay. But that equation is broken now. Today, almost 40 of skills that we use at work
233.2s
that was mostly true.
235.2s
Study hard. Good school. Good job
238.0s
equals stability.
239.5s
Naturally,
240.2s
her mentality was passed
241.7s
on and I grew up in that equation.
244.5s
Collect the right grades,
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the degrees,
246.9s
and the right logos.
248.0s
And you'll be okay.
249.0s
But that equation is broken now.
251.3s
Today, almost 40
252.9s
of skills that we use at work
254.2s
will need to change or be updated by 2030. So what happened in 2025 wasn't You got lazy. You're not good enough. You're secretly fraud. What actually happened was structural. Companies started to cut headcounts in the name of AI transformation. But most of it was panic and cost-cutting. The rules we grew up with
256.8s
So what happened in 2025 wasn't
259.1s
You got lazy. You're not good enough.
261.3s
You're secretly fraud.
262.6s
What actually
263.2s
happened was structural.
264.5s
Companies started to cut headcounts
266.5s
in the name of AI transformation.
268.5s
But most of it was
269.5s
panic and cost-cutting.
270.9s
The rules we grew up with
272.1s
were written for a different game. And we've been unknowingly turning their confusion into our personal shame. So let me show you in a simple way what is going on and why do we feel suddenly unemployable. Imagine a 2x2 matrix. On the x-axis, we have replaceable skills irreplaceable skills. On the y-axis, we have low-demand sectors and high-demand sectors.
273.9s
And we've been unknowingly turning
275.5s
their confusion into
276.8s
our personal shame.
278.6s
So let me show you in a simple way
280.8s
what is going on and why do we feel
283.3s
suddenly unemployable.
285.0s
Imagine a 2x2 matrix.
287.4s
On the x-axis,
289.0s
we have replaceable skills
291.0s
irreplaceable skills.
292.5s
On the y-axis, we have
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low-demand sectors and high-demand sectors.
296.7s
That gives us four boxes. Top right, irreplaceable skills, high-demand sectors. These are people doing hard-to-transfer work in places that are actually growing. Think deep technical experts in high-growth AI or data, unique domain experts in fast-growing industries, or operators who can design and lead real transformation. Box number two. Top left. Replaceable skills, high-demand sectors. Crowded entry-level
298.5s
Top right, irreplaceable skills,
300.7s
high-demand sectors.
301.8s
These are people doing
302.7s
hard-to-transfer work in places that
304.7s
are actually growing.
305.6s
Think deep technical experts in
307.7s
high-growth AI or data,
309.3s
unique domain experts in
310.7s
fast-growing industries,
311.9s
or operators who can design and lead
314.0s
real transformation.
315.6s
Box number two.
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Top left.
317.5s
Replaceable skills,
319.0s
high-demand sectors.
320.1s
Crowded entry-level
321.1s
roles in hot sectors. Hundreds of people who can run the same dashboards, write the same emails, manage the same generic projects. And now going counterclockwise, bottom right, irreplaceable skills, low-demand sectors. These are very skilled people in shrinking or stagnant areas. Think experts in legacy systems. Niche functions being centralized or outsourced. And now to the danger zone.
322.7s
Hundreds of people who can
323.9s
run the same dashboards,
325.3s
write the same emails,
326.5s
manage the same generic projects.
328.1s
And now going counterclockwise,
329.9s
bottom right, irreplaceable skills,
332.1s
low-demand sectors.
333.4s
These are very skilled people in
335.1s
shrinking or stagnant areas.
337.6s
Think experts in legacy systems.
339.7s
Niche functions being
340.8s
centralized or outsourced.
342.5s
And now to the danger zone.
344.6s
Replaceable skills and low-demand sectors. Your work is seen as interchangeable and the industry itself isn't really growing. Now where do suddenly unemployable people sit? Usually somewhere between replaceable skills and low or crowded demand. Or irreplaceable skills built in the wrong place. A lot of our resumes were built in an environment where the logos did the heavy lifting.
345.5s
and low-demand sectors.
347.0s
Your work is seen as interchangeable
349.5s
and the industry
350.1s
itself isn't really growing.
351.8s
Now where do suddenly
353.0s
unemployable people sit?
354.6s
Usually somewhere between
356.8s
replaceable skills and low or crowded demand.
359.6s
Or irreplaceable skills
361.6s
built in the wrong place.
363.2s
A lot of our resumes were built in an
364.9s
environment where the
366.0s
logos did the heavy lifting.
367.7s
Our day-to-day work looked very similar to everyone else's. The system rewarded polish and reliability more than uniqueness and leverage. So when we leave that environment, we suddenly realize, Oh, I'm competing against hundreds of people who can tell almost the exact same story that I can. That's why your LinkedIn feels like a slot machine right now.
369.1s
similar to everyone else's.
370.8s
The system rewarded
371.8s
polish and reliability
373.9s
more than uniqueness and leverage.
375.7s
So when we leave that environment,
377.5s
we suddenly realize,
379.1s
Oh, I'm competing against
381.0s
hundreds of people
382.5s
who can tell almost the
384.2s
exact same story that I can.
386.7s
That's why your LinkedIn feels like a
388.4s
slot machine right now.
389.6s
You're not a bad candidate. You are already good enough. You're just playing in this box of 2x2 that is overcrowded and under-differentiated. Once you see where you are in this map, the real question becomes, then how do I move boxes? Here's the part that I'm betting my career on. Around Q2 of 2026, this tension will snap.
391.1s
You are already good enough.
392.6s
You're just playing in this box of
394.2s
2x2 that is overcrowded and
396.7s
under-differentiated.
398.3s
Once you see where you are in this map,
400.3s
the real question becomes, then
402.1s
how do I move boxes?
403.6s
Here's the part that
404.9s
I'm betting my career on.
406.5s
Around Q2 of 2026,
408.9s
this tension will snap.
410.8s
Companies will eventually realize that they don't just need people who know how to use AI tools. They actually need translators. And I'm not talking about language translators. These are translators between the messy real-world problems and what AI can actually do. Executives who speak in big visions and goals. Technical teams who speak in models and metrics.
412.3s
that they don't just need people who
414.1s
know how to use AI tools.
416.3s
They actually need translators.
418.6s
And I'm not talking
419.3s
about language translators.
421.2s
These are translators between the
422.9s
messy real-world problems
424.7s
and what AI can actually do.
426.6s
Executives who speak in
427.9s
big visions and goals.
429.8s
Technical teams who
431.5s
speak in models and metrics.
433.5s
And the translators are the people who come in, understand how the business really works, decide when to trust the model and when to override it, and fit tools into real workflows without breaking anything while taking responsibility for this implementation and change. And the market's been already moving in that direction. We're seeing a lot of customer success managers,
434.6s
who come in,
435.4s
understand how the
436.2s
business really works,
437.2s
decide when to trust the model and
439.0s
when to override it,
440.1s
and fit tools into real workflows
442.0s
without breaking anything
443.4s
while taking responsibility for this
445.5s
implementation and change.
447.0s
And the market's been already moving
448.5s
in that direction.
449.7s
We're seeing a lot of
450.6s
customer success managers,
452.3s
AI engagement managers. The fastest-growing jobs right now are the ones that mix technical literacy, human skills like problem solving, communication, and judgment. By 2030, experts estimate that 170 million new jobs will be created in AI-enabled, green transitions, and care economy. All the work that keeps people healthy, educated, and supported. And about 92 million roles will disappear.
454.1s
The fastest-growing jobs right now
455.6s
are the ones that mix
457.0s
technical literacy,
458.2s
human skills like problem solving,
460.3s
communication, and judgment.
461.9s
By 2030,
462.9s
experts estimate that
464.2s
170 million new jobs will
465.8s
be created
466.4s
in AI-enabled,
467.7s
green transitions,
468.7s
and care economy.
470.4s
All the work that keeps people
472.0s
healthy, educated, and supported.
474.5s
And about 92 million
476.0s
roles will disappear.
477.3s
That's a net gain of roughly 78 million jobs. So this is not going to be a permanent crash of the job market. It's a messy reshuffle. And the winners will be the ones who come out as translators between old processes and new tools, between humans and algorithms, and between what looks good in a slide and what actually
478.3s
roughly 78 million jobs.
480.4s
So this is not going to be a
481.8s
permanent crash of the job market.
484.1s
It's a messy reshuffle.
486.0s
And the winners
486.6s
will be the ones who come out
488.1s
as translators between old
490.0s
processes and new tools,
491.4s
between humans and algorithms,
493.3s
and between what looks good in a slide
495.3s
and what actually
496.0s
works on Monday morning. Your job is to position yourself as one of those people, in at least one clear context. Not the person who knows every AI tool, but more of in this domain and for these problems, my judgment is very hard to replace. So before you click away, do this 30-second exercise with me.
497.4s
Your job is to position yourself as
499.3s
one of those people,
500.5s
in at least one clear context.
502.5s
Not the person who knows every AI tool,
504.7s
but more of in this domain and
506.9s
for these problems,
508.1s
my judgment is very hard to replace.
510.1s
So before you click away,
511.3s
do this 30-second exercise with me.
513.6s
Grab your notes app or a piece of paper, whatever's nearby. Step one, list your top five skills. Not the ones on your resume, the ones that people actually come to you for. So for instance, things like I can walk into a messy situation and figure out what's really going on. I can get people who hate each other
515.8s
whatever's nearby.
517.0s
Step one,
517.8s
list your top five skills.
520.0s
Not the ones on your resume,
521.4s
the ones that people
522.4s
actually come to you for.
523.7s
So for instance, things like
525.4s
I can walk into a messy situation and
527.8s
figure out what's really going on.
529.2s
I can get people who hate each other
530.9s
to agree on the plan. Or I can turn vague ideas into a slide or memos that people can understand. I can spot one number in a spreadsheet that will actually blow up next quarter. Write down whichever five. For me, these are the five. And step two is circle the skills that you think will take at least
532.1s
Or I can turn vague ideas into a
534.2s
slide or memos that
535.3s
people can understand.
536.7s
I can spot one number in a
538.5s
spreadsheet that will
539.6s
actually blow up next quarter.
541.3s
Write down whichever five.
542.9s
For me, these are the five.
545.8s
And step two is circle the skills
547.9s
that you think will take at least
549.3s
six months for someone else to replace. And be honest, if you left your team, which of these would they really struggle to replace? If you circled fewer than two, that could be the reason why you feel unemployable right now. It doesn't mean that you're not talented. It just means that the market sees you currently as
551.4s
And be honest,
552.4s
if you left your team,
553.6s
which of these would they really
555.5s
struggle to replace?
557.1s
If you circled fewer than two,
558.9s
that could be the reason why you feel
561.0s
unemployable right now.
562.2s
It doesn't mean that
563.1s
you're not talented.
564.2s
It just means that the market sees
565.6s
you currently as
566.9s
replaceable in a crowded box. And this is an exercise that someone taught me as I was complaining, Why do I feel like nothing is landing for me? The good news is that this is a solvable problem. But you have to see where you are first. When you're done with that exercise, leave a comment below on what's that
569.3s
And this is an exercise that someone
571.4s
taught me as I was complaining,
573.2s
Why do I feel like
574.1s
nothing is landing for me?
575.6s
The good news is that
576.5s
this is a solvable problem.
577.9s
But you have to see
579.0s
where you are first.
580.2s
When you're done with that exercise,
581.8s
leave a comment below on what's that
583.4s
one skill that you circled for yourself. And step three is start your 2026 portfolio. Open a clean document and title it Problems I solved that wasn't in my job description. Under that, start collecting stories like We had no process for x, so I designed one. Everyone was confused about y, so I
584.5s
circled for yourself.
585.7s
And step three is
586.9s
start your 2026 portfolio.
589.1s
Open a clean document and title it
591.3s
Problems I solved
592.5s
that wasn't in my job description.
594.4s
Under that, start collecting stories
596.2s
like We had no process
597.7s
for x, so I designed one.
599.9s
Everyone was confused about y, so I
601.8s
created a simple way to explain it. We were stuck between two bad options. And I found the third option. Those are translator stories. And those are the raw materials that will position you differently in 2026. So, where does this leave us? You might still need to keep applying. I am still applying.
603.8s
We were stuck
604.4s
between two bad options.
606.0s
And I found the third option.
607.4s
Those are translator stories.
609.6s
And those are the raw materials that
611.2s
will position you
611.9s
differently in 2026.
613.9s
So, where does this leave us?
616.3s
You might still
617.0s
need to keep applying.
618.0s
I am still applying.
619.2s
But I want us to change how we read this rejection and silence. Instead of feeling, They ghosted me, so I must be worthless. Let's reframe that. Try, This is one more data point that the box I'm playing in is overcrowded. And I need to move boxes. 2025 broke a lot of us. Including me. Because we believe
621.2s
this rejection and silence.
622.8s
Instead of feeling, They ghosted me,
624.9s
so I must be worthless.
626.2s
Let's reframe that.
627.3s
Try,
628.1s
This is one more data point that the
629.9s
box I'm playing in is overcrowded.
632.0s
And I need to move boxes.
633.6s
2025 broke a lot of us.
636.6s
Including me.
637.3s
Because we believe
638.3s
that the problem was us. We internalized broken hiring systems, outdated job descriptions, employers slapping AI transformation on top of plain old cost cutting. And we thought this was happening because if I was good enough, this wouldn't be happening. My Korean grandmother would still say Keep going. Don't give up. Do your best.
639.7s
We internalized
640.6s
broken hiring systems,
642.0s
outdated job descriptions,
643.6s
employers slapping AI transformation
646.6s
on top of plain old cost cutting.
648.9s
And we thought this was happening
650.1s
because if I was good enough,
651.9s
this wouldn't be happening.
653.1s
My Korean grandmother would still say
655.3s
Keep going. Don't give up.
656.9s
Do your best.
657.8s
But if she were 28 in 2025, I think even she would quietly admit that the game has changed, the rules didn't. We're in the middle of a chaotic shift. There will be millions of new rules coming up. Especially where tech and human judgment meet. The market will rebuild around people who know how to work with AI.
659.9s
I think even she would
661.9s
quietly admit
662.9s
that the game has changed,
664.5s
the rules didn't.
665.5s
We're in the middle
666.2s
of a chaotic shift.
667.7s
There will be millions
668.7s
of new rules coming up.
670.1s
Especially where tech
671.3s
and human judgment meet.
673.0s
The market will rebuild around people
674.9s
who know how to work with AI.
676.4s
Not ignore it. And not sitting there scared and waiting to be replaced by AI. And for us, who will survive this breakdown, we'll come out knowing where we sit on that 2x2 matrix. And intentionally finding work and skills that will be irreplaceable. Those are the people who will design what will come next.
677.4s
And not sitting there scared and
679.1s
waiting to be replaced by AI.
680.6s
And for us,
681.4s
who will survive this breakdown,
682.8s
we'll come out
683.9s
knowing where we sit on that
685.7s
2x2 matrix.
687.1s
And intentionally finding work and
689.2s
skills that will be irreplaceable.
691.2s
Those are the people who will design
692.8s
what will come next.
693.9s
So this week, instead of 3 more hours of tweaking bullets on your resume, I invite you to spend that time documenting your wisdom. The part of your work that takes years to transfer. The part that never shows up in job description. And the part that AI can't see or do. That's what will set us apart for 2026.
696.0s
of tweaking bullets on your resume,
697.8s
I invite you to spend that time
699.4s
documenting your wisdom.
700.8s
The part of your work that takes
702.0s
years to transfer.
703.6s
The part that never
704.4s
shows up in job description.
706.1s
And the part that AI can't see or do.
708.7s
That's what will
709.4s
set us apart for 2026.
711.4s
That's the foundation of our new translator identity. So that's what I'm doing tomorrow. I'm gonna close my LinkedIn jobs tab and start opening a new document of things that only I know how to do. Your story will help someone see that all of our experiences are valuable and start connecting the dots to make a shape.
713.5s
translator identity.
714.9s
So that's what I'm doing tomorrow.
716.8s
I'm gonna close my LinkedIn jobs tab
719.0s
and start opening a new document
721.0s
of things that only I know how to do.
724.0s
Your story will help someone see that
726.1s
all of our experiences are valuable
728.7s
and start connecting
729.5s
the dots to make a shape.
730.9s
I hope this resonated with you. You're not alone. You're not crazy in this job market. This is just chaotic. But I'm in it with you and hope that this exercise prepares us better for the coming year. Thank you for watching and remember to come back to my next video topic on...
732.4s
You're not alone.
733.5s
You're not crazy in this job market.
735.5s
This is just chaotic.
737.4s
But I'm in it with you
739.0s
and hope that this exercise prepares
740.8s
us better for the coming year.
742.2s
Thank you for watching and remember
743.5s
to come back to my
744.3s
next video topic on...
