Aaron, Dan, and John break down five common pieces of career advice that sound reasonable but actually hurt job seekers and working professionals. They cover why going it alone backfires, how AI-powered job applications create more problems than they solve (including a story about catching a candidate reading AI answers during an interview), why short stints on a resume aren't the dealbreaker people think, and why waiting until you need LinkedIn to start using it puts you months behind. The recruiters on the panel share what they actually see on the other side of the hiring process.

Timestamps

- [00:00:38] — Why "do it on your own" is the worst career mindset
- [00:02:35] — John's record: one cold-applied job in 17 years of working
- [00:04:39] — AI as a job search crutch: spam applications and the recruiter arms race
- [00:07:32] — Catching a candidate reading AI-generated answers on camera
- [00:10:12] — Dan's "opium of action" concept and what to use AI for instead
- [00:12:06] — Short stints on your resume: when to explain, when to skip
- [00:14:58] — The Twitter layoff lie that backfired in an interview
- [00:18:00] — Why being good at your job won't save you from a layoff
- [00:25:44] — The hidden job market is growing because companies are done posting roles
- [00:29:43] — Talent leaders are moving away from public job postings entirely

Co-hosts

- **Aaron Makelky** — [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaron-makelky-m-a-ed-038b852a3/)
- **Dan Yu** — [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/danoyu/)
- **John Lovig** — [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnlovig/)

Links

- [FutureProof You Website](https://futureproof-you.com)
- [FutureProof You on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/futureproof-you)

We’re thrilled to be sponsored by IXL.

IXL’s comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:
Simplify and streamline technology
Save teachers’ time
Reliably meet Tier 1 standards
Improve student performance on state assessments
🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.

EP 26 — Side Hustles, AI Agents, and the Human Skills That Still Matter

Job searches are at an all-time high, and so are searches for side hustles. The hosts break down how AI tools like Open Claw are letting solo entrepreneurs replace their first hire with a $50/month AI agent, why 18,000 people applied to a single job posting, and why mass-applying with ChatGPT resumes is a losing strategy. The real competitive advantage? Authentic relationships that no bot can replicate.

TIMESTAMPS
00:00:30 — Google searches for "find job" and "new job" have never been higher
00:00:55 — More people already have side hustles, not just looking for them
00:02:33 — AI lowered the barriers to starting a side hustle: websites, taxes, video, all doable with one tutorial
00:03:31 — Open Claw explained: an always-on AI agent you run on a Mac Mini or Raspberry Pi
00:06:04 — John's Perplexity spaces setup and why colleagues ask how he handles so many searches
00:07:12 — Knowing what AI can't do yet is just as useful as knowing what it can
00:09:48 — 18,000 applicants for one job, and why AI-blasted resumes all look the same
00:11:21 — Authentic relationships as the thing AI won't replace
00:14:41 — The "Never Eat Alone" principle: it's how much time you spend with who you know
00:19:32 — Why mass-applying feels productive but isn't, and the birthday party networking story

CO-HOSTS
Aaron Makelky — https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaron-makelky-m-a-ed-038b852a3/
Dan Yu — https://www.linkedin.com/in/danoyu/
John Lovig — https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnlovig/

LINKS
FutureProof You Website — https://futureproof-you.com
FutureProof You on LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/company/futureproof-you

We’re thrilled to be sponsored by IXL.

IXL’s comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:
Simplify and streamline technology
Save teachers’ time
Reliably meet Tier 1 standards
Improve student performance on state assessments
🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.

The hosts break down what actually works on LinkedIn in 2026, including intel Dan picked up at LinkedIn's headquarters. They cover why hashtags are dead, how the first 30 minutes after posting determine your reach, the exact character limits for hooks (62/62/50), and why replying to comments on your own posts matters more than most people think. Aaron makes the case for video content after one low-effort video drove 70-80% of his annual impressions, while Dan argues for text-first posts and evergreen articles.

Timestamps

- **0:01:02** — Dan on the basics: why replying to your own commenters still matters more than anything

- **0:03:02** — John on using bold photography and black-and-white images to stop the scroll

- **0:04:39** — Breakdown of every engagement type on LinkedIn and what each one signals to the algorithm

- **0:07:49** — How engagements create a network effect: the math behind impressions stacking

- **0:10:12** — The 30-minute window after posting and why your replies during that time matter most

- **0:12:17** — Hashtags are dead: what LinkedIn's own team told Dan at HQ

- **0:14:13** — Tagging people and brands: when it helps, when it's creepy, and the missing feature LinkedIn needs

- **0:19:30** — Content formats that work: carousels are out, writing is back, and the selfie fatigue problem

- **0:23:30** — The hook formula: 62 characters on line one, 62 on line two, 50 on line three before the cutoff

- **0:31:50** — Aaron's case for video after one clip drove 70-80% of his yearly impressions

Co-hosts

- **Aaron Makelky** — [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaron-makelky-m-a-ed-038b852a3/)

- **Dan Yu** — [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/danoyu/)

- **John Lovig** — [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnlovig/)

## Links

- [FutureProof You Website](https://futureproof-you.com)

- [FutureProof You on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/futureproof-you)

We’re thrilled to be sponsored by IXL.

IXL’s comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:
Simplify and streamline technology
Save teachers’ time
Reliably meet Tier 1 standards
Improve student performance on state assessments
🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.

Check out our website for additional resources: www.futureproof-you.com

We get asked this all the time: "How do you find the time to post consistently?" This episode is the answer. We talk through how we actually do it—what works, what doesn't, and how we've each built something sustainable.

How we got here:

Dan started with email chains on Wall Street. John was networking his way through grad school. Aaron was filming himself in front of a green screen for reasons he's still not sure about. We all came to content from different angles, and none of us had a plan.

What we talk about:

Getting past the early awkwardness of posting. Why you need somewhere to dump ideas the moment they hit—not when you finally sit down to write. How to figure out what you should actually post about by mashing up what you know with what you're into. (Pop culture, career pivots, Friday drink recipes—whatever.)

We also get into platform stuff: why commenting matters as much as posting, how to share links without tanking your reach, and why it's better to treat posts like experiments than finished products.

Topics:

Why we started posting in the first place

How to build a routine when you're scared to hit publish

Where to put ideas so you don't lose them

Figuring out your content lanes (like Pop Culture Friday)

How to look like a real person to the algorithm

Green screens, screenshots vs. links, and batching

Time Stamps for Chapters:

00:00 - Intro: Content Systems

01:08 - Why Start Posting?

03:14 - John's Motivation

04:22 - Aaron's Origin Story

07:34 - Building a Routine

12:08 - Idea Capture System

15:01 - Content Pillars

16:34 - Pop Culture Friday

23:08 - Friday Drink Recipes

27:17 - Platform Strategy

31:19 - External Links Strategy

33:24 - Green Screen Technique

35:25 - Parting Advice

38:14 - Outro

We’re thrilled to be sponsored by IXL.

IXL’s comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:
Simplify and streamline technology
Save teachers’ time
Reliably meet Tier 1 standards
Improve student performance on state assessments
🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.

New Year, New Career

We talk about what the 2026 job market actually looks like and what to do if you're thinking about switching careers or jobs this year.

What we cover:

Latest labor stats: jobless claims ticked up, job openings dropped by 300K, and white-collar roles are still getting hit hardest.

We run through which job titles are popping up for 2026: most involve AI implementation, integration, or scaling. AI engineer, data annotator, AI trainer. These are entry points for people switching fields if they're willing to learn new tools.

Nurse practitioners and sales pros are still doing fine. Turns out emotional intelligence and people skills matter more when AI handles the rest.

From a recruiter lens: we watch product manager openings and recruiter job postings as leading indicators. When those move, the broader market usually follows.

We talk about "job hugging" during bonus season. Q1 is weird because budgets open up and hiring picks up, but a lot of candidates are still hesitating. If you're ready, you can move faster than most.

For job seekers: holidays are over, so now's the time to actually network. Host something. Attend something. Stop relying on "easy apply."

Our habit picks for 2026:

Dan says "yes, and"—try industries you'd normally ignore.

John says talk to people in your network before you need something from them.

Aaron says pick a content format you like and actually stick with it.

The takeaway: Habits beat resolutions. You can't control when opportunities show up, but you can be ready when they do.

Resources:

LinkedIn Quickstart Guide and other downloadable classes at www.futureproof-you.com.
Use code NEWYEAR for 50% off.

0:38 — Labor Market Statistics
2:04 — Emerging Job Titles & AI Impact
5:43 — Hiring Indicators & Recruiter Insights
8:14 — Job Hugging & Bonus Season
11:37 — Advice for Job Seekers
22:56 — Best Habits for Career Success
34:11 — What We're Working On
39:15 — Closing Thoughts

We’re thrilled to be sponsored by IXL.

IXL’s comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:
Simplify and streamline technology
Save teachers’ time
Reliably meet Tier 1 standards
Improve student performance on state assessments
🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.

In this episode, Aaron Makelky, Dan Yu, and John Lovig cover how to navigate layoffs, whether you're watching them happen around you or going through one yourself.

Dan shares the numbers: over 1.1 million layoffs in 2025, a 54% jump year-over-year, making it the worst since COVID and the 2008 financial crisis. Tech, telecom, retail, airlines, and food service have all been hit. Amazon, Verizon, IBM, Starbucks, Meta, Microsoft, and UPS have made cuts, and seasonal hiring is down by about half compared to previous years.

The hosts offer practical advice for those seeing colleagues get let go. Dan recommends downloading your contacts, performance reviews, and any kudos emails while you still have access. These documents become critical when job searching. John emphasizes starting to network before you need to: coffee chats, reaching out to recruiters, or posting content on LinkedIn. Aaron's mental test: ask yourself what you'd wish you were doing right now if it had been you on that list.

John introduces the concept of "layoff fatigue"—the psychological and emotional toll of either enduring a prolonged job search or surviving multiple rounds of cuts at your company. The hosts discuss how this fatigue shows up in interviews (recruiters can spot cynicism immediately) and offer strategies for combating it, including finding joy outside of work, getting accountability partners, and maintaining perspective on what's actually within your control.

The episode wraps with a discussion on outplacement services—what they actually provide, the right questions to ask, and how to maximize their value, including the tip to pause services during slow hiring periods like the holidays.

For more resources, visit futureproof-yu.com.

Timestamps

0:00 – Intro
0:49 – The state of the 2025 job market: 1.1 million layoffs, 54% year-over-year increase
2:08 – Which job market numbers to trust (government data vs. ADP reports)
3:10 – Industries hit hardest: tech, telecom, retail, airlines, federal government
4:29 – Seasonal hiring down by half—what it signals about consumer spending
5:10 – What to do when you see colleagues get laid off
5:59 – Download your contacts, performance reviews, and KPIs while you can
7:32 – Start networking before you need to
9:25 – The difference between a transactional reach-out and a genuine one
11:10 – Dan's story: calling a laid-off client every few weeks for 18 months
13:02 – Take your laid-off boss out for a drink
13:51 – Update your LinkedIn profile during any company change
14:59 – Keep a file of thank-you notes for tough days
15:51 – What is "layoff fatigue"?
17:30 – Finding joy outside of work to reduce stress
18:33 – Layoff buddies: accountability partners for your job search
19:35 – Start a corporate alumni networking group on LinkedIn
20:28 – Can recruiters spot layoff fatigue in interviews? (Yes, immediately)
22:30 – "Bitter, angry, sad, and despondent is not sexy"
24:00 – Separating your identity from job search outcomes
25:40 – Locus of control: what you can and can't hold yourself accountable for
27:26 – Increasing your surface area for good things to happen
27:49 – Give LinkedIn recommendations as "lotto tickets with extra juice"
29:00 – Outplacement services: what they actually do (and don't do)
31:17 – Questions to ask about outplacement: success rates, coaching, databases
32:22 – Tip: pause outplacement services during slow hiring periods
32:35 – Outro and wrap-up

We’re thrilled to be sponsored by IXL.

IXL’s comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:
Simplify and streamline technology
Save teachers’ time
Reliably meet Tier 1 standards
Improve student performance on state assessments
🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.

Join recruiters Dan Yu and John Lovig as they share insights from the trenches on Q4 2025 hiring trends, AI's impact on recruitment, and essential strategies for job seekers navigating today's market.

Timestamps & Topics

[0:00] Introduction & Q4 Hiring Trends Overview

Aaron introduces the episode topic and the team discusses what's happening in Q4 hiring across the market.

[0:36] AI's Impact on Hiring

• Tech companies hiring for AI-enabled roles
• AI-first recruiting: companies seeking candidates who use AI in their workflows
• Executive-level searches indicating company growth
• Surge in tech recruiter postings

[2:13] Seasonal Hiring Patterns & Budget Spending

• Q4 as a strategic hiring period
• Budget constraints driving year-end hiring decisions
• "No fire, no hire" trend discussion
• Companies becoming more mindful about talent acquisition

[4:25] Job Hugging Trend Explained

• Definition: Doing anything to stay in your current job
• Behaviors: Taking on extra work, managing up, demonstrating value
• Connection to AI adoption and productivity increases
• Importance of being prepared for unexpected layoffs

[6:00] LinkedIn Profile Optimization for AI Search

• Building a robust LinkedIn presence
• Documenting accomplishments publicly
• Downloading contacts and memorializing achievements
• Preparing for potential career transitions

[8:00] Agentic AI in LinkedIn Recruiting

• LinkedIn's new AI agents for candidate search and messaging
• How AI search differs from traditional recruiting methods
• Importance of profile visibility for AI algorithms
• Risk of being overlooked without proper optimization

[9:39] Keyword Strategy for Visibility

• Using ubiquitous, industry-standard keywords
• Balancing specific and common terminology
• Keyword frequency and recency matter
• Strategic placement in current role and about section

[10:01] Using Pinned Posts Effectively

• Three pinned posts appear prominently on profiles
• Confirming expertise through content
• Recruiter attention span: 6-8 seconds to engage
• Examples of strategic post pinning

[11:11] LinkedIn Profile Knockout Mistakes

• Creative roles without portfolio examples in posts
• Missing professional profile pictures for client-facing roles
• Lack of background/banner images
• Not showcasing work you're proud of

[13:10] Closing & Course Information

• LinkedIn optimization live course: November 6th
• Downloadable/asynchronous course options available
• Visit futureproofyou.com for more information

Key Takeaways

1. AI skills are becoming essential across roles, not just technical positions
2. Q4 is an active hiring period driven by budget cycles
3. Your LinkedIn profile must be AI-search optimized with strategic keywords
4. Recruiters spend 6-8 seconds scanning profiles—make every element count
5. Document your accomplishments and maintain an up-to-date professional presence

Resources Mentioned

• FutureProofYou.com - Course information and resources
• LinkedIn Optimization Course - Live (Nov 6) and downloadable formats

Connect with the Hosts

Find Dan Yu, John Lovig, and Aaron Makelky on LinkedIn to learn more about hiring trends and career optimization strategies.

We’re thrilled to be sponsored by IXL.

IXL’s comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:
Simplify and streamline technology
Save teachers’ time
Reliably meet Tier 1 standards
Improve student performance on state assessments
🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.

Terri Dien went from White House Press Office to campaign wins to culinary school at 30-something, then stacked skills across restaurants, teaching, corporate dining, four cookbooks, and now voiceover. We cover: how to test and iterate, translate strengths into new lanes, use networks instead of blind applying, design better learning with simple takeaways, and why failing in public is often the fastest teacher. Speed round at the end (Zuni roast chicken fans, unite).

• 00:00 Intro

• 02:00 White House → campaigns

• 07:00 Burnout + food as signal

• 13:00 Culinary school pivot

• 20:30 Imposter syndrome → street cred

• 23:00 How she designs classes that stick

• 26:30 Risk and safety nets

• 28:00 Networking > applying

• 31:00 Mentors + “permission to fail”

• 33:30 Advice if you feel stuck

• 36:00 Voiceover 3- and 5-year plan

• 41:00 Cookbooks

• 44:00 Bon Appétit opportunity

• 48:00 400 kids/day, food safety

• 51:30 Speed round

Check out futureproof-you.com for free resources to help you take control of your career today!

We’re thrilled to be sponsored by IXL.

IXL’s comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:
Simplify and streamline technology
Save teachers’ time
Reliably meet Tier 1 standards
Improve student performance on state assessments
🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.