🐪 Career nomad era

...and the death of the "lifer" employee.

October 17, 2024

👋 Hi, again! Is it cheating if you don't get caught? Well, the jury is still out when it comes to job interviews. Earlier this week, Business Insider reported an uptick in job seekers using AI to ace their interviews, leaving hiring managers scratching their heads and asking, "Wait, is that allowed?"

But is using ChatGPT to prep for an interview fair game, or a step too far? Employers are divided, with some viewing AI as just another tool in a candidate's arsenal, while others are crying foul. To combat this high-tech hijinks, companies are getting creative… Like using blockchain to verify credentials or turning to character assessments from past colleagues.

Before we start imagining a dystopian future where every new hire is actually a highly sophisticated chatbot in a trench coat, let's acknowledge that this trend highlights some serious flaws in our hiring processes. Perhaps it's time we all took a good, hard look at why candidates feel the need to go all Mission Impossible just to land a job.

What do you think? Is using AI during a job interview “cheating?” Reply to this email and let us know.

— Team Talivity ✨ 

P.S. We conducting a 1-minute survey of top performing talent leaders to help illustrate the changing dynamics in fractional and gig work for people leaders. By participating, you’ll receive the first look of this inaugural market report. Complete the survey here.

Today’s edition is a 3-minute read. Here’s what to expect👇

🗞️ The rise of the 'career nomad' in US workforce
🌎️ Swedish court rules against Tesla, favoring unions
💰️ 41% of job seekers work side hustles on company time
💻 TA roles at Microsoft, Bloomberg
💼 Major layoffs hit CareerBuilder, Boeing
📆 Can't miss upcoming industry events

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NEWS
One Thing You Should Know This Week
The 10-Year Itch: Long-Term Employment is Becoming a Rarity

Remember when “job hopping” was seen as a red flag and staying with one company for decades was the norm? Well, it seems the times they are a-changin', and long-term employment is becoming as rare as a floppy disk.

🖼️ The big picture.
According to the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics data, only 30.2% of American workers aged 25 and over have been with their current employer for 10 years or more. That's a 3% drop from just a decade ago. To put it simply, the concept of having a “job for life" is going the way of the dodo, with more workers opting for career flexibility over long-term stability.

🧮 By the numbers:

  • 30.2% of workers have been with their employer for 10+ years (down 3% in a decade).

  • Median job tenure is 3.9 years, the lowest in 22 years.

  • 4.3% fewer women have reached the 10-year milestone since 2018.

  • 1.8% decrease for men hitting 10 years in the same period.

  • ~47 million Americans quit their jobs in 2021 alone.

💼 What this means for TAs.
You're now in the wild west of job tenures. With employees treating companies like Tinder dates, it's time to get creative. Focus on selling transferable skills and company culture rather than long-term commitments. Consider developing robust onboarding programs to get new hires up to speed quickly, and retention strategies that acknowledge the reality of shorter tenures. You might find yourself busier than ever, but there's a silver lining to all this: More placements could mean more commissions. Cha-ching!

👔 What this means for job seekers.
If you're on the job hunt, there's some good news! Your time as a "career nomad" is now a strength. Flaunt those diverse experiences. Highlight all the varied skills you've gained from different roles, and in interviews, emphasize your ability to learn and adapt quickly. Honesty is the best policy, so it's always a good idea to be upfront about your career goals and desired tenure. If you're tired of the career nomadic lifestyle, then consider looking for companies that offer continuous learning and internal mobility. Keep in mind that while job-hopping might be trendy, it's not a free pass to ghost your responsibilities. And hey, with shorter tenures becoming the norm, maybe it's time to negotiate for those sweet, sweet signing bonuses. Show me the money!

🔮 Looking ahead.
The future of work is looking more like a game of musical chairs than a marathon. We expect to see a boom of “boomerang employees” who leave and return to companies. We're also looking at a rise in project-based work, skill-based hiring, and benefits packages that cater to the here-and-now rather than the distant future. What's the key to success? Stay adaptable, keep learning, and maybe invest in a good suitcase for all that job-hopping.

🗣️ Food for thought.
While job-hopping might be on the rise, it's worth noting that the Fed's data shows job-movers tend to see better wage gains than job-stayers. So, think of it this way: Your career is like a dance–it's not about how long you stay on the dance floor, but how well you groove while you're there. Long-term loyalist or serial job hopper, all you gotta worry about is keeping those career moves fresh, funky, and savvy.

NUMBERS

Numbers That’ll Make You Think

  • $10 million — Amount approved by the Department of Labor for disaster-relief jobs and training in North Carolina following Hurricane Helene. The funding will support 25 affected counties. (Staffing Industry)

  • 41% — Of US job seekers admit to working on side hustles during company time. Multitasking to a whole new level. (Staffing Industry)

  • 13% — Average increase in S&P 500 CEO pay in 2023, reaching $16.3 million. The C-Suite elevator only goes up. (WSJ)

  • $2.6 billion — Invested in work tech during Q3 2024. Shhh… do you hear that? Silicon Valley's piggy banks are still jingling. (HR Tech Feed)

  • 18% — Large firms covering new GLP-1 weight loss drugs in health benefits. Employers are literally shrinking their workforce. (Health Affairs)

HIRE INNOVATIONS

Hire Innovations Fall 2024: Innovation at the Intersection of Tech and Human Potential

🔥 Hire Innovations Fall 2024 is going virtual November 19-21! Explore cutting-edge technologies transforming recruitment through gamification, AI, and inclusive hiring. Hear from industry leaders like Anna Thielke, Founder & CEO, Mantis & Co.; Kate O’Connor, VP, Onward Search; Torri Wright, CEO, BEHCA; Justine Haigh, PhD, President, Fidgetech; and Abby Murray, Founder, Storyarb. Discover how tech and human potential are reshaping the future of talent acquisition!

➡️ Secure your free spot now.

INDUSTRY INTEL

M&A Deals, Industry Moves, & Other Things To Know

  • Staffing powerhouse ManpowerGroup is selling its Korean business to JobPlanet, aligning with Milwaukee based firm's efforts to optimize its global footprint. (Staffing Industry)

  • Payday came early for automated payroll platform Zeal as it secured $15 million in Series B funding. (Staffing Industry)

  • Detroit's Michigan Central train station got a $1 billion facelift and is now home to Newlab, an incubator hosting 103 startups. From trains to brains, this station's got a new destination. (NYT)

  • A Swedish court ruled against Tesla, citing constitutional protections for labor actions. The ruling highlights the strength of unions in Sweden, where nearly 70% of workers are union members. (NYT)

  • Outdoor retailer Patagonia continues its tradition of giving employees PTO to vote. They're taking "rock the vote" quite literally. (HR Brew)

  • Staffing giant Randstad appointed Jesus Echevarria as COO. (Staffing Industry)

  • Union members at Boeing, AT&T, and other companies are flexing their collective muscle in increasingly voting down contracts negotiated, reflecting frustration with inflation and empowerment from recent labor victories. (WSJ)

  • Private equity firms are buying up plumbing, HVAC, and electrical companies across the US, creating a new class of millionaire entrepreneurs in the skilled trades. This puts a whole new spin on "flushing money down the toilet." (WSJ)

  • Our partners at CultureCon spoke with our editorial team about its upcoming CultureCon West conference in Las Vegas in November. (Talivity)

OPEN ROLES

Jobs You Might Want (For Yourself!)


For more of these roles delivered to your inbox every Monday, subscribe to the Talivity Jobs newsletter by clicking here. For a full list of open roles, head over to our job board by clicking here.

LAYOFFS

Places For You To Source Fresh Talent

  • Newly merged CareerBuilder and Monster laid off about 200 employees, about 15% of their combined workforce. (AIM Group)

  • Boeing announced plans to cut 10%, or roughly 17,000 jobs, of its global workforce. The company anticipates further turbulence, with an estimated $5 billion in charges on troubled programs. (WSJ)

  • TikTok is laying off hundreds globally as it shifts to AI moderation, while the doacial media app expects to invest $2 billion in trust and safety efforts this year. (Reuters)

  • Hiring startup Toptal reportedly cut a significant chunk of its workforce, including 70% of its engineering team. The cuts come as demand for remote hiring ebbs. (The Information)

  • Cashierless tech startup Grabango, developed as direct competition to Amazon, is shutting down after failing to secure funding. The company had raised over $73 million and employed about 100 people. (CNBC)

EVENTS

Join Us For These Upcoming TA Events

  • Wellness in the Workplace: Making Employee Care and Wellbeing a Strategic Priority
    📆 October 31, 2024 | 1:00 PM ET
    ⚡️Join us for an interactive free webinar that will explore the latest innovations, research and strategies in employee care and wellness. Hear from visionary leaders and entrepreneurs, like renowned Stanford Professor and practicing clinical psychologist Dr. Sarah Adler, who have made it their mission to solve the wellness challenges facing today’s workforce.
    👉️ Register here.

  • Hire Innovations: Fall 2024
    📆 November 19-21, 2024 | 1:00 PM ET Daily

    ⚡️ Hire Innovations Fall 2024 is a dynamic 3-day virtual event designed to inspire and introduce you to cutting-edge technologies revolutionizing the hiring process.
    👉️ Register here.

👋Thanks for reading!

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