Blog

Closing Thoughts:

Key takeaways for your job search

✅ Start with a Strong Brand — Make your outcomes clear across your resume and LinkedIn
✅ Volume Drives Opportunity — Outreach must be consistent and targeted
✅ Messaging Matters — Tailor communications to each the audience
✅ Track Everything — Like any major rollout, tracking enables smarter pivots
✅ Networking Is Not Optional — Nearly every opportunity stemmed from relationship-building
✅ Post Regularly to Build Visibility — Thought leadership attracts attention
✅ Warm Intros Work — Your professional past is one of your most valuable assets
✅ Ask the Right Questions — Great interviewees guide the conversation through curiosity and diagnosis
✅ The Insider Edge Matters — A well-timed third-party nudge can tilt the odds in your favor
✅ Lead Yourself Like You Lead Others — Structure and iteration win the day

Closing Thoughts:

If your job search feels stagnant, the real question isn’t “How many applications have I submitted?”—it’s “Am I consistently working through all parts of the Job Search Cycle?” Applying online is just one piece of the puzzle. The real game-changer is executing all 20 activities regularly.

Closing Thoughts:

At the end of the day, it’s your call. If you feel good about using the badge, go for it! If it doesn’t sit right with you, skip it and lean into networking instead. Whatever you choose, just make sure you’re putting your best foot forward and staying active in your job search. Your next big opportunity is out there—you’ve got this! 

Let’s schedule a time to  map out your action plan.  

Let’s schedule a time to map out your action plan.  

Here’s to navigating your career with purpose and precision

Closing Thoughts:

Your Next Move: You don’t need a podium to know you’ve won—your next career success is measured by the alignment between your skills, aspirations, and the opportunities you seize. Want to refine your strategy?

Let’s schedule a time to map out your action plan.  

Here’s to navigating your career with purpose and precision!

Is A Job Post Real Or Not 

Does this sound familiar? You’ve seen a position posted on LinkedIn by a company  you’re interested in working at. Next you apply online. And just to make sure that they get your application you also apply at the company’s webpage. Makes sense, right? Well, the numbers may tell a different story. An astounding 1/3 of all job postings are not real.

Recently I posted on LinkedIn about an article on CIO.com magazine titled Beware the rise of ‘ghost jobs’ — fake job openings with no intent to hire that discusses  this topic in detail.  This is such an important topic with many of my clients I decided to include it in this month newsletter. 

An overwhelming number of companies post jobs with no intention of actually filling them. The article is based on the work of  Professor Hunter Ng of Baruch College, City Of University.  His study investigates the emerging phenomenon of “Ghost Jobs”.  You can read his complete work here –Why is it so hard to find a job now? Enter Ghost Jobs–  analyzes the data and uncovers some hard data facts.  The numbers are quite alarming.

According to one survey by ResumeBuilder as part of the of Professor Ng’s research, more than 1,600 hiring managers & recruiters indicated that they have posted ‘Ghost Jobs’.  They offer light on the phenomenon.

More than 80% of recruiters said they posted jobs without intending to fill them, and 41% indicated that more than half of the jobs were fake. Of tech companies, 40% posted fake jobs in the past year, and 79% of those still had active ads.

The fake ads cover all job levels: entry-level (63%), midlevel (68%), senior-level (53%), and executive (45%).

The most common outlets for this disinformation are company websites (72%), LinkedIn (70%) followed by ZipRecruiter (58%), Indeed (49%), and Glassdoor (48%). Most of the phantom listings remain active for a month (31%), a few weeks (28%), and in some cases, a year or more (9%).

The more specialized the job skill, the greater the probability of a ghost job according to the research.

If you’ve limited your job search to just what you see is posted, you’re missing a whole other job market out there. Yikes!

Why? Posting Misleading Information Pays Off

Here are a few reasons the survey uncovered:

• 67% of companies are seeking external talent
• 66% do it to create the impression of growth
• 63% to convince current employees that their workload will be reduced
• 62%  give current employees the impression that they are not irreplaceable
• 59% to collect applications to create a candidate database

Here Are A Few Tips to Spot Ghost Jobs

• How long has the job been posted
• Generic job posts lacking details
• Company reputation
• Lacking urgency in the hiring process
• Non-responsiveness
• Study company hiring patterns

Closing Thoughts:

As the job market becomes increasingly complex, the rise of “ghost jobs” highlights the importance of proactive career strategies. To navigate this landscape, focus on building a strong professional network.  What can you do for your contacts?  Networking is your most powerful tool to access genuine opportunities and bypass misleading postings. Remember, career growth isn’t a one-time effort—it’s about consistently nurturing relationships and staying connected, ensuring you’re prepared when opportunity knocks.

In last month’s Heard it on the Tech Street #21, I wrote that “Networking isn’t a one-and-done activity”.  Read it here.  You have to continually nurture your professional network. 

Let’s explore tips for building an impactful professional network.

Here’s a career dilemma that my clients and I often talk about: you meet someone interesting at an event or through mutual connections.  Sure, you can connect on LinkedIn and then what? Let’s be honest, it feels awkward to reach out later. Most of us end up not following through, and that’s where we miss out on a golden networking opportunity So, in this edition of Career logiX News I’m sharing a few tips on how to transform those brief encounters into meaningful, lasting relationships.

Why Networking Isn’t a One-and-Done

A lot of people think networking is just meeting someone, exchanging insights, and then waiting until they need a favor years later. That’s the wrong way to go about it.

Here’s what you shouldn’t do:

❌ The Cold Call Comeback
You met someone, connected on LinkedIn, then ghosted them for three years before asking for something. This doesn’t build trust; it just feels transactional.

❌ The Past Colleague
You worked with someone that you had a good rapport with.  You’ve not reached out to them in years and now you’re looking for a favor to land your next job.  This doesn’t build trust either.

❌ The Cold Network 
You’ve pushed off networking for years since you’ve had a job. Now you’re on the market and you need to leverage that professional network in a very competitive job market.

❌ The What’s In It For Me Network 

Viewing your professional network as a source for you versus how to enable your network.  People are much more willing to help someone that has helped them in the past.  An impactful network is fueled by helping others first.  

Now, let’s talk about what you should do to turn those short interactions into authentic connections:

Building Real Relationships After Meeting Someone

✔️ The Charmed Follow-Up
It’s all about the follow-up. Send a thoughtful, personal message a few days after your first meeting. Something simple like:

“HI [Name], it was fantastic meeting you the other day! I loved hearing about [something specific they shared]. Let’s keep in touch, and maybe we can grab coffee sometime.”

Being personable, genuine and specific will make you stand out in their mind.

✔️ Remember Their “Spark”
If someone mentions a passion or a memorable detail about themselves, write it down! The next time you come across something relevant (an article, video, podcast), send it their way with a quick message: “Hey, I saw this and it reminded me of our conversation about [topic]. Thought you’d enjoy it!”

✔️ LinkedIn Done Right
After adding them on LinkedIn, stay visible. Share articles, write posts, collaborate on a topic, and engage them with your network. But don’t just post for the sake of it—be interesting and authentic. The goal is to stay on people’s radar in a non-intrusive way.

✔️ The Power of Small Gestures

Whether it’s sending an article, remembering their favorite hobby, or simply staying in touch through LinkedIn, the key to meaningful relationships is consistency and genuine interest.

Closing Thoughts:

Professional networking is an essential skill for career development.  The era of simply applying online and waiting for opportunities is behind us. To truly thrive, you must think outside the box. Stay ahead of the curve by being innovative and relevant in your field. Most importantly, cultivate and cherish your professional connections—they are the key to unlocking new career heights.

As the AI revolution accelerates, technology professionals are often left wondering which skills will propel their careers forward. This month’s newsletter is more of a short laundry list, highlighting key areas to watch and navigate as you advance in the AI landscape.  

At the Heart of AI

• Machine Learning: Professionals skilled in developing and implementing machine learning algorithms are likely to be highly sought after.
• Data Science: As AI relies heavily on data, expertise in data analysis, processing, and interpretation is crucial.
• MLOps (Machine Learning Operations): MLOps skills bridge the gap between data science and software engineering, focusing on deploying, monitoring, and maintaining machine learning models in production.
• Natural Language Processing (NLP): With the rise of generative AI, skills in NLP are becoming increasingly important.
• Deep Learning: Knowledge of neural networks and deep learning architectures is essential for advanced AI applications.

Transferable skills For Technology Leaders 
Implementation and Integration at Scale

• AI Systems Architecture: Designing and implementing large-scale AI systems within enterprise environments.
• Cloud Computing: As many AI solutions are cloud-based, expertise in cloud platforms and services is valuable.
• AI Ethics and Governance: With the growing importance of responsible AI, skills in ethical AI development and governance are becoming critical.

AI Business Application

This points to the importance of:

• Domain Expertise: Professionals who can bridge the gap between AI technology and specific business applications.
• AI Strategy: Skills in developing and implementing AI strategies aligned with business goals.
• AI Project Management: Ability to manage AI projects from conception to deployment.

Closing Thoughts:

These skills are likely to be in high demand as companies across various sectors compete for AI talent and seek to leverage AI technologies for innovation and growth.  Stay relevant in the job market.