Career Briefs: The Human Edge & The Limits of AI

My sister just texted me: 50 days until Christmas.

Somehow this year has absolutely flown by — and if I’m honest, not always in the best way. But the holiday season remains my favorite time of year.

It's the season of neighborhood parties and office soirees, where connections are made, friendships are strengthened, and opportunities abound.

I was just talking with someone about this: how much should you share about yourself in those casual social moments? You don't want to be the Chandler Bing of your social circle — nobody wants to walk away confused about what you actually do.

This is the time to confidently and succinctly answer that inevitable question:

“So, what do you do?”

To help answer this question, I wrote an article with tips for stating your value proposition in under 8 seconds.

It’s not an easy feat! The first time I tried this activity, it took me about 15 seconds to blunder through what I did. Four tries later, I was able to get my message down to a succinct 7-second.

Unemployed? Even more reason to do this exercise. This could be your chance to tap into the hidden job market.

As you step into this holiday season, I encourage you to embrace the social invitations and seize the moment. Let this be a reminder that your network is one of the most valuable assets in your job search.

Rooting for you,

Five Overlooked Aspects of Landing an Executive Role

It’s a frustrating reality that even highly qualified professionals with impressive résumés and confident interviews are often passed over for roles that seem like a perfect fit.

According to Executive Recruiter and Career Coach at Presco Presco LLC, Caroline Ceniza-Levine, moving into executive leadership takes more than solid credentials. It means consistently showing strategic thinking, calm confidence, and genuine leadership throughout the hiring process.

• Executive presence: Leaders who move forward are the ones who speak with calm confidence and a clear sense of purpose and every interaction becomes a chance to build trust and show steady command, even under pressure.

• Interview technique: Senior interviews move beyond credentials to strategic discussions that reveal how a candidate interprets business direction, growth potential, and long-term value creation.

• Examples of impact: Sharing stories with real results, team wins, and lessons from challenges helps hiring committees see your leadership depth and resilience.

• Follow-up: Thoughtful, personal communication after each conversation shows emotional intelligence and helps strengthen the professional connection. It’s a simple step that leaves a lasting impression.

• Pipeline management: Executive roles are limited. Keeping several discussions active lets you stay selective, engaged, and in motion.

Landing a leadership role rarely happens by chance. It comes from showing through every word, action, and decision that you already operate as the leader others are looking to hire.

Read more here (article without a paywall): 5 Reasons Why You’re Not Landing Leadership Roles.

Fake Interview Allegations Cost Wells Fargo $85 Million

A recent lawsuit may finally be holding companies accountable for more transparent and ethical recruiting practices. Wells Fargo has agreed to pay $85 million to settle claims that it staged interviews with diverse candidates to appear more inclusive. The case dates back to 2021, when former executive Joe Bruno and other employees said they were told to conduct interviews for roles that had already been filled. According to reports, the “sham interviews” were held between February 2021 and June 2022 for certain higher-paying roles. Another candidate had already been selected for the roles when many of these meetings took place.

Their accounts led to a class-action suit led by SEB Investment Management, which argued that the practice misled investors and eroded public trust. While Wells Fargo denies any wrongdoing and maintains that it “does not tolerate discrimination,” the company chose to settle after a federal judge refused to dismiss the case.

Read more here: Wells Fargo Agrees To Pay $85M Settlement Over Claims It Hosted Fake Job Interviews To Hit Diversity Goals.

11 AI Prompts for Thought Leadership

AI can process information, but it can’t care about it. Andy Crestodina, Co-Founder and CMO of Orbit Media, argues that while AI can summarize knowledge, it can’t generate belief or genuine insight. True thought leadership “creates tension” by introducing ideas that invite disagreement and express personal truth. Research conducted with Mantis Research and SurveyMonkey echoes this, showing that strong, distinctive opinions are what separate true thought leaders from the rest.

Still, AI can serve as a useful starting point. With the right prompts, it can uncover the questions people avoid, the emotions they resist, and the assumptions that deserve to be challenged but the true value comes when a human steps in, adds perspective, and turns raw data into an idea that actually moves people.

Read more here: AI for Thought Leadership? 11 Prompts that get you halfway there…

Another Shift Redefining Hybrid Work

The balance between remote and office work is shifting once again, and the quiet return of employees to the office is sparking new tension around flexibility. A subtle trend known as “hybrid creep” describes the gradual increase in required office days without formal policy changes. Once considered a permanent fixture of modern work, hybrid models are being informally redefined as employers emphasize “anchor days” and greater visibility. 

For employees, this shift can be unsettling, especially for those who’ve built their routines and productivity around flexibility. Career expert Peter Duris, CEO and co-founder of Kickresume, advises addressing concerns early, seeking clarity, and communicating the impact on productivity. For leaders, transparency and consistency remain critical. By clearly explaining changes and listening to employee needs, organizations can maintain trust while redefining the rhythm of hybrid work.

Read more here: Beware of ‘hybrid creep’: this new workplace trend is taking over offices – but what does it mean for you?

The Prosperity Paradox of Artificial Intelligence

“Your future salary isn’t based on your skill, your years of experience, or how ‘important’ your job feels.

It’s capped by one thing: the cost of the computational resources needed to do your job instead of you.”

A new analysis from Yale economist Carlos E. Perez imagines a future that’s both remarkable and unsettling. Artificial general intelligence fuels explosive economic growth, but wages barely rise. Machines take over the work that truly drives productivity, while people are left with tasks that add little real value.

As technology becomes cheaper, the value of human labor declines and wealth flows to those who own the systems, not the people who use them. The result is a thriving economy that no longer depends on its workers, which raises a difficult question: what does work mean when progress no longer needs humans to drive it?

Read more here: The Economy After Intelligence.

The Hidden Risk Behind Exit Interviews

Exit interviews often seem like a chance to leave honest feedback, but they rarely lead to meaningful results. Jacob Kaplan-Moss argues that they serve the company more than the employee, offering little reward and considerable risk. 

The truth is that most problems prompting resignations are already known: poor management, limited growth, toxic culture, or burnout. By the time someone is leaving, the organization has usually chosen not to address them. Sharing that truth in an exit interview rarely shifts behavior and can create new problems for the employee, from strained references to quiet reputational harm.

A more strategic approach is to treat the meeting as a formality. Declining politely or keeping feedback neutral helps preserve future connections, especially for those without deep professional networks. If you do choose to share feedback, focus on observations, not grievances, and deliver them as if you were still part of the organization.

The lesson is clear: exit interviews are a company ritual, not a moment for reform. Treat them as diplomacy.

Read more here: Exit Interviews Are a Trap.

How to Make Performance Reviews Work for You

Performance reviews can bring a mix of anticipation and unease, but they also offer a valuable chance to pause and reflect on progress and direction. But in order to really reap the benefits, preparation should go beyond listing achievements. The focus should surround crafting a clear story of impact, growth, and learning.

A strong self-evaluation links individual contributions to team and organizational goals, showing awareness of what truly drives success. Entering the conversation with focus and curiosity turns the review into a purposeful exchange rather than a formality.

Listening closely, engaging with openness, and responding with thoughtfulness help build trust and forward momentum. When approached with intention and respect, a performance review becomes more than an evaluation and creates the opportunity for a meaningful dialogue that clarifies priorities, strengthens relationships, and renews commitment to growth.

Read more here: Prepping for Performance Reviews: Our Favorite Reads.

The Human Link Between AI and Real Business Impact

Forward-Deployed Engineers are quickly becoming one of the most in-demand roles of 2025, with openings rising by more than 800 percent in just a year. Companies are competing for professionals who can bridge advanced technology and real-world impact. These engineers design and deploy AI systems that align with how people actually work, ensuring solutions are both practical and scalable. This has sparked an intense hiring race for this rare talent, as organizations recognize that success depends on execution, not experimentation.

Tech leaders like OpenAI, Anthropic, Databricks, and ElevenLabs are at the forefront of this shift, joined by emerging startups eager to close the gap between AI potential and performance. As demand accelerates, this hybrid role is poised to redefine how innovation takes shape across industries.

Read more here: The new hot job in AI: forward-deployed engineers.