Careers

Careers

Professional services firms such as blue-chip law firms and management consultancies have long relied on a simple talent strategy: hire large amounts of eager and capable young associates to do the "heavy lifting" at the firm, freeing up partners and other senior staff to sell new work and set strategy. These associates would then be winnowed out over time. They either moved on to other work (often the firm's clients),

One of my favourite career theories, because it very much fits how I have experienced my worklife, is planned happenstance. It flips the what I call "This is what everyone thinks of career planning" idea on its head. As we've heard in previous episodes in this series, conventional career planning theory suggests doing some self reflection, setting a goal, making a plan and marching towards it. But the truth is careers rarely play out in straight lines these days. Planned happenstance theory says stop treating luck as random. Instead, build the skills to take advantage of it.

Especially alarming to many has been AI's effect on entry-level jobs. A blockbuster Stanford study in August was especially rattling, as it claimed to find a "significant and disproportionate impact" on entry-level jobs most exposed to AI automation-like software development and customer service-have seen steep relative declines in employment. This came out close to the MIT study that said 95% of generative AI pilots were failing and the somewhat sudden realization that AI could be building toward a bubble.

What is supposed to happen in those situations is that the attendants who work at the club are to watch the area and ask people to leave if they are not part of the group. This is part of the service your host paid for. It is not the host's job to play bouncer. If someone in a gathering like that gets unruly or if an outsider tries to intrude, the host should discreetly ask the attendant or a guard to have the person removed.

Today's college graduates are facing one of the most hostile job markets in recent memory, especially when it comes to entry-level roles. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported a 9.3% unemployment rate for bachelor's degree holders aged 20 to 24 in August 2025, almost double the average unemployment rate for all workers. In the U.S., entry-level hiring is down 23% compared to March 2020, which is more than the 18% decline in overall hiring, according to research from LinkedIn.

The U.S. labor market is unusually tight, with limited hiring and firing prompting many office workers to reconsider their careers. A 2025 Flexjobs report found 62% of white-collar workers would switch to trade jobs for better stability and pay, while others aim to start businesses, retire early, move abroad, or take career breaks. Younger generations, especially Gen Z and Millennials, feel unprepared by education and training for the workforce.

the Ukrainian navy wrote in a statement on Monday evening, posting several photos of a major fire in an urban area. Business Insider could not independently verify the authenticity of the images. Karachev is a city in Bryansk, a Russian region bordering Ukraine's northern Chernihiv region. It is around 70 miles from Ukraine's border, but the Ukrainian General Staff said the missile strike on Monday was conducted over a range of 240 km, or about 150 miles.

LinkedIn has always allowed users to post updates about promotions, new jobs or work anniversaries-but now, they've made it easier (and more visually appealing) by letting you attach a custom photo or graphic to those milestone posts. This replaces the default "congrats" banner that LinkedIn used to auto-generate. Now you get to choose the image, which gives you a powerful opportunity to show off your personal brand.

I've been on the hunt for a new gig for a large chunk of this year, and it feels like I've seen it all. I've watched some appealing job listings be pulled down within hours, while others sit stagnantly for months. I've heard tales of scammers trying to dupe job seekers; legit employers advertising phantom roles to collect talent data and present an illusion of company growth.

The room is silent. All eyes are on you. Your heart races, but as you take a deep breath, confidence replaces the nerves. You begin to speak, not just to inform, but to captivate. Public speaking isn't an innate talent; it's a skill that can be mastered. With the right techniques, anyone can transform into a compelling speaker. Research shows that 77% of people experience anxiety around public speaking, yet confidence and clarity can be learned.

How a universal severance package works Earlier in September, NBCUniversal notified its U.S. and U.K. employees that come 2026, they must return to the office four days a week - with the option to work remotely on Friday [3]. NBCUniversal employees who don't want to return to the office can take a flat-rate severance package of eight weeks' salary and three months' healthcare coverage.

The job search company's latest quarterly survey of U.S. workers who started their job within the last six months suggests Americans are getting more comfortable with the uncertainty in today's job market. Also, they are more likely to remain at their current positions (tending toward so-called job hugging), leading new employees to take a "more cautious and strategic approach to their career moves."

I landed a job at Goldman Sachs right out of college thanks to my résumé. My revamped résumé focused more on my mission as a person rather than my achievements. I think the best résumés and cover letters focus on a person's "why." More than a decade later, I've reviewed hundreds of résumés through my work as founder of Venture for Canada, a nonprofit that supports young entrepreneurs. The best résumés are not perfect. They are personal, show judgment, energy, and intent.

Most new recruits to white-collar jobs are required to spend at least two or three days a week in the office, while roles requiring just one office day are dying out, according to an analysis of job postings. Hybrid work where staff split their time between the office and another location, such as their home has cemented itself as the new normal for millions of workers since the Covid-19 pandemic.

From 2005 to 2008, Disney Channel's "The Suite Life of Zack & Cody" was my favorite TV show on air. So you can imagine my excitement when I found myself standing in front of the Tipton Hotel 20 years later. Except it wasn't the Tipton Hotel - the fictional hotel's exterior is actually the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver, in British Columbia, Canada.

In a world where "professionalism" can mean anything from jeans-on-Fridays to polished Zoom backdrops, it's easy to feel adrift. Early in my career, I steered clear of PowerPoint entirely-back when slide decks ruled boardrooms-and I'm gratified that its limitations are now widely acknowledged. Likewise, the proliferation of online classrooms and virtual collaboration tools has laid bare how technology can foster passivity instead of true engagement.

You've spent hours updating your résumé, nailed the interview phase and thought the offer was locked in. Then the silence hits. Here's the thing - the reason may have nothing to do with your skill set - and everything to do with your social media. Employers are no longer just glancing at applications; they're dissecting digital lives. According to a 2018 CareerBuilder survey, 70% of employers screen candidates' social media before hiring, and more than half have rejected applicants based on what they found.

In tough economic times, employee experience tends to take a backseat to productivity. Companies slip into old habits, reducing workforce investments and pushing people to "do more with less." After all, employees should just be grateful to have jobs, right? People end up tolerating less-than-great environments to keep their paychecks. It's an unfortunate cycle that keeps repeating. The deskless perspective This cycle plays out differently on the frontline. Turnover is a constant reality-in good times and bad-in industries like retail, food service, healthcare, and hospitality.

Meet the budget-friendly promotion: more work, same pay. It's a common phenomenon for many workers. One day you're updating spreadsheets and shadowing meetings. Next, you're suddenly scheduling boardroom calls and taking on a team of your own. The responsibility piles on, but your paycheck still looks grim when it comes to splurging on the weekends. That's a "quiet promotion." And as more economic concerns drive smaller compensation budgets-silent workload changes are becoming more common.

Alex is an executive vice president at a technology and manufacturing company, and she leads one of the highest-performing divisions in the company. But Alex is stuck. The founder is also the CEO, so there's no clear path upward. She's a respected and results-driven leader, and because she has a protective nature, she worries that leaving might mean that the business hands her team off to someone less impactful.