What recruiters really think about AI-screened applicants — and what you can do differently
Last month, a friend sent me a rejection email she’d received within 90 seconds of submitting her application. Ninety seconds.
She’d spent three hours tailoring her resume, researching the company, and crafting a thoughtful cover letter.
The automated response didn’t even pretend a human had been involved.
She wasn’t surprised. Just tired.
This is the …
Your personal brand in a world of auto-generated summaries: how to stay human
There’s this idea floating around that personal branding is about polished LinkedIn headshots, perfectly curated Instagram grids, and cleverly worded bios.
That if you just nail the visuals and say the right things, you’ve built something memorable.
I’ve watched people spend hours optimizing their profiles while their actual interactions feel hollow.
They’ve got the aesthetic …
New hiring data reveals how recruiters filter candidates in 2025
The pit in my stomach was instant – that sickening drop you feel when you realize the ground has shifted beneath you.
It was the first time I submitted a job application after retiring from competitive sports. I had spent weeks perfecting my resume, agonizing over every bullet point, convinced that my unique combination of …
Why skills-first hiring may redefine your resume in 2026
I still remember the first time I revised my resume after working at that global marketing agency in Sydney. I spent hours agonizing over the font, the layout, making sure my degree from the University of Sydney was prominently displayed.
I thought that was what mattered: the credentials, the institutions, the titles. Fast forward a …
Relationships over reach: the quiet strategy for lasting influence
Have you ever paused and asked whether influence should be measured in numbers or in the kind of connection you leave behind?
I used to equate influence with visibility: the more people see me, the more impact I believed I had. But those metrics have shifted over the years.
What I’ve learned is that visibility …
Own your Google results page when AI overviews sit on top
Every search starts with curiosity. Someone wants to know more about a person, a product, or a company. In that moment, Google becomes the first handshake.
But lately, that handshake looks different.
Google’s new AI Overviews now sit at the very top of many search results. Instead of a row of blue links, the first …
When the business is you: Founder brand moves that compound
Have you ever noticed how some founders seem to attract opportunities without trying? Partnerships, media mentions, clients who already trust them before the first meeting.
It’s not luck. It’s not just charisma either. It’s the compounding effect of a founder brand built with intention.
When your business grows out of who you are, every action …
Show up with substance: a weekly posting rhythm LinkedIn rewards
I once tried to post on LinkedIn every single day for a month.
At first, it felt good. Productive. Like I was finally “showing up.” But after the first week, my words started to feel forced. I’d stare at the blinking cursor, squeezing out a post that didn’t carry any real weight. The topics blurred …
Earned credibility without hype: Pitching like a pro in 2025
I still remember one of the first pitches I ever made as a freelancer. I’d spent hours crafting the perfect email, with every line polished and every sentence bursting with energy.
I wanted the client to feel my enthusiasm. So, I leaned into what I thought was confidence: bold claims, catchy phrases, and a long …
Your name is an asset: A 2025 plan to grow and protect it
Your name has weight. It moves ahead of you before you even show up. In a world where Google searches replace first impressions, your name often tells your story long before you get the chance to.
Every click, comment, and tag has become part of a growing archive that shapes how people see you. Recruiters, …