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Geek Wire
3 days ago
- Business
- Geek Wire
How to land a tech job in the AI era: Founders, recruiters, professors share advice for grads
From top left, clockwise: Wendy Hellar, COO at Prime Team Partners; Kirby Winfield, founding general partner at Ascend; Magdalena Balazinska, director of the UW computer science school; Prem Kumar, CEO at Humanly; Erik Moor, professor at Seattle University; Milena Marinova, CVP at Microsoft; Steve Krenzel, CEO at Logic; and Suresh Kotha, professor at the UW business school. For college graduates walking across the stage and into the workforce, recent headlines may spark concern. SF Standard: Sorry, grads: Entry-level tech jobs are getting wiped out New York Times: I'm a LinkedIn Executive. I See the Bottom Rung of the Career Ladder Breaking. Wall Street Journal: The 'Great Hesitation' That's Making It Harder to Get a Tech Job AI is changing what it means to get a foot in the door in tech. But while the ground is shifting, new grads may be uniquely positioned to adapt. That's one takeaway from investors, professors, and tech execs we spoke with this month to gather advice for the Class of 2025. Their insights offer a roadmap for young tech workers — and anyone trying to navigate today's AI-driven job market. Prem Kumar, CEO at Seattle recruiting startup Humanly Everyone is trying to figure out how to use AI in real-time — and Kumar says this gives new grads an edge. 'You can experiment, build, and push boundaries in ways many people with more experience might not.' Kumar suggests tools such as (for resumes and interview prep) and ChatGPT (to organize your experiences into a searchable reference doc). Non-AI tip: Focus on critical thinking skills. 'In a world where content is infinite and creation is frictionless, the ability to distinguish signal from noise and truth from hype is what will set you apart,' he said. Kirby Winfield, founding general partner at Seattle VC firm Ascend Non-technical grads who want to work at a startup should be bring something concrete — like sales leads — to the table. 'Quick prompting on ChatGPT can build a good lead list,' Winfield said. 'LinkedIn can provide individual points of contact. Showing initiative and the ability to use basic generative AI to help startups grow is a powerful combination.' Magdalena Balazinska, professor and director, University of Washington Allen School of Computer Science Apply broadly — across size and industry — and then choose a job that offers the most learning. 'It's important to optimize for learning and for growth, especially early on in one's career,' she said. Balazinska said companies want strong analytical thinkers with coding and communication skills. She also recommends getting experience with AI to learn its potential — and limitations. 'I recommend learning whatever tools they can put their hands on and, if possible, learn a variety of tools,' she said. Wendy Hellar, COO at Seattle-based recruiting firm Prime Team Partners Hiring managers now expect candidates to be actively using AI. But be careful using them during an interview. 'It's obvious to us when candidates are reading answers and they are not speaking for themselves,' Hellar said. 'AI-generated resumes are also easy to spot — so make sure there is key data and personalized language that reflects the individual.' To stand out: prioritize networking and be open to working in-person, Hellar said. Suresh Kotha, professor of strategy and entrepreneurship at the University of Washington Foster School of Business Use AI to amplify your skills and become more productive. 'You become kind of a bionic person with AI,' Kotha said. 'I'm telling my students to learn to use AI and show [companies] that you can improve your productivity with AI and you can go forward, and you can work with this technology and master this technology.' Steve Krenzel, CEO at Seattle enterprise software startup Logic Krenzel said his advice hasn't changed since a decade ago: 'Master the fundamentals, explore every tool you can (both old and new), and build a lot of things,' he said. Building helps clarify your thinking and improves communication, he said. Milena Marinova, corporate vice president at Microsoft Use free or low-cost training to get hands-on experience with AI tools. But remember that timeless skills are still valuable. Overall bias for action, risk-taking, and thinking of out-of-the-box are rewarded, whether you're a new worker or a senior leader. Critical thinking, problem solving, and having a growth mindset are also important, Marinova said. Erik Moore, cybersecurity program director and professor at Seattle University Understanding the privacy and security risks of AI can get you ahead and provide value.
Time of India
7 days ago
- Time of India
Two bomb threat calls spark panic in Vijayawada
Vijayawada: Two bomb threat calls caused panic in Vijayawada on Saturday. In the first case, an unknown person claimed a bomb was planted near the LIC building on Besant Road. Police, along with bomb and dog squads, conducted thorough searches. According to Prasada Rao, DCP, city security wing (CSW), an unidentified caller claimed that a bomb was planted near the LIC building on the busy Besant Road. The call, made to the police control room, sent security forces into high alert. Responding swiftly, the Governorpet police, along with bomb disposal and dog squads, rushed to the scene and cordoned off the area. Several shops in and around the LIC building were temporarily closed as a precautionary measure until 11 am, while the teams conducted thorough checks. Prem Kumar, ACP, CSW, who oversaw the operation, stated that five teams, comprising around 20 personnel, were formed to carry out extensive searches across the Besant Road. "All precautionary protocols were followed and shops were shut briefly to ensure safety. The area has now been cleared, and normal business activities have resumed," ACP confirmed. The incident caused considerable alarm among shopkeepers and morning commuters, many of whom gathered in confusion as police intensified checks. In a parallel development, another call was made about a bomb threat at the Vijayawada Railway Station, one of the busiest transit points in Andhra Pradesh. Police confirmed that unidentified individuals called in, alleging the presence of explosives at the station. Bomb disposal squads were immediately dispatched to the station, where checks are currently underway. Police have confirmed no discovery of any suspicious objects in either locations so far. While both threats are suspected to be a hoax, police are treating them with utmost seriousness. An investigation is underway to trace the origin of the calls. Cyber teams are examining phone records and surveillance footage to identify the individuals responsible. Speaking to the media, senior police officials urged the public not to panic but to remain alert and report any suspicious activity. "Creating fear through such hoax calls is a punishable offence under the Indian law. Strict action will be taken once the culprits are identified," officials warned.
The National
11-05-2025
- Business
- The National
Trump's visit to the Gulf: Three areas that will shape US ties to the region
Prem Kumar is a partner at DGA Group, a global advisory firm. He previously served as senior director for the Middle East and North Africa in former US president Barack Obama's National Security Council
The National
11-05-2025
- Business
- The National
Trump's visit to the Gulf: 3 areas that will shape US ties to the region
Prem Kumar is a partner at DGA Group, a global advisory firm. He previously served as senior director for the Middle East and North Africa in former US president Barack Obama's National Security Council May 11, 2025
Geek Wire
07-05-2025
- Business
- Geek Wire
Despite a hiring slowdown, this recruiting startup is growing faster than ever
GeekWire's startup coverage documents the Pacific Northwest entrepreneurial scene. Sign up for our weekly startup newsletter , and check out the GeekWire funding tracker and venture capital directory . Some of the team at Humanly, a Seattle startup founded in 2018. The company employs 36 people. (Humanly Photo) It may seem a bit counterintuitive that Humanly is thriving as many companies pull back on hiring plans amid broader macroeconomic concerns. But the Seattle-based recruiting software startup is coming off its best two quarters since launching in 2018. Annual revenue is up 3X year-over-year. And it just raised $7 million to capitalize on recent momentum. Humanly uses a variety of automation software to help companies screen job candidates, schedule interviews, automate initial communication, run reference checks, and more. It competes against a wide swath of recruiting startups and larger platforms. Humanly CEO Prem Kumar pointed to several trends helping fuel growth. While hiring may slow, companies are still looking to fill roles — often with smaller recruiting teams. So they look to tools like Humanly for help. Kumar said he noticed this during the pandemic as well. As more candidates apply for fewer roles, companies get more applicant volume. Humanly can help 'engage with that demand at scale,' Kumar said. And as more candidates flow through Humanly's platform, its data models improve — helping better match job seekers with open roles. 'Then when the market rebounds we are also poised with strong candidates on the ready,' Kumar added. Driven in part by its acquisition of Teamable last year, Humanly has invested more heavily in tools to help job candidates — expanding beyond just serving companies. Kumar said 'candidate resentment,' which refers to negative experiences for job applicants, is at an all-time high. If Humanly can help candidates have a better experience on the job hunt (via mock interviews, career advice, etc.), it's betting that this will help companies — reducing their 'time to hire' and overall recruiting-related expenses. Prem Kumar, co-founder and CEO of Humanly, accepts the award for UX Design of the Year at the 2022 GeekWire Awards. (GeekWire File Photo / Kevin Lisota) Humanly screens 250,000 new candidates per month. Many of Humanly's customers are large companies outside of the tech industry that hire in high volumes. Kumar said the company has plenty of runway and didn't need to raise capital, describing the new funding as a 'momentum round.' The company's valuation has doubled since its last raise, Kumar said. Humanly raised $12 million in 2023. Total funding to date is $24 million. Investors in the latest funding round include Drive Capital, Y Combinator, Zeal Capital Partners, Pack Ventures, Elliot Group, Tres Monos, Spark Growth Ventures, TMD Ventures, Alumni Ventures, and several angels. Kumar is a former Microsoft and Tinypulse employee. He co-founded Humanly with Andrew Gardner and Bryan Leptich. The startup graduated from Y Combinator in 2019. Kumar won Startup CEO of the Year honors at the 2023 GeekWire Awards.
