The fast track to a becoming a programmer is over. AI has changed the game, and entry-level jobs are disappearing. Here’s what to know.
Your employer can use this data against you – Don’t let them
One of the three largest credit bureaus, Equifax, is collecting data that could screw you out of thousands of dollars — or a job.
I dug up everything you need to know about a new database of 716 million income and employment records, including, potentially, yours. Why? Because I want you to always be tech-ahead and never tech-behind.
It’s called ‘The Work Number’
Employers can use this massive employee verification database from Equifax (yep, the same folks who leaked 147 million people’s data in 2017) to make sure you are who you say you are.
Your Employment Data Report (EDR) includes things like where you’ve worked, when you worked there and your exact past salary numbers.
Great for employers, bad for you
Trying to get a new job? An employer could use your EDR to find your past salary range and lowball you in negotiations. Your current employer could also see if you have a side hustle and use that info to fire you.
And, of course, Equifax will sell your EDR to anyone who’s buying, including debt collectors. No bueno.
How to stop it
You can freeze your EDR just like a credit report. You can also see who’s tried to access it within the past two years.
Unfortunately, you’ll need to make an account with The Work Number to do it. Ironic, I know.
- Search for your current or former employer(s) using their name or employer code (the nine-digit number on your W-2).
- Click their name, followed by Register Now. Heads-up: It’ll ask for your Social Security number.
Haven't logged into LinkedIn lately? 5 reasons you really should be using it
How much do you know about LinkedIn? Sure, you probably understand it’s a social network for professionals, but it’s so much more.
Unlike most social networks that are used to share the latest vacation pictures, LinkedIn was designed for more important reasons. It can help you make connections, share work experience and find or post jobs.
Future of hiring: Gen Z is ditching traditional resumes and recording videos on TikTok to land jobs. Take Nicole, who applied for a Barstool Sports internship with a video resume and racked up over 657,000 views. No word on how many recruiters saw it, but it sure beats having a resume get buried in an inbox or automatically trashed by an AI bot.
What tech profession is going to make big money because of AI? Is it … A.) Tech support, B.) Software developers, C.) Data scientists or D.) Graphic designers?
$100-plus
Potential per-hour rates for a professional back-scratcher. It’s not just scratching someone’s back; you play with their hair, too. One pro scratcher quit her six-figure job to open a spa. Now, she’s making even more money.
How to take the perfect profile pic for social media sites
Your profile picture is more important than you might think. It’s your chance to make a good first impression on the world. That’s why you must know how to take the perfect profile picture for all your accounts.
Say you’re applying for a new job. Potential employers will run background checks on your social media presence. You need to have good pictures that show you at your best.
Looking for work? 5 mistakes that will hurt your chances of getting hired
Social media is a place where we can loosen up a little. You can post jokes, silly pictures, or whatever on Instagram, X, Facebook and more. Unlike most social media sites, our sponsor, LinkedIn, is pretty buttoned-up.
56% fewer
Job postings out there for software developers. AI tools are taking the place of entry-level developers. The tech boot camps (paywall link) that used to help up to 90% of people get jobs are now helping only 50%. One analyst says it’s the worst hiring period for entry-level tech jobs in 25 years. Tell your kid to major in something else.
3.5 days
Workweek of the future, predicted by JPMorgan Chase & Co.’s CEO. Jamie Dimon says up to 70% of employees’ tasks will be automated by AI, so there’s no need for long hours. Meanwhile, Goldman Sachs predicts about 300 million jobs will evaporate thanks to AI. Embrace the future or you’ll be left in the past.
Forget shovels and brushes: Today’s archaeologists use cutting-edge tech to uncover ancient secrets. LiDAR sends laser pulses from drones or planes to map the ground and reveal entire lost cities hidden under forests. Advances in DNA sequencing now uncover shocking details about old bones and sacrificial practices. And AI is sifting through scrolls and deciphering text faster than ever. Sounds like a neat job!
Honesty is the best, honestly: Some unemployed Gen Zers are putting a #Desperate banner on their LinkedIn profiles. They’re applying for jobs, barely getting responses, and they figure there’s no harm in being totally transparent. Remember: “He who mentions price first loses.”
👨👩👧👦 Meet the kids of tech billionaires: Steve Jobs’ youngest daughter, Eve, graduated from Stanford and is an equestrian and model. Bill Gates’ oldest child, Jennifer, completed medical school this year. Then there’s Jeff Bezos, who has three sons and a daughter. Only his oldest son’s name is publicly known. (It’s Preston.) Here’s more about those swimming in the lucky gene pool, if you want to read it.
How I avoided a $40K scam
Paul emailed me about a $39,500 invoice, demanding I pay up ASAP. The problem? I didn’t owe him a cent. Plus, AI is eyeing 60 million jobs, Gen Z is trauma dumping on TikTok, and a woman was rescued after falling 60 feet off a mountain thanks to her navigation app.
Need some extra cash? 15 jobs you can do from home
Working remotely isn’t suitable for everybody. But in the wake of the pandemic, it has seen a considerable boon globally. Tap or click here for legit ways to find work-from-home jobs.
If you’re interested in earning a living from home, there is no better time to get involved with the right opportunity.
🍔 I’m not lovin’ it: McDonald’s new self-serve kiosks accept cash and won’t complain if your order is annoying. They say no jobs will be cut and cashiers will move to roles like delivering food. For now, the kiosks are optional and in less than 2% of locations, but expect more soon.
North Korean spies are infiltrating U.S. companies: They’re applying for IT jobs with stolen IDs, peppy cover letters and AI-generated photos (paywall link). The goal is to get access to U.S. company networks and then steal intellectual property or create backdoors for cyberattacks. Always insist on an in-person or video interview and thoroughly vet applicants’ work histories and references.
Apple Park covers 175 acres in Cupertino, California, and cost around $5 billion to build. Which of these is not true about Apple’s digs? Is it that … A.) There are seven gourmet cafes, B.) It’s powered entirely by wind energy, C.) Steve Jobs didn’t live to see it open, or D.) It has the world’s largest curved glass panels?
🧑⚖️ Minding my own bid-ness: Christie’s is auctioning off some insanely rare items from the collection of late Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen. Highlights include an Apple-1 from Steve Jobs’ desk (valued up to $800,000) and a signed letter from Albert Einstein to then-President Franklin Roosevelt (worth an estimated $6 million). Full details here if you have a few million lying around.