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On Today’s Launch
Free Edition: How to know if your job is at risk of automation
Plus: How to tweak your resume for the job posting
Subscriber Question: How do I evaluate my future boss before accepting the job offer?
This issue of the Launchpad is sponsored by:
One of the world’s leading resume builders
With over 1 million users, Resumatic is one of the leading resume builders. Why you should check it out:
ATS friendly templates (good if you want to get past employer screening systems)
Built in scoring to tell you how your resume stacks up in multiple areas, like content, formatting, and optimization
Option for human review should you need a second opinion
Built in AI writer
Previous launches and articles you may have missed…
Will your job be replaced by AI?
The rise of automation is reshaping industries and transforming the way we work.
While technological advancements bring innovation, they also raise concerns about job displacement and the future of employment.
A recent report by McKinsey & Company estimates that up to 30% of tasks in 60% of occupations could be automated.
But what does this mean for you? Is your job at risk?
Is AI coming for your job?
Jobs on the front line of automation
Any job that involves predictable, repetitive tasks is most susceptible to automation. Even before AI came about, jobs in industries like food service and retail were being replaced by simple machines.
Automated kiosks and robotic kitchens were rolled out and have changed how we order and prepare food (You’ve probably seen self-service kiosks at McDonald’s, and some restaurants are becoming entirely automated).
Self-checkout systems and automated inventory management are becoming commonplace – just visit your nearest grocery store or Walmart.
And that was all fine and dandy, but now, even more complex tasks like business intelligence, data analysis, software development, and legal analysis are being replaced (although it’s still in the very early stages) thanks to advancements in LLMs like ChatGPT.
This is a trend we can expect to see more of, and is in fact part of the reason why it’s so difficult to find a job right now.
The U.S. job market is not secularly tight. It’s in fact quite tough to find a job as a white collar person if you’ve been in the labor market the last year or so. You’ll have experienced submitting tons of applications and doing lots of interviews but converting few or none into… x.com/i/web/status/1…
— Steve Hou (@stevehouf)
12:51 PM • Jul 26, 2024
“The most dangerous thing is not to evolve”
As Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon, aptly stated, "The most dangerous thing is not to evolve."
An important lesson here is to recognize that AI is here to stay, and act accordingly.
Jobs with staying power
Jobs that involve more creativity, complex problem-solving and decision-making, and human interaction are not as likely to be fully automated – machines still can’t replicate that human factor 100%, but who knows, that could change in a few years.
For now though, industries that seem to be safe include healthcare, education. management, and creative fields.
Now I know some of you have probably seen that chatgpt 4o trailer from a few months ago and are thinking “But James, AI can already replace some of these roles right now!”.
And while that’s partially true, the infrastructure required to replace an entire profession needs to be fully tested, validated, and deployed – that hasn’t happened yet.
And even in the creative space, while tools like MidJourney and OpenAI’s Sora will probably replace jobs like graphic design and animation, they’ll probably create entirely new jobs needed to run them (prompt engineering is a one example of a job that didn’t exist two years ago).
Future proof your career
The future is definitely uncertain right now. All of this tech is new and we’re still figuring out how to use it.
When ChatGPT came out almost two years ago, everyone thought it would replace writers, until it didn’t, and hasn’t yet (at least not high caliber writers).
Despite that, there are few things you can do to prepare for the inevitable change:
Invest in learning – if you don’t, you’ll probably be replaced by those that do
Embrace the tech instead of shying away from it
Continue to build relationships – those with the most high quality networks will still be successful
Don’t be afraid of exploring new opportunities in emerging fields (esp. if you’re still early in your career)
AI is the new electricity. Just as electricity transformed almost everything 100 years ago, today I actually have a hard time thinking of an industry that I don’t think AI will transform in the next several years.
Remember, the goal is not to compete with machines but to use them more effectively.
About the Author
I’m James, Cofounder of Final Draft Resumes. I’ve been in the career consulting space for 13 years, and before that, I was a recruiter for AECOM.
I’ve helped thousands of job seekers, from industries like software engineering, IT, sales, marketing, manufacturing, and more generate job opportunities through well-written resumes that translate unique backgrounds into coherent narratives.
If you’re struggling with your resume for whatever reason, reach out - I just might be able to help!
If you’re more of a DIY person, then check out Resumatic, my freemium resume builder.
How to tweak your resume for the job posting
You may (or may not) have heard that a putting in some extra time to tweak your resume for each job posting is more effective than the “spray and pray” method.
Most folks don’t do this because, to put it simply, they have no idea how. Well I’m going to make it easy for you – here are 5 ways to tweak your resume:
1) Deconstruct the job posting
Start by dissecting the job posting.
What keywords, skills, and phrases are repeated or emphasized?
These are your clues for tailoring your resume.
Highlight these terms and ensure they're prominently featured throughout your resume.
Remember, the goal is to show recruiters that you're a perfect fit for the role.
2) Write a targeted summary
Your summary is your pitch. It should be a to-the-point yet compelling snapshot of your qualifications, specifically tailored to the job you're applying for.
Mention the specific role and job title, and align your background with the company's needs. Be as clear and simple as possible (i.e., if the company asks for 5 years of experience developing enterprise business software, that’s what you’re going to say in your summary).
3) Lean into relevant work experience & sprinkle relevant keywords
Don't hesitate to reorder the bullet points in your work experience to prioritize relevance.
Use action verbs and quantify your achievements whenever possible. Did you increase sales by 15%? Did you streamline a process, saving the company $10,000 annually? Numbers speak volumes.
Integrate keywords naturally into your summary, skills, achievements, and experience sections. This not only makes your resume more discoverable by ATS but also demonstrates your alignment with the job requirements.
4) Tailor the skills
Your skills section should be a curated list of the most relevant software and tools. Prioritize those directly related to the job you're applying for. If you're applying for a web development position, highlight your proficiency in HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. If it's a marketing role, showcase your expertise in SEO, SEM, and social media analytics tools.
5) Use the right format
Keep your resume clean and professional.
Avoid columns, graphics, graphs, or charts, as these can confuse ATS software.
Stick to a simple and easy-to-read layout like this one.
You may (or may not) have heard that a putting in some extra time to tweak your resume for each job posting is more effective than the “spray and pray” method.
Most folks don’t do this because, to put it simply, they have no idea how. Well I’m going to make it easy for you – here are 5 ways to tweak your resume:
1) Deconstruct the job posting
Start by dissecting the job posting.
What keywords, skills, and phrases are repeated or emphasized?
These are your clues for tailoring your resume.
Highlight these terms and ensure they're prominently featured throughout your resume.
Remember, the goal is to show recruiters that you're a perfect fit for the role.
2) Write a targeted summary
Your summary is your pitch. It should be a to-the-point yet compelling snapshot of your qualifications, specifically tailored to the job you're applying for.
Mention the specific role and job title, and align your background with the company's needs. Be as clear and simple as possible (i.e., if the company asks for 5 years of experience developing enterprise business software, that’s what you’re going to say in your summary).
3) Lean into relevant work experience & sprinkle relevant keywords
Don't hesitate to reorder the bullet points in your work experience to prioritize relevance.
Use action verbs and quantify your achievements whenever possible. Did you increase sales by 15%? Did you streamline a process, saving the company $10,000 annually? Numbers speak volumes.
Integrate keywords naturally into your summary, skills, achievements, and experience sections. This not only makes your resume more discoverable by ATS but also demonstrates your alignment with the job requirements.
4) Tailor the skills
Your skills section should be a curated list of the most relevant software and tools. Prioritize those directly related to the job you're applying for. If you're applying for a web development position, highlight your proficiency in HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. If it's a marketing role, showcase your expertise in SEO, SEM, and social media analytics tools.
5) Use the right format
Keep your resume clean and professional.
Avoid columns, graphics, graphs, or charts, as these can confuse ATS software.
Stick to a simple and easy-to-read layout like this one.
You may (or may not) have heard that a putting in some extra time to tweak your resume for each job posting is more effective than the “spray and pray” method.
Most folks don’t do this because, to put it simply, they have no idea how. Well I’m going to make it easy for you – here are 5 ways to tweak your resume:
1) Deconstruct the job posting
Start by dissecting the job posting.
What keywords, skills, and phrases are repeated or emphasized?
These are your clues for tailoring your resume.
Highlight these terms and ensure they're prominently featured throughout your resume.
Remember, the goal is to show recruiters that you're a perfect fit for the role.
2) Write a targeted summary
Your summary is your pitch. It should be a to-the-point yet compelling snapshot of your qualifications, specifically tailored to the job you're applying for.
Mention the specific role and job title, and align your background with the company's needs. Be as clear and simple as possible (i.e., if the company asks for 5 years of experience developing enterprise business software, that’s what you’re going to say in your summary).
3) Lean into relevant work experience & sprinkle relevant keywords
Don't hesitate to reorder the bullet points in your work experience to prioritize relevance.
Use action verbs and quantify your achievements whenever possible. Did you increase sales by 15%? Did you streamline a process, saving the company $10,000 annually? Numbers speak volumes.
Integrate keywords naturally into your summary, skills, achievements, and experience sections. This not only makes your resume more discoverable by ATS but also demonstrates your alignment with the job requirements.
4) Tailor the skills
Your skills section should be a curated list of the most relevant software and tools. Prioritize those directly related to the job you're applying for. If you're applying for a web development position, highlight your proficiency in HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. If it's a marketing role, showcase your expertise in SEO, SEM, and social media analytics tools.
5) Use the right format
Keep your resume clean and professional.
Avoid columns, graphics, graphs, or charts, as these can confuse ATS software.
Stick to a simple and easy-to-read layout like this one.
Subscriber Questions
Question: I’ve been through several interviews for a job that seems perfect for me, but I’m wary because my last manager was a nightmare. I want to avoid another bad experience. How can I assess my potential future manager effectively?
That’s a good question. Determining who’s going to be your boss BEFORE you accept the offer is smart, because you avoid situations like your last one. Because it doesn’t matter how well the job pays or how many PTO days you have, if your boss sucks, your life will suck too.
So here are 4 things you can try:
1) Ask the recruiter
Recruiters can provide valuable insights about your potential manager's role, team layout, and management style. Key questions include:
Can you tell me more about the manager?
How closely have you worked with this manager? Describe their management style.
What can you share about the team culture and dynamics?
2) Research online
Look up your potential manager on LinkedIn and other social media. This can reveal their professional interests, values, and leadership style. Keep in mind, some managers may not have a significant online presence.
3) Meet the team
Talk to team members after receiving a verbal offer. This is when companies are most willing to facilitate additional interactions. Ask questions like:
What's the best part about working on this team?
What do you enjoy most about working with this manager?
How has this manager supported your career growth?
4) Talk to former direct reports
You can approach this in two ways:
Ask the manager if they can connect you with previous direct reports.
Use mutual connections to reach out to former direct reports. Key questions include:
What did you learn from working with this manager?
How open to feedback is this manager?
Would you work for them again? Under what conditions?
When interpreting feedback, consider both the direction (positive, neutral, or negative) and magnitude (enthusiasm or intensity). Pay attention to body language and tone—enthusiasm is a good sign, while hesitation can indicate underlying issues.
If the feedback is generally negative or doesn't align with your values, it's okay to walk away. Remember, your well-being at work is paramount, and finding the right manager is worth the effort.
Keep these strategies in mind, and you'll be well-prepared to make an informed decision about your potential future manager.