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đź‘‹ Hello there!
She’s baaaaack…. After a dramatic 24-hour blackout this weekend, the app is back online thanks to a last-minute save from President Trump. His executive order buys TikTok 75 more days before any ban takes effect – though the app remains MIA from Apple and Google’s stores.
Now, here’s the thing about all this digital chicken fight: Creators and users are feeling the whiplash, but there’s a silver lining that can let you breathe easy. While TikTok may have experimented with video resumes, its potential exit likely won’t shake up staffing too much. (Though we’ll miss those “Day in the Life” workplace tours…)
Who knows?! This might just be the push we needed to focus on building more sustainable, platform-independent recruitment strategies.
Got questions? Comments? A hot take on whether video resumes are the future or just another fleeting trend? Hit reply – we’d love to hear from you!
— Team Talivity ✨
P.S. Did you know that with FastTrack by Talivity, you can receive a personalized HR tech stack recommendation simply by answering a few questions in less than 10 minutes. Try it out here.
Today’s edition is a 4-minute read. Here’s what to expect👇
🗞️ MBAs face unexpected job hurdles
🌎️ LA restaurants step up during wildfire crisis
💰️ WEF predicts 170M new jobs by 2030
đź’Ľ Layoffs hit BP, Textio, ShareChat
đź’» TA roles at Future, TikTok
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NEWS
One Thing You Should Know This Week
WSJ: Even Harvard MBAs Are Struggling to Land Jobs
The golden ticket to the C-suite isn’t so golden anymore. According to the Wall Street Journal, job-seeking Harvard Business School MBAs who graduated last spring were still looking for work three months after leaving campus.
🖼️ The big picture.
It’s not just Harvard. Over a dozen top-tier MBA programs, including Wharton, Stanford, and NYU Stern, reported their worst job placement outcomes in recent memory. While most elite MBAs eventually land good-paying jobs, the three-month placement figure – traditionally a key metric for attracting prospective students – signals a broader cooling in high-wage hiring.
🧮 By the numbers:
- 23% of Harvard MBAs still job hunting after 3 months
- 13% unemployment at Northwestern’s Kellogg School
- $175,000 median base starting salary for those who do land jobs
- 500+ job applications submitted by some graduates
- 1,000+ applications from one UVA Darden grad still searching
đź’Ľ What this means for TAs.
There’s top talent available if you know where to look. Tech giants like Amazon, Google, and Microsoft have reduced MBA recruiting, while consulting powerhouse McKinsey cut its Chicago Booth hires. This creates opportunities for companies traditionally overlooked by elite grads. Recruiters should consider developing targeted outreach programs specifically for elite program graduates, and highlight growth opportunities beyond traditional MBA career paths. Focus on selling your company’s unique value proposition – whether it’s innovation, work-life balance, or rapid advancement potential.
đź‘” What this means for job seekers.
The Harvard brand alone won’t open doors anymore. Prestigious degrees need to be paired with practical skills and strategic networking. MBA graduates should consider expanding their search beyond traditional post-graduate roles and industries. Look for emerging sectors and high-growth companies that might not have been on your radar. Focus on developing and highlighting tangible skills that set you apart (think data analytics, AI expertise, or specific industry knowledge). Consider temporary or project-based roles that could lead to permanent positions – even those MBA grads are finding success through non-traditional paths.
đź”® Looking ahead.
This isn’t just a blip – it’s the new normal. Harvard is testing AI tools to help match candidates with roles and offering intensive job search classes. The future of MBA recruiting will likely involve more specialized skills training, increased focus on practical experience, and a broader definition of “successful” career paths. Expect to see more business schools adapting their curricula to include practical skills training and real-world project experience.
📥️ Read more in the Wall Street Journal.
NUMBERS
Numbers That’ll Make You Think
- 62% — Of U.S. clinicians live paycheck to paycheck (Staffing Industry)
- 71% — Of technical workers plan to seek new jobs this year. Silicon Valley is CTRL+ALT+DELETE on their current roles… (Staffing Industry)
- 1.9% — Federal workforce at historic low while Trump plans more cuts. “Running government like a business” now means the smallest staff meeting ever… (NYT)
- 90% — Of companies actively avoid hiring recent graduates, opting for freelancers, retirees, or robots instead. Entry-level isn’t what it used to be… neither is the competition. (Work Life News)
- 170 million — The number of new jobs predicted for 2030. It turns out the robots aren’t stealing all the jobs! (WEF)
INDUSTRY INTEL
M&A Deals, Industry Moves, & Other Things To Know
- Search engine startup Perplexity acquires LinkedIn competitor Read.cv, expanding its professional networking footprint and adding “M&A experience” to their company profile… (Tech in Asia)
- HR platform Humi joins forces with Employment Hero to accelerate growth – another case when two HR platforms swipe right (Humi)
- AI recruitment startup Maki raises $28.6M Series A to redefine HR with conversational agents, which doesn’t include teaching AI the art of “let’s circle back next week.” (Business Wire)
- Career platform Purpose Jobs gets acquired by The Muse (Purpose Jobs)
- Social network LinkedIn names Jessica Jensen as Chief Marketing and Strategy Officer. Plot twist: She got the job through Indeed. (just kidding, of course!) (Storyboard 18)
- Job board favorite LinkedIn unveils free AI tools for job hunters and recruiters. Soon, AI will also experience professional ghosting… (TechCrunch)
- Professional network Glassdoor welcomes Adam Grant as first Chief Work-Life Expert. We wonder…will he rate his own job on Glassdoor, too? (Staffing Industry)
- LA restaurants step up during wildfire crisis, showing the power of community in tough times, proving the best dishes come with a side of community… (NYT)
TALIVITY EVENTS
Hacking Hiring: Employer Branding and the Gen Z Effect
Get ready to level up your hiring game! From February 11–13, 2025, we’re bringing you a 3-day virtual event loaded with fresh ideas and game-changing strategies to attract and retain Gen Z talent. Learn how to build trust, master HR tech, and make your brand impossible to ignore.
OPEN ROLES
Jobs You Might Want (For Yourself!)
- Media powerhouse Future is hiring a Talent Acquisition Partner based in New York, NY
- Recruitment agency GQR is hiring a Recruiter based in Austin, TX
- Technology company AllSTEM Connections is hiring a Recruiter based in Heathrow, FL
- Entertainment leader Sony is hiring an HR Generalist based in Santa Monica, CA
- Recruitment company Alldus are hiring a Senior Recruitment Consultant based in New York, NY
- Social media giant TikTok is hiring a Non-Tech Sourcer based in Los Angeles, CA
LAYOFFS
Fresh Talent Alert! Companies Joining the Layoff Club
- Energy giant BP cuts 4,700 internal and 3,000 contractor roles (WSJ)
- Writing tech startup Textio reduces workforce, plans to “invest in different mix of roles” (GeekWire)
- Social platform ShareChat trims 5% of staff in performance review (Entrackr)
- Green tech firm Aurora Solar lets go dozens at SF headquarters (SF Examiner)
- Crypto exchange Chrono24 cuts 25% of workforce in restructuring (USA Watchpro)
đź‘‹ Thanks for reading!
January 23rd, 2025
5 Minutes
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