Jareen Imam’s Post

This amazing article by the The New York Times Emma Goldberg is just amazing. It's the most articulate exposition of something I feel deeply in my soul: if #AI takes our meaningless jobs, aren't we better off? Goldberg reviews David Graeber's exposition of "Bullsh*t Jobs," "jobs that workers themselves find useless, and which produce work that could evaporate tomorrow with no real effect on the world." In a previous role, a member of my department handed out meaningless tasks and called status meetings to status their status. It took me months to realize that person's only job was to task others so they had task outputs to review and summarize. If you fired (or tricked your competitor to hire) this one person, our stock would probably go up six points. Then, during covid, I realized how meaningless the meaningless tasks are; when we stopped doing them, nothing happened! Although these meaningless tasks give someone something to do, maybe if you paid these humans to do nothing all of society would be better! The department wouldn't get tasked and these people could live their passion of opening an artisanal cheese shop (hard[er] to automate away). Goldberg calls this a "species-level identity crisis" and wow do I agree with her. Why do we waste time doing things that provably "don't need to be done" and instead of AI taking our jobs, isn't it freeing our lives from a modern-day version of indentured servitude? I was recently a speaker at an event on AI and was asked if my vision came to pass how would people get paid and what would happen to jobs. I don't know how to pay for it, but like Graeber, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, and even Elon Musk, I think this drives society to some form of Universal Basic Income. Perhaps we will take inspiration from Star Trek's Captain Jean-Luc Picard: In the 24th century, "The acquisition of wealth is no longer the driving force in our lives. We work to better ourselves and the rest of humanity."

At a recent work conference, my close friend listened as Zack Kass, the former Head of Go-To-Market for OpenAI, addressed a room full of professionals. Inevitably, the conversation turned to AI and its potential to replace jobs—a worry that’s on everyone’s mind these days. Kass offered a striking perspective: “You don’t need to worry unless your identity is tied to your work.” That statement hit home for both my friend and me. While I share people’s concerns about generative AI, Kass’s point made me reflect on how much we tether our self-worth to our careers. Jobs come and go, but when we wrap our identity around them, we risk losing ourselves when that work disappears. This fear of change isn’t just theoretical—I’ve felt it firsthand. In October 2020, I was laid off, along with millions of Americans, at the height of the pandemic. It was a shock—something I never imagined would happen. I thought my career was secure, but life has a way of pulling the rug out from under us, teaching us that nothing is guaranteed. The hardest part of being unemployed wasn’t financial—it was untangling myself from the idea that I was my job. I had to confront the lie that my worth was tied to a title or a degree. For so long, I clung to these identities: student, employee, achiever. Without them, I felt unmoored. But that season of unemployment gave me the space I didn’t know I needed—to rest, reflect, and rebuild. During that time, I realized how much more existed within me—untapped creativity, resilience, and curiosity that had been buried beneath the noise of achievement. I even built an entire website from scratch, a monumental feat for someone who isn’t exactly tech-savvy. Each day, I surprised myself with new skills and the strength I discovered along the way. The biggest lesson? Jobs and money matter, but they aren’t what truly sustains me. What sustains me are my heritage, character, vision, and values. Now that I’m gainfully employed again, I carry that lesson with me: my worth isn’t rooted in what I do for work—it’s found in who I am. So, if you’ve recently lost your job, are transitioning into a new role, or find yourself dissatisfied with your current work, I encourage you to pause and ask: Who am I, and what do I have to offer the world? Keep searching for opportunities that align with the truth of who you are—those things that nourish your spirit and allow you to give back in a way only you can.

If you’re focusing your job search on big tech names like Google or at Microsoft, you might want to broaden your horizon. While Google’s acceptance rate for applicants is less than 1% for Software Engineers, and Harvard's is around 3%. Statistically, this means you're more likely to get into Harvard than to secure a job at Google. The good news is there are countless other incredible companies out there, many of which offer life-changing work experiences and have values that align with your own. Just because a company’s name isn’t plastered across billboards doesn’t mean it lacks innovation, growth opportunities, or a positive culture. Some of the best roles and most meaningful work can be found in companies that may not yet be household names, but they are equally driven by values and focused on changing the world. These organizations often provide greater opportunities for growth, impact, and the kind of work-life balance you deserve. Remember, your career path can be defined not by the brand name, but by the amazing experiences you gain and the company’s commitment to your personal and professional growth. Explore, dream big, and discover these hidden gems! Here's a few of my favorites: HiBob Thrivemarket Ltd SoFi Anduril Industries FabFitFun Vuori SharkNinja Udemy Qualtrics Ruggable Chewy Snap Inc. #JobSearch #CareerGrowth #ExploreMore #TechCareers #CareerOpportunities #WorkLifeBalance #Inspiration #ValueDrivenJobs #LifeChangingRoles #Retail #AI #Pet #VirtualReality

Have you ever actually counted how many different jobs you've worked? Many of my friends are retiring early, but not me--I'm seeking my next project. Having worked since age eleven (babysitting), my ambition drove me to wait tables, clean houses, scoop ice cream, do telephone and retail sales, and care for the developmentally disabled and elderly, while putting myself through college and grad school. Later, I reveled in the chance to put that education to work, writing and editing articles and books and founding/managing a small, global-mission nonprofit. If you count work that doesn't provide a paycheck, my most cherished job was being a mom. I've also received far more than money delivering meals to shut-ins, serving food to and sorting clothing for the unhoused, writing pro-bono for social justice organizations, and advocating for youth mental health via the arts ... I've lost count of how many jobs that is. The World Economic Forum and Zippia report that people average about twelve jobs in their careers. However, the pandemic's Great Resignation (four million Americans quitting their jobs in one month in 2021) and the Great Migration (employees moving to more satisfying jobs with companies whose values match their own) have spiked an increase in the number of jobs held during one's career. Gen Zers and Alphas work remotely, move fluidly, and demand dignity, and as they grow into dominance in the workplace, we will see even more frequent shifts in jobs and careers. Future jobs will, I believe, require more flexibility, creativity, and versatility. As automation and A.I. supplement and replace many jobs, it is our very humanity that will come to hold the highest value in the marketplace. For all our flaws, fears, and failures, we bring organic brilliance and evolving wisdom to our work that no coding can replicate. #jobs #work #futureofwork #AI #careers #GenZ #Alpha Thanks to Mahmud Ahsan on Unsplash for the free, open-source, adorable image of his son, already hard at work. 😂

Two Months of Job Searching Two months have passed since I started my job search. I’m currently navigating the hiring process with four companies, and although I’m still optimistic, I’m beginning to feel a touch of fatigue. The IT market continues to tremble. I don’t know if this is somehow related to AI, but I firmly believe that the IT world as we know it will soon cease to exist. In the grand scheme of time, nothing "big" will happen. New technologies will replace the old, and millions of people along with current infrastructure will become obsolete. Over the past 150 years, humanity has witnessed two massive technological revolutions: the industrial and the informational. Now we’ve entered a new revolution, which historians will name once it’s over. What the future holds, no one knows. And no one can tell us exactly how to find our place in it. Investing in our mental resilience and adaptability seems like a good idea. Recently, I came across these incredible company values: https://lnkd.in/e2KHukju. Oddly, based on the reactions of everyone I enthusiastically sent them to, these values seem to resonate only with me. Or maybe people just find them too long to read—who knows. Wishing everyone peace, health, and fulfilling work. #jobsearch

It is evident that A.I. can do quite a lot — mimicking Shakespeare, debugging code; sending emails, reading emails — though it’s not at all clear how far it will go, or what consequences that will bring. When it comes to administrative work, A.I. has already arrived. On Gmail, writers no longer have to compose their own responses, because auto reply generates choices like “yes, that works for me.” A.I. is even promising to take over personal logistics: The A.I. startup Duckbill uses a combination of A.I. and human assistants to knock out rote to-do-list items entirely, from returning purchases to buying a child’s birthday present. It’s nearly impossible to imagine what the labor market will look like as A.I. improves and transforms our workplaces and our economy. But many workers booted from their meaningless jobs by A.I. could find new roles, ones that emerge through the process of automation. It’s an old story: Technology has offset job losses with job creation throughout history. Horse drawn carriages were replaced by cars, which created jobs not just on auto assembly lines but also in car sales and gas stations. Personal computing eliminated some 3.5 million jobs, and then created an enormous industry and spurred many others, none of which could have been fathomed a century ago. #ai #futureofwork #career https://lnkd.in/gMxGynvr

In this week's edition of The Playbook, we take a look at how recent college graduates want to be managed, how AI is fueling some layoffs and more.

In this week's edition of The Playbook, we take a look at how recent college graduates want to be managed, how AI is fueling some layoffs and more.

🔥 The Future of Work Isn't What You Think Reid Hoffman (LinkedIn co-founder) predicts the death of 9-5 jobs by 2034. Key shifts happening right now: • Gen Z is the fastest-growing workforce segment, actively rejecting traditional employment • Technology + AI are transforming how value is created • Global opportunities are accessible to anyone with wifi and a laptop 🎯 What will actually matter in 2025: • Results over qualifications • Practical skills over theoretical knowledge • Multiple income streams over single salary • Global reach over local limitations 💡 Smart moves to future-proof yourself: 1. Build high-value skills while employed 2. Develop your personal brand 3. Create a broad professional network 4. Establish multiple income streams The biggest risk isn't changing - it's staying still. What steps are you taking to adapt to this shift? #FutureOfWork #CareerDevelopment #Innovation

🚀 **The 9-to-5 Job is Dying: Are You Ready for the Future?** 🚀 By 2034, the traditional 9-to-5 job may be a thing of the past. This isn’t just speculation—this is the prediction of Reid Hoffman, the founder of LinkedIn. Before you dismiss this as "just another prediction," consider his track record: - 📈 *In 1997, he foresaw the rise of social media.* - 🏡 *He invested in Airbnb, recognizing the potential of the sharing economy.* - 🤖 *He predicted the rise of AI well before ChatGPT became a household name.* But the real question is: *What happens when the 9-to-5 goes extinct? And how can you prepare?* Here’s how: 1. **Monetize Your Skills**: The ability to turn your skills into income will be essential. 2. **Be a Generalist with Expertise**: Combining broad knowledge with deep expertise in a specific field will set you apart.   - *Example*: A software engineer who can sell has better odds than one who can't. 3. **Diversify Your Skills**: The more skills you have, the better your chances of success. 4. **Embrace the Gig Economy**: Understand that income will vary—some months will be lucrative, others slower. 5. **Invest Wisely**: Learn to manage your finances to navigate the ups and downs of irregular income. 6. **Expand Your Global Knowledge**: The more you know about the world, the more opportunities you can seize. 7. **Combat Loneliness**: As office culture fades, loneliness will peak. Online communities and structured networking events will become vital. The future of work is fast approaching—are you ready to adapt and thrive? Let's start the conversation on how to prepare for the inevitable changes ahead. 💼🌍 #FutureOfWork #GigEconomy #CareerDevelopment #SkillsForSuccess