Career & Life Unstuck

Build a System that Gets you Hired

Thu, 22 Jan 2026 21:44:01 GMT

Applying Atomic Habits to Your Job Search.

The body content of your post goes here. To edit this text, click on it and delete this default text and start typing your own or paste your own from a different source.

AI Was Supposed to Fix the Job Search. It's Breaking It Instead.

Fri, 21 Nov 2025 16:49:26 GMT

AI broke the job market. Here's your way out.

I’ve been helping professionals navigate job searches and career transitions for over a decade .

I’ve coached people through layoffs, recessions, mergers, and reorganizations, but this job market?

This is the one that makes me stop, stare, and say:

What on earth is happening?

On Sunday, I read a USA Today article titled: “AI was supposed to fix the job search. It’s breaking it instead.” By Deborah Kearns. And the stories inside it stayed with me.

Stephanie. 54.
30+ years in tech.
Thirteen months without work.

Holly, a marketing executive.
280+ applications in one week.
Silence.

Christel, content leader.
280 applications over a year , finally lands a job…
Seven months later — laid off again.
263 more applications. Still waiting.

This is no longer a job search. This is emotional endurance. People aren’t applying for jobs. They’re fighting not to disappear.

�� The Paradox No One Can Ignore

AI was supposed to help us find work faster.

Instead:

93% of job seekers now use AI tools like ChatGPT for résumés and cover letters.
But 7 in 10 reject one-way AI interviews because there’s no human on the other side.

And the irony? The technology designed to streamline hiring is making it harder than ever to stand out as a human.

�� The “Sea of Sameness”

Career coaches and recruiters are calling it exactly that: “AI creates a sea of sameness.” — Eliana Goldstein

AI doesn’t just automate writing.
It automates identity.

The result?

�� Résumés that sound perfectly formatted and perfectly forgettable
�� Applicants who feel invisible
�� Recruiters are overwhelmed by identical language, tone, and claims

One recruiter said it best: “AI can support the process, but it can’t replace judgment. The danger is when companies treat hiring like a data problem instead of a people problem.” — Adam Karpiak

Hiring is not a text-scoring exercise.
Hiring is risk, trust, and relationship.

❌ The Biggest Mistake Job Seekers Are Making Right Now

From the article and from what I see daily: Job seekers are outsourcing their critical thinking to AI instead of using it as an assistant.

Leadership expert Kimberly Brown explains: “When a résumé sounds like a generic template, it becomes obvious — and that lack of authenticity can be a dealbreaker.”

AI should support your voice. Not replace it.

�� So What Actually Works in This Market?

In a world flooded with what some are calling “AI slop,” two things rise above everything else:

Specificity -
Humans connect with details.

As Karpiak says: “Instead of ‘managed a team,’ say what kind of team, what you achieved, and what changed because of your work.”

Relationships -
A referral can take your interview odds from 2–3% to ~40%.
Because someone is vouching for your humanity , not your formatting.

�� Your Differentiator Now: Emotional Intelligence (EQ)

In a job market where résumés sound alike, interviews feel automated, and ghosting is routine… Emotional Intelligence is no longer a soft skill. It is a survival skill.

EQ shows:

�� How you collaborate and build trust
�� How you think through complexity
�� How you handle uncertainty
�� How you help people grow
�� How you solve problems humans actually experience

That is the one thing AI cannot automate.

�� Want to Make Your Résumé Human Again?

I created a free EQ Résumé Self-Check that walks you through:

✔ The 5 signs your résumé shows Career EQ
✔ Real before-and-after bullet transformations
✔ A checklist to update your résumé in an hour

�� Download it here: https://bit.ly/4o0b6Tw

�� Final Thought

If your job search feels heavier than it used to, it’s not because you’ve failed. It’s because you’re operating in a system that is prioritizing automation over understanding. But you are not a data point. You are not a keyword match score. You are not a PDF in a stack of 700 applicants.

You are a human with a story.

And that is still — and will always be — your competitive advantage.

Emotional Intelligence Is Your Job Search Superpower in the Age of AI

Mon, 17 Nov 2025 20:30:59 GMT

Why mastering EQ matters more than ever in a changing hiring landscape

The job market is undergoing a seismic shift. AI tools can now scan thousands of résumés in seconds, write tailored cover letters in minutes, and even conduct first-round interviews via chatbot. For job seekers, this wave of automation brings both opportunity—and overwhelm.

But while artificial intelligence is changing how we apply, screen, and communicate, there's one skill it can’t replicate:

Emotional Intelligence.

In this new reality, your Career EQ™—your ability to recognize, manage, and apply emotional awareness throughout your job search—might just be your biggest competitive edge.

�� Why EQ Now?

Most people focus their job search on output: better résumés, more LinkedIn messages, another batch of applications.

But as the job market gets noisier (and more automated), EQ focuses on input: how you think, react, communicate, and adapt—especially under pressure.

In fact, EQ affects every stage of the search:

Self-Awareness helps you clarify what you really want—and why you're stuck.

Self-Management keeps you motivated after the 10th rejection or interview ghosting.

Social Awareness allows you to read the tone in interviews, adapt in real-time, and build trust.

Relationship Management helps you nurture your network, follow up professionally, and turn conversations into opportunities.

�� The AI Dilemma: Efficient but Impersonal

Tools like ChatGPT, LinkedIn’s AI résumé scorer, and AI-powered screening platforms are designed to speed things up. But they often flatten what makes you human—the very thing that employers are still hungry for.

AI can write your résumé.
Only you can tell your story with emotional clarity and confidence.

And that’s what employers remember.

�� Signs Your EQ Might Be Sabotaging Your Search

You avoid networking because it feels “awkward” or “pointless.”

You feel emotionally drained after each rejection.

You struggle to communicate your value clearly under pressure.

You aren’t sure how you’re coming across in interviews or messages.

You hesitate to follow up because you don’t want to feel “pushy.”

If any of these resonate, your Career EQ™ muscles may need strengthening.

�� EQ = Adaptive Advantage

As job seekers compete not just with each other—but also with algorithms—your ability to be adaptive, empathetic, and emotionally grounded is what sets you apart.

Consider this:

Resilience is now more valuable than résumé design.

Empathy is more memorable than a generic elevator pitch.

Self-regulation is more powerful than a perfect LinkedIn headline.

�� Want to Know Your Career EQ™?

At Career Life Academy™, we’ve developed the only Career EQ™ Quiz designed to help you understand how emotional intelligence is showing up—or falling short—across your job search strategy.

In 3 minutes, you’ll uncover:
✅ Your strengths across the 4 core EQ skills
✅ Blind spots that may be quietly costing you opportunities
✅ Practical, personalized strategies to grow your emotional agility

�� [Take the Career EQ™ Quiz Now]

�� Final Thought: Emotional Intelligence Isn’t a “Soft Skill”—It’s a Survival Skill.

AI may help you get your foot in the door.
EQ is what gets you across the finish line.

Rising above the Sea of Applications

Mon, 07 Jul 2025 12:00:29 GMT

Are you feeling frazzled as you wade through the job boards? Submitting your resume over and over again, receiving the “thank you, but no thank you” auto-generated email. It sounds to me a little like the definition of insanity, “Doing the same thing over and over again, and expecting different results.” Chances are you are stuck in the never-ending cycle of the job boards. Are you ready to chuck your computer out the window?

Stop! Before you do, let’s chat about how you can rise above the sea of applications. I recently had a conversation with a CLA client. She took some time to prepare her resume for a posted position, and when she was ready to go back in and apply, it was gone. (Oh my, it sounds very similar to our housing market right now).

The sheer number of applications per posting is increasing. How are you going to get ahead of the hundreds of applicants? Here are a few suggestions to get you started:

Is your LinkedIn profile appealing? Would you hire you? I recommend looking at your LinkedIn profile with the eye of a hiring manager or a recruiter. Keep your photo professional. We all love our cute animals, but let’s save that photo for a different social site.

Review your LinkedIn activity. If you are job searching, stay neutral with your comments on LinkedIn. There is no need to start an argument with a stranger over a topic unrelated to your search. Keep the conversation positive. I can almost guarantee a hiring manager or recruiter will be viewing your profile. Again, would you hire you? Need I say more.

Networking, networking, networking! If you haven’t started, start re-engaging your existing network within and outside of LinkedIn. Let them know you are looking for your next career! Also, check to see if anyone in your network can introduce you to a leader at your target company. Sometimes, it is all about who you know. Don’t overlook your network; you may just find a few gems.

Network outside of your current LinkedIn connections. Yes, that means saying hello to people you don’t know. You can start with alumni, recruiters, talent acquisition professionals, or 2nd and 3rd connections. The broader your network on LinkedIn, the more visible you are to others.

Compliment your search with other activities. You can’t rely on the job boards alone. Put yourself out there. You owe it to yourself!

Multiple Job Offers, Oh My!

Mon, 18 Oct 2021 17:02:27 GMT

Have you ever thought about how you would handle receiving two job offers at once ? Yikes, definitely a position we all want to be in, but how do you decide? Let’s face it; you are making a decision that will impact your future and potentially those around you. As if the job search wasn’t already stressful enough.

Trust me. Multiple job offers are happening. I have had the opportunity to chat with a few clients in this situation over this past year. Yes, during the pandemic. It does happen. My advice to you, follow the Boy Scout’s motto and “Be Prepared!” Every aspect of your job search is about preparation.

I thought I would share a few thoughts to help you with your decision-making.

Identify five to six essential factors to you (and your family) in a future role. Here are some examples of common criteria: Compensation, Culture, Management Responsibility, Position Type (remote, hybrid, or in-person), and PTO. Often, as you progress through an interview, you can uncover many of these factors.

A few things to ponder… Have you been in the workforce for 15 years and have five weeks of PTO? Have you ever thought about transitioning to a new organization and going backward to 1 week? Yikes, that may be a deal-breaker.

Or, as many of us have worked remotely through the pandemic, are you accustomed to having more of a work/ life balance ? For those of us with pets, taking a break and walking the dog in the middle of the day (while we still have daylight) versus at night after sitting in rush hour traffic has been fantastic! Would working full-time in an office be a turn-off?

Take some time to think about what is important to you and prepare for those multiple job offers. I do recommend discussing it with your family too! They may be able to provide a perspective that you had not initially thought was important.

Join us... for a session on Negotiation when you have multiple job offers; how to get the most out of the opportunities on Wednesday Oct 27, 2021 for a 40 minute session. We will discuss the decision making process; how to set yourself up for success; and the best opportunities may be right in front of you.

Registration Link

https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_RRdiDlQfQ12hh7RgI0Y3RA

Need help with your search, schedule a 20 minute free session with on of our Career Strategists. Let them help you identify where the bottle neck is in your search. https://drjstone.as.me/?appointmentType=27477081

Gap in Your Resume?

Sun, 27 Jun 2021 14:54:17 GMT

Don't stress...use these tactics to fill in the gaps

Have you found yourself unexpectedly unemployed? Have you become a bit restless as you maneuver the job search craze? Unsure how to explain your unemployment gap?

First, you are not alone. According to the recent (April 2021) BLS employment data , the total of long-term unemployed (jobless over 27 weeks) is over 4M! You may find others feeling as you do!

So, what should you do during a break from your search? As you know, staring at job boards all day can leave you exhausted and unmotivated.

Why not learn a new skill or volunteer in your community? Take this time to refresh and update your skills, learn something new or take an active part in giving back to the community.

It’s easy to find colleges, universities, or online educational providers that have courses or programs that will keep you engaged and focused on building new skills for free (see below a list of organizations that offer free courses).

In addition, you will find many organizations that need someone with your skillset or time to give. While focusing on gaining new skills or making a difference for someone else, you will feel energized and ready to attack your job search. AND, you may just add some valuable people to your network at the same time.

https://www.edx.org/

https://www.thinkific.com/

ttps://www.thinkific.com/

Need help with your job search or career transition? Contact us at https://www.careerlifeacademy.com/

But....I Can't Volunteer

Wed, 09 Jun 2021 01:37:37 GMT

I have to look for a job!

Click , click , click … I don’t have time to volunteer or network-- I have to look for a job.

And how’s that going for you? How many automated rejection letters have you received?

You’re not alone—the digital job application system is overloaded with people going through the same motions as you.

Yes, it seems counterintuitive to do something for free or to go engage in an activity that isn’t specifically applying for a job or producing some income.

Newsflash: Networking in so many shapes and sizes IS an active method to gain the relationships you need to find your next role.

People hire who they know —it’s much less risky.

Breaking: Showing up to networking events with your resume in hand limits you more than getting to know people gradually and authentically. How do you feel when someone is trying to sell you something versus collaborate with you on a project?

Developing relationships through working in a volunteer capacity shows off your skills and develops needed trust and empathy with others. AFTER you’ve established relationships, then you can start letting people know that you’re looking for your next opportunity and asking whether they know anyone you should talk to.

You stand a lot better chance of getting warm referrals or directly meeting a decision-maker through engaging with others than by click-click-clicking away on job board application systems.

The digital realm does not care about you.

Develop relationships with people who will.

https://www.careerlifeacademy.com/

Check Your Attitude at the Door

Fri, 04 Jun 2021 01:19:42 GMT

Attitude, Effort, Resilience in a Job Search

Does your attitude need an adjustment? Do you have what it takes to successfully maneuver a job search? Are you resilient?

While a job search is a unique experience (and definitely a test in patience), I do believe your attitude, effort and resilience plays a role in your success. Consider conducting an attitude check each morning.

YOU are in control of whether you start the day with a smile. A job search is a twisty, windy roller coaster ride. You will have ups and downs, and while I know it can be difficult, attitude is everything. Your attitude will shine through during conversations and interviews. Would you want to hire YOU?

Guess what--a job search takes effort. You can’t expect to hit the apply button on the job boards and assume people will knock at your door. Put in some effort. This isn’t the Field of Dreams--you don’t build a resume and expect they will come.

Reengage your existing network and start expanding your current one. Do more. Get focused on building new relationships.

Lastly, are you resilient? Are you gritty? In the New York Times bestseller, Grit, Angela Duckworth identified it was the “combination of passion and perseverance that made high achievers special.”

Know in advance that you will have rejection letters, experience ghosting after an interview and never receive a call back. However, at the end of the day, you will find the position that is the best fit for you. It may take time, but resilience will help you focus and push through those No’s. Each No is one step closer to that YES!

https://www.careerlifeacademy.com/

The Power of LinkedIn (Part I)

Tue, 01 Jun 2021 22:43:28 GMT

Did you know that 98% of all People looking for Talent are looking on LinkedIn?

LinkedIn has become the superhighway for recruiters and hiring managers looking for talent. Did you know that currently, there are over 756 million LinkedIn members, which gives the recruiter and hiring manager access to more top talent than any other source? The bigger question is...how do you get their attention and differentiate yourself?

The job of marketing is to get someone to pay attention to you is not an easy feat! So how do you find the right recruiters and hiring managers to target and how do you get them to find you? If you Google how to create a profile on LinkedIn that appeals to recruiters and hiring managers, you'll get 540,000,000 results. Unless you have years to figure it out, you probably want a quicker way of learning how to create the best profile. Here are a couple of tips to get you started:

1. Add your headshot. A photo of you on the beach is great on Facebook or Instagram but not for LinkedIn. Stay away from selfies taken in your car. It's best to have a professional headshot, but if you don't have one, cameras on smartphones are great. Keep the background simple, smile and look approachable...oh yes and professional. Remember it's all about first impressions.

2. Make your headline stand out. Your headline is created when you add your positions to your profile, however you can rewrite it to promote an area of expertise.

3. Write a summary - In the "about" section you should express your mission, motivation and skills. There are 2000 characters that you can use. Use them all but make it interesting.

4. Add your work and education. Make sure the work experience aligns with your career goals. If you have a personal website, this is a great place to add the URL.

5. Add relevant skills. If someone endorses your skills, it will increase the likelihood of you being discovered for opportunities related to the skills you possess.

6. Request recommendations. A recommendation is a great way to get that acknowledgement from colleagues, business associates, etc.

7. Create a personal URL. It's easy to distinguish when listed on the top of a resume.

Now you're ready to go out and be found!

https://www.careerlifeacademy.com/

Interviewing vs Job Offers

Tue, 25 May 2021 21:54:54 GMT

This is a subtitle for your new post

It’s Monday morning, and you open your email to find yet another rejection email indicating you were not selected for the job. You run through your mind the most recent interview; you thought it went well, right? You felt confident in your responses, but you admit a few of the questions were not what you were expecting. Let’s be honest, “ If you could be any animal, what would you be ?” was not a question you expected. On the other hand, perhaps preparing more would have helped answer those tough questions.

In a recent survey, 79% of respondents indicated while they had been interviewing, 0 had led to offers. On the contrary, the same group of respondents, 58% , indicated their interviewing skills were above average . While many factors can go into choosing a candidate, such as skills, education, or the internal candidate, it does appear there may be room for improvement.

A few quick thoughts to get you started:

Preparation is key! Prepare, practice, practice. Preparation leads to confidence. Keep in mind, an interview is a time to share your accomplishments. By providing a clear, concrete example, you demonstrate that you have the skills and knowledge for the role.
Be prepared to answer those negative-based questions. Yes, you have a weakness. Identify it, share the steps you have taken to improve and end with a positive outcome.
While we are chatting about being positive, be positive! Never speak negatively about a former employer. The negative remarks will most likely strike you out!
Virtual interview? Clean your desk, remove any background distractions, ensure you have adequate lighting and sound. Disco lights are probably not a good idea for interviewing.
Check your social presence. Keep it clean and be neutral. Google yourself. Would you hire you?
Lastly, if asked an interesting question, think about why they asked. Perhaps, they want to understand what makes you uniquely YOU! Maybe you share that you would be a tiger because they are strong, competitive, and confident. Similar to the characteristics needed for the exact position you are interviewing.

Remember, with each interview, you are improving your skills. Keep practicing and enjoy the process. One of your interviews will lead to an offer.

At Career Life Academy , we do job searches on your terms....Right Seat....Right Bus!

The Dreaded Panel Interview....

Sat, 15 May 2021 23:53:26 GMT

It doesn't have to be! Tips to help ease your dread.

You have patiently waited to hear back about that perfect job regarding next steps.

The phone rings, and you calmly answer, but are bubbling with excitement inside.

Your new favorite recruiter has informed you that you are moving on in the interview process, and you learn it will be a panel interview. Your stomach sinks.

For some, a panel interview is a breeze, but it initially incites a bit of anxiety for others. You envision yourself in a dark room, a single chair spotlighted in front of a dozen people, questions rapidly firing and you, stumbling to find answers. While this is not bound to happen, preparation is a critical factor in your confidence during the interview.

Here are a few reminders to get you started:

The interviewers are people just like you and have been in a similar situation at one time or another. They are doing their best to find the right person for the job.

When answering a question, think about others in the room. How does the position impact their department or role? Formulate a response that provides an answer to the question and incorporates others' interests as well.

In your response, use the person's first name. Dale Carnegie said it best, "Remember that a person's name is to that person, the sweetest and most important sound in any language."

Relax. Remember, you are interviewing the company just as they are interviewing you. A panel interview provides an opportunity to learn from others in the organization and determine if it is a right fit culturally.

You've got this! You have the skills and the knowledge. Prepare responses ahead of time and hold your head high. Whether it is a virtual or face-to-face interview, don't forget to SMILE.