Latest news with #Hilger
Time of India
10-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Are young workers paying the price for corporate panic? Staffing expert breaks down the 'AI hype' in candid post
In a rare blend of clarity and calm, Andrew Hilger — former president of the $15 billion staffing powerhouse Allegis Group — has offered a grounded perspective on the current wave of AI obsession that has taken over boardrooms, job markets, and social media feeds. In a recent post on LinkedIn, Hilger urged businesses and professionals alike to breathe through the chaos, calling the frenzy 'Phase One' of any macro change, and reminding everyone: 'This too shall pass.' Hilger's commentary arrives at a time when fears of job loss, automation, and the death of entry-level employment are dominating headlines and hallway conversations. Drawing from decades of experience across continents and industries, the staffing expert unpacked why he believes AI isn't the villain—it's the fear of being left behind that's distorting how companies are behaving. The Real Problem Isn't AI, It's the Panic According to Hilger, the surge in AI investments and the freeze in early-career hiring aren't necessarily rooted in technological readiness. 'Companies have real problems to solve,' he wrote, 'but they're also being sold solutions looking for problems.' The result, he notes, is a Red Queen effect—everyone sprinting just to stay in place. In the race to appear ahead of the curve, many companies are showcasing unproven demos and buzzword-heavy case studies, while quietly grappling with the daunting task of real change management. The labor market, particularly for fresh graduates, is feeling the brunt of this cautious overreach. A report from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York found the unemployment rate among new grads rose to 5.8% in March, up from 4.6% a year earlier. While many are quick to link this shift to automation, Hilger suggests it's not that simple: 'We see a spike in the unemployment rate… and race to assign causation. What if it's more about the hype?' Netizens Join the Chorus: 'A Weird Time to Be Alive' Hilger's post struck a nerve with thousands online. One commenter reflected on how AI is quickly mastering the dullest tasks humans avoid—making it both useful and threatening. 'One way to allow for a smooth transition is to instate a basic income… Not a small one either,' they wrote. Another echoed the surreal nature of the moment, comparing it to Y2K: 'Maybe it will be just like the year 2000. It hits and nothing changes. I tell myself a few times a day, 'I don't really know what's going on right now.'' The shared sense of disorientation, coupled with the pressure to 'keep up,' is driving not only businesses but also workers into reactive loops. Hilger highlights this as the core issue: 'We're not shaping the future as much as reacting to the fear of being left behind.' Entry-Level Workers, Not Replaced—Just in a Holding Pattern Despite the anxiety, Hilger holds space for hope. He predicts that today's struggling entry-level workers may soon become tomorrow's disruptors—especially those fluent in emerging tech. 'A possible Phase Two,' he says, 'will see them displace anyone resistant to change.' The implication is clear: this is not a dead end, but a reset. One where readiness to learn, adapt, and rethink outdated structures will matter more than alarmist headlines.
Time of India
10-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
AI can write your resume and screen it too; but it is still the human touch that will get you the job
At a time when job seekers and recruiters are turning to artificial intelligence for efficiency, the system is collapsing under the very weight it was meant to ease. In a striking paradox of modern employment, AI-generated resumes are flooding inboxes, overwhelming hiring managers and recruiters, and making it harder than ever for actual candidates to stand out. According to a report by Inc., the situation is reaching a tipping point. With nearly 1.5 million Americans unemployed for six months or longer, and the unemployment rate for fresh graduates rising to 5.8 percent as of March 2024, job hunting is starting to resemble a high-stakes numbers game. Many candidates, desperate to stay ahead, are using large language models like ChatGPT to mass-apply, tailor resumes with keywords, or even submit applications across job boards on autopilot. But while this AI-fueled hustle may seem like a shortcut, it's proving to be a boomerang for both sides. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Kulkas yang belum Terjual dengan Harga Termurah (Lihat harga) Cari Sekarang Undo A Flood of Identical Voices Hiring managers are reporting a surge of eerily similar resumes—keyword-stuffed, perfectly templated, yet indistinct. The number of job applications submitted on LinkedIn has jumped over 45 percent in just the past year, with many of those generated or refined by AI tools. Andrew Hilger, former president of Allegis Group, recently shared on LinkedIn how students are submitting upwards of 1,200 tailored applications in just a few weeks—most of them generated using AI tools. 'If you're looking for a job, run a different race altogether. Remember, it's a contact sport. It's a HUMAN contact sport,' Hilger wrote. You Might Also Like: Can a machine truly judge a human? AI recruiter glitches mid-call, leaving candidate terrified and the internet outraged The Silent Applicants and the Spam Storm While recruiters are battling resume fatigue , candidates are also stuck in an echo chamber. Despite having relevant experience and qualifications, many never receive a response. Automated resumes become digital ghosts in a saturated landscape, prompting more job seekers to resort to the same tactics—creating a self-defeating cycle. Compounding the problem is a rise in bad actors misusing AI tools to fabricate profiles. In a chilling revelation, the U.S. Department of Justice indicted North Korean nationals earlier this year for fraudulently securing remote IT jobs at U.S. companies using fake resumes and manipulated video interviews. From 2018 to 2024, they allegedly infiltrated at least 64 companies. Research firm Gartner warns that this trend is only likely to grow, predicting that by 2028, a quarter of global job applicants will be fake—driven by increasingly sophisticated AI-generated personas. iStock While recruiters are battling resume fatigue, candidates are also stuck in an echo chamber. Despite having relevant experience and qualifications, many never receive a response. (Image: iStock) Reclaiming the Human Edge Ironically, as AI dominates the application process, the best way to stand out is by going back to basics. Human contact, once considered old-school, is now the golden ticket. According to Inc., referrals remain one of the most powerful ways to get noticed. Even a brief email introduction from a professional contact can make a real difference in getting past digital gatekeepers. You Might Also Like: AI cannot replace all jobs, says expert: 3 types of careers that could survive the automation era And then there's the much-maligned cover letter. Thought dead in the age of LinkedIn and quick-apply buttons, the cover letter is seeing a surprising revival. A 2023 survey by Resume Genius revealed that 83 percent of hiring managers frequently or always read cover letters, and 94 percent said it plays a role in their interview decisions. Personalized, thoughtful letters still hold weight where automation falls short. Recruiters Turn to AI Too Of course, companies aren't just on the receiving end of the AI revolution—they're deploying it too. Some, like Chipotle, have embraced AI platforms to streamline their hiring processes. The fast food giant has reportedly slashed hiring time by 75 percent using an AI hiring platform they've whimsically named Ava Cado. Tools like HireVue are also being used to evaluate video interviews and rank candidates using algorithms. As the battle between human nuance and artificial intelligence intensifies in the hiring world, it's clear that job seekers will need more than just the perfect resume. They'll need strategy, creativity, and yes—human connection. In an age of automation, the irony remains: being real is your best advantage.
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Industry groups launch National Career In Trades Week
This story was originally published on Construction Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Construction Dive newsletter. Aaron Hilger thinks it's time to double down on recruiting Generation Z to the trades. 'I'm a parent of three 20-year-olds, so I'm on the front lines of discussions about trades and careers,' said Hilger, CEO of the Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors' National Association. Hilger said he was pleased when his triplets had visitors to their high school a few years ago discussing options for careers outside of pursuing higher education. Although college remains the most popular option for teenagers, a large group of the emerging workforce is realizing college may not fit them. Around nine in 10 members of Gen Z — those born between 1997 and 2012 — said learning a skilled trade can be a better route to economic security than college, according to a Thumbtack survey. Eight in 10 parents agreed. 'I think a lot of that has changed because the cost of college has gotten so high,' Hilger said. 'It used to be when I went to school, an expensive school was $20,000 a year. Now a lot of private schools are $80,000 a year. That ROI calculation with those kinds of numbers becomes a lot more challenging.' To capitalize on that trend, and to help with the massive gap in demand for workers, SMACNA is partnering with the Sheet Metal, Air, Rail, and Transportation Workers and the International Training Institute to launch the first National Careers In Trades Week April 7-11. The goal is to increase awareness of the benefits of choosing careers in the trades for American job seekers. This week, the groups will provide a push on social media to continue to try to advertise the trades, particularly to Gen Z, and reach markets or regions it hasn't attempted to recruit in before. That includes highlighting the types of technology tools that are used on the job, Hilger said, as Gen Z grew up with more tech in their hands at a younger age than previous generations. But first and foremost, it's about emphasizing the earning potential. 'You can actually see the results of your work,' Hilger said. 'That's always been appealing to a certain group of young folks. And I think it may be a little more appealing now, particularly when you weigh in the earning potential.' The groups plan to share stories from programs like Heavy Metal Summer Experience, such as that of Alejandra Rios. Rios said her dad was a carpenter, but she still didn't feel like the trades were advertised to her. Now, she's in her second year of a five-year journeyman program studying at Sheet Metal Workers Union Local 66 in Western Washington. A commonly used phrase was a big part of Rios choosing to pursue the trades, and something she hoped her peers may consider rather than pursuing college and accruing debt. 'One of the biggest things for me is like a zinger that our union has, which is 'Earn while you learn,'' Rios told Construction Dive.
