This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Jillian Richardson, a 31-year-old ghostwriter for executives. She’s based in Brooklyn. The following has been edited for length and clarity.
I’m a ghostwriter focused on helping executives and founders grow their presence on LinkedIn.
I offer LinkedIn profile polishes for executives, as well as people looking for a new job or trying out self-employment. After helping a number of people edit their profiles, one of my takeaways is that people need to brag more. They are not hyping themselves up nearly enough.
LinkedIn is the place where it’s socially acceptable to brag. The point is to discuss your career and where you’re going next in life. LinkedIn is also a sea of people, and if you don’t share what makes you unique, you won’t stand out. People also assume you just need to share something about yourself once, and that’s it, but things get lost on social media, so you can share the same thing a few times.
I recently talked to a colleague, and we both have the same experience with ghostwriting clients. When they start posting more on LinkedIn, they’ll receive a text from a friend calling them a try-hard or poking fun at them.
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The idea that social media is not entirely real and only shows everyone’s best side is what’s called “discernment.” You’re not going to be sharing every horrible moment of your life on social media. If you did, you probably wouldn’t be in a super stable place. There are only parts of yourself that you want to share on the internet, and that’s up to you. I wouldn’t say that’s inauthentic. That’s just having boundaries.
There are a lot of places in the profile where the bragging — or lack of it — can show up. These are my suggestions to showcase your accomplishments more effectively:
The ‘Headline’
The headline is one of the places people share accomplishments. I always recommend that when people write their headline, they think about using the language they would if they were speaking to an individual customer.
You want to use the headline to let the reader know how you can support them. Just write it as a single sentence. Don’t use those divider lines that chop up everything because that’s when people get carried away, and then they have 10 different accomplishments that don’t connect to the person reading it.
The ‘About’ section
I can’t tell you the number of founders I’ve talked to who literally don’t have anything in their ‘About’ section. If I looked at their LinkedIn, I would assume their company doesn’t even exist.
In the ‘About’ section, you should share statistics of how you help your customers. This is the place to really brag about how you help people succeed; why people should trust you; and what makes you different from other people in your industry. You should also use client case studies and share testimonials.
The ‘Featured’ section
I always recommend that people pin a newsletter, a landing page, or a website that brings people outside LinkedIn, where you can collect their email so you can be in contact with them in another place, and continue to have them get familiar with you.
For example, you could feature a social media moment that you had. Recently, I was featured in Forbes, so I have that there to look like I’m a trustworthy human being. Or, I can pin a LinkedIn post that performed really well to demonstrate my industry expertise.
The ‘Recommendations’ section
The Recommendations section is located toward the bottom of the profile, and many people don’t pay attention to it. However, people really look at this section when considering hiring someone. Many people already have testimonials on their website, so I usually suggest asking for recommendations from those people by saying something like, “Hey, you said this exact thing to me. Would you be willing to copy and paste this on LinkedIn?”
Or, if somebody just said something nice to you on a call that they maybe didn’t write down, just email them being like, “Hey, I’m looking for recommendations on my LinkedIn. I remember you so generously said this thing. Would you be willing to copy and paste this as a LinkedIn recommendation?”
Most people will say yes, including a former boss or colleague.As long as you have a good relationship with them,why not reach out and ask? Everybody wants to see their team members succeed, hopefully.
The artificial intelligence boom is real — but there’s more to the AI trade than chips alone, according to a credit investor.
“This is a super-duper micro cycle that will outlast many investing careers,” said Scott Goodwin, the cofounder and managing partner of Diameter Capital Partners, a quote he attributed to his partner Jonathan Lewinsohn.
AI represents what Diameter Capital sees as a long-running, disruptive cycle — but buying the most obvious winners isn’t the only way to play it, he said on the “Goldman Sachs Exchanges” podcast published on Friday.
Diameter Capital, which manages approximately $25 billion in assets, has focused on where AI demand could create less obvious bottlenecks — and where those bottlenecks show up in credit markets.
The AI opportunity beyond chips
That view led Diameter to buy the unsecured debt of a midsize telecommunications company in 2023.
Goodwin said the bet was rooted in the idea that as companies move from training AI models to actually using them, demand shifts away from chips alone and toward the networks that carry data.
“It had to leave the data center. How would it leave? It would leave on the commercial fiber, the pipes,” he said.
The telco went on to sign more than $10 billion in contracts with hyperscale cloud providers, and the debt has rebounded to face value, Goodwin said.
Diameter Capital also made “a big bet” on a satellite company tied to the wireless spectrum — a wager that later paid off after the company sold spectrum assets and the debt returned to face value.
Goodwin’s comments come amid growing debate over whether sky-high AI valuations are sustainable and whether investors are overlooking other opportunities tied to the technology.
Risks and rewards
Goodwin warned that parts of the AI-credit boom may be taking on risk that’s hard to price, especially in chip finance.
Some investors, he said, are taking on “residual risk,” or the riskiest slice of chip-financing deals — betting on what the hardware might be worth years from now. Cutting-edge firms refresh their technology often, so chips can quickly become outdated for some customers.
“We call up really smart people in Silicon Valley, we call up really smart people at Big Tech companies and ask them what the residual value is on these chips three, four, five, six, seven years forward,” he said. “None of them have a clue.”
Goodwin said the next phase isn’t just about spending on infrastructure — it’s about competitive disruption rather than capital expenditure.
“Who are the companies, who are the entities that are going to adopt AI and take a step forward versus their peers? And who are going to be the losers?” he asked.
“That is actually a longer cycle than the capex cycle, so that’s really interesting,” he said.
Companies may have cybersecurity teams in place, but many still aren’t prepared for how AI systems actually fail, says an AI security researcher.
Sander Schulhoff, who wrote one of the earliest prompt engineering guides and focuses on AI system vulnerabilities, said on an episode of “Lenny’s Podcast” published Sunday that many organizations lack the talent needed to understand and fix AI security risks.
Traditional cybersecurity teams are trained to patch bugs and address known vulnerabilities, but AI doesn’t behave that way.
“You can patch a bug, but you can’t patch a brain,” Schulhoff said, describing what he sees as a mismatch between how security teams think and how large language models fail.
“There’s this disconnect about how AI works compared to classical cybersecurity,” he added.
That gap shows up in real-world deployments. Cybersecurity professionals may review an AI system for technical flaws without asking: “What if someone tricks the AI into doing something it shouldn’t?” said Schulhoff, who runs a prompt engineering platform and an AI red-teaming hackathon.
Unlike traditional software, AI systems can be manipulated through language and indirect instructions, he added.
Schulhoff said people with experience in both AI security and cybersecurity would know what to do if an AI model is tricked into generating malicious code. For example, they would run the code in a container and ensure the AI’s output doesn’t affect the rest of the system.
The intersection of AI security and traditional cybersecurity is where “the security jobs of the future are,” he added.
The rise of AI security startups
Schulhoff also said that many AI security startups are pitching guardrails that don’t offer real protection. Because AI systems can be manipulated in countless ways, claims that these tools can “catch everything” are misleading.
“That’s a complete lie,” he said, adding that there would be a market correction in which “the revenue just completely dries up for these guardrails and automated red-teaming companies.”
AI security startups have been riding the wave of investor interest. Big Tech and venture capital firms have poured money into the space as companies rush to secure AI systems.
In March, Google bought cybersecurity startup Wiz for $32 billion, a deal aimed at strengthening its cloud security business.
Google CEO Sundar Pichai said AI was introducing “new risks” at a time when multi-cloud and hybrid setups are becoming more common.
“Against this backdrop, organizations are looking for cybersecurity solutions that improve cloud security and span multiple clouds,” he added.
Business Insider reported last year that growing security concerns around AI models have helped fuel a wave of startups pitching tools to monitor, test, and secure AI systems.
The world’s largest technology companies are scrambling to manage a growing crisis affecting thousands of their employees on work visas, as new social media screening requirements trigger delays at US embassies and consulates worldwide.
Google, Apple, Microsoft, and ServiceNow have all sent advisories to visa-holding employees in recent days, warning them against international travel and describing appointment delays stretching up to a year.
The memos, sent by immigration law firms representing these companies or by their internal legal teams, paint a picture of mounting uncertainty for foreign workers who form a critical part of the tech industry’s workforce.
The warnings come as American embassies have postponed routine visa stamping appointments, leaving some employees already abroad unable to return to work in the US for extended periods.
For H-1B holders, the primary work visa used by tech companies, the situation creates a particularly difficult bind. If their visa stamp expires and they travel abroad, they must obtain a new stamp at a consulate before re-entering the US. With appointments now being rescheduled months into the future, what would typically be a routine trip home has become a potential career disruption lasting up to a year.
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On Friday, a spokesperson for the Department of State told Business Insider it was now conducting “online presence reviews for applicants.” The department said it may move appointments as resources change, with applicants able to request expedited slots on a case-by-case basis.
“While in the past the emphasis may have been on processing cases quickly and reducing wait times, our embassies and consulates around the world, including in India, are now prioritizing thoroughly vetting each visa case above all else,” the State Department spokesperson said. Appointments in Ireland and Vietnam have also been postponed, according to immigration firm Reddy Neumann Brown PC.
Below are the full texts of the internal memos sent to employees at these companies, obtained by Business Insider, which reveal how corporate America is responding to the visa processing slowdown.
Google declined to comment, while Microsoft, Apple, and ServiceNow did not respond to requests for comment from Business Insider.
Microsoft
Microsoft has advised its visa-holding workers not to travel.
Matthias Balk/picture alliance via Getty Images
Below is the text of a memo sent by Jack Chen, Microsoft’s associate general counsel for immigration.
Update #1 on H-1B/H-4 Visa Appointment Rescheduling and Stamping DelaysHi everyone,As shared yesterday, some U.S. consulates are rescheduling existing H-1B/H-4 visa appointments and pushing dates out by several months. Here’s what we know:
Rescheduling notifications are concentrated in Chennai and Hyderabad, with some unverified reports from other consulates. New dates are as far out as June 2026.
The delays stem from operational constraints tied to the new online presence review for H-1B/H-4 visas, effective December 15, which reduces daily processing capacity. We’re also hearing that these consulates needed time to implement new vetting procedures.
We have no confirmed reports of rescheduling for other visa types yet. While only H-1B/H-4, F, J, and M visas are subject to the online presence review, we think secondary impacts on overall processing may emerge.
We don’t know if rescheduling is ongoing, for those whose original visa appointments have not been changed.
Some employees have already traveled for appointments and received rescheduling notices without warning; others are getting notices before departure. To set expectations, it is highly unlikely emergency appointments will be granted, given the circumstances.This is a rapidly developing situation. Here is our preliminary guidance, which we’ll update as we learn more. Please read this next section carefully—I’ve tried to simplify it, but the details do matter:
For those currently outside the U.S.:
You need a new visa stamp + your H-1B visa appointment was rescheduled months later: We will contact you. Please follow the instructions below to report your situation (even if you’ve already contacted AskUSI).
Your H-1B visa appointment was rescheduled BUT you still have some validity left on your current visa stamp: If your visa is for the proper work-authorized category, return before your current visa expires. This situation applies for people who had scheduled visa appointments because their visas are expiring soon, not before the return to the U.S. is planned.
For those still in the U.S.:
You have upcoming travel + will need a new visa to return + your H-1B visa appointment was rescheduled months later: You should strongly consider changing your travel plans. You cannot return until your new visa stamp is issued, and it’s highly unlikely that the appointment can be moved earlier. And there are limitations to your ability to perform work for your U.S. role during that period. See Microsoft Global Mobility Payroll and Tax Compliance Policy.
You have upcoming travel + will need a new visa to return BUT your H-1B visa appointment has not been rescheduled: There is risk your appointment could be moved during your trip and result in you being stuck abroad. Factor this into your decision. We are still learning more about how widespread and significant delays are in other consulates.
For other visa categories (not H-1B/H-4, F, J, M): Proceed as planned for now, but note things can change quickly.
HOW YOU CAN HELP US IDENTIFY TRENDS
To track real-time impacts, we need data from employees whose appointments have been rescheduled or may be soon. This will help us identify:
Which consulates are affected
When notifications of rescheduling are being sent
Length of delays
Whether other visa types are impacted
If you have a visa appointment scheduled with a U.S. consulate for any visa category, we’ve created a survey where you can share these details with us. And importantly, the survey allows you to update your responses—for example, if you haven’t been rescheduled when you originally complete this survey, but subsequently receive a rescheduling notification. This form is also the clearest way for us to identify employees who are currently outside the U.S. and cannot return until a new visa stamp is issued: Census of Upcoming Visa Stamping Appointments — Fill out formWe’ll share out insights based on these responses and further information we’re able to gather by the end of the week.For employees currently stuck abroad—we know this is an anxious moment. We will provide clear and orderly guidance to you directly as soon as we can.
Google
Lawyers for Google told the company’s visa-holding staffers that visa processing is facing delays as long as a year.
Cheng Xin/Getty Images
Below is the text of an email sent by Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP (BAL), the immigration firm that represents Google.
Hi everyone,Please be aware that some U.S. Embassies and Consulates are experiencing significant visa stamping appointment delays, currently reported as up to 12 months.Due to high demand and enhanced screening for H-1B, H-4, F, J and M visas, visa processing is taking longer than usual. If you require a new visa stamp to re-enter the U.S., we recommend avoiding international travel at this time as you risk an extended stay outside the U.S.We encourage you to review go/bal-travel-advisory. If you have any questions, reach out to schedule a consultation with a BAL attorney at go/getsupport.Thank you,BAL
Apple
Apple also sent memos to visa-holding workers warning them of extended delays in visa processing.
Andrej Sokolow/picture alliance via Getty Images
Below is the text of an email sent by Apple’s immigration team.
Given the recent updates and the possibility of unpredictable, extended delays when returning to the US, we strongly recommend that employees without a valid H-1B visa stamp avoid international travel for now. If travel cannot be postponed, employees should connect with Apple Immigration and Fragomen in advance to discuss the risks.
ServiceNow
ServiceNow, an IT automation firm, told its visa holders that a new immigration policy requiring the vetting of social media is causing delays in processing.
Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images
Below is the text of an email sent by ServiceNow’s Global Mobility Team.
Potential cancellation of US consulate appointments for H-1B and H-4 visa holders
Global Mobility update
What to knowThe US State Department has announced that some consulate appointments for individuals holding H-1B and H-4 visas are being canceled due to a newly implemented review process that examines applicants’ online presence, including social media activity.This change primarily affects foreign nationals with appointments scheduled on or after December 15, 2025, at US consulates in India who require visa stamps to return to the United States. However, it could also impact other visa types and consulates in the future.Please see the Fragomen client alert here.Notification processIf your appointment is affected by this process change, you will receive an email from the consulate with a cancellation notice and a new appointment, which in some cases could be as late as November 2026.If you’re outside the U.S. right now
If you need a new visa stamp and your H-1B visa appointment has been delayed by several months: Reach out to your manager as soon as possible to discuss whether an exception to the 30-day Work from Anywhere policy is warranted.
If your H-1B appointment has been delayed, but your current visa stamp is still valid: If your visa category allows you to work in the U.S., we recommend you return before your current visa expires.
Exceptions and emergency appointmentsIf your appointment has been cancelled or rescheduled, you may apply for an emergency expedited appointment if you meet one of the following criteria:
Death in the family
Medical need / Family Emergency
Potential loss of substantial revenue, profits, or contracts for the company
We have heard that the expedited consulate appointment process is resulting in an earlier appointment, so you are encouraged to try this approach by completing the request form. Please review the Expedited Consulate Appointments site for additional details.Working from India or any location using the Work from Anywhere exceptionIf delay would materially impact revenue/contracts or there’s a medical/family emergency, ServiceNow will review and approve exceptions to the 30-day Work from Anywhere guidelines on a case-by-case basis.Travel guidanceIf you’re planning travel, please consult with Fragomen for guidance before making any arrangements. If you have upcoming trips to India that require a consulate appointment for visa stamping to return to the U.S., we recommend cancelling those plans. Otherwise, you risk significant delays in securing an appointment to apply for a visa stamp.SupportIf you have questions about consulate appointment cancellations or upcoming travel, you can reach out to Fragomen through the Fragomen Messenger feature within the Fragomen Connect Portal or submit a request to the Global Mobility team.The Global Mobility Team
Have a tip? Contact Pranav Dixit via email at pranavdixit@protonmail.com or Signal at 1-408-905-9124. Use a personal email address, a nonwork WiFi network, and a nonwork device; here’s our guide to sharing information securely.
When a power outage hit San Francisco on Saturday, local drivers had to navigate more than just darkened roads and inactive stoplights.
Footage shared on social media shows some Waymo robotaxis stalled in traffic, clogging roadways and causing disruptions. One video on X showed at least five Waymos crowding an intersection, forcing human drivers to maneuver around them.
A Waymo spokesperson told Business Insider that the company has suspended its services in the area because of the power outage.
“Our teams are working diligently and in close coordination with city officials, and we are hopeful to bring our services back online soon. We appreciate your patience and will provide further updates as soon as they are available,” the spokesperson said.
The power outage affected about 130,000 Pacific Gas & Electric customers on Saturday. In an X post on Sunday, the company said a fire caused “significant and extensive” damage to its substation. The company said crews are working to restore power for 21,000 San Francisco residents.
On X, Tesla CEO Elon Musk used the incident to promote his company’s own robotaxis. “Tesla Robotaxis were unaffected by the SF power outage,” he wrote.
Tesla and Waymo are direct competitors in the autonomous ride-hailing market, but are relying on different technologies to get them there.
Tesla robotaxis use cameras and AI to find their way around. Waymo uses a suite of light sensors, radar, cameras, and detailed maps that are uploaded and regularly updated. That means sudden changes to the areas where a Waymo robotaxi operates could impact its ability to navigate.
Waymo, owned by Alphabet Inc., debuted its autonomous ride-hailing service to the public in 2018 in the Phoenix metro area.
The company has expanded its services to other cities, including Austin and Atlanta, through a partnership with Uber, but it hasn’t all been smooth sailing.
In May, Waymo recalled the software for more than 1,200 cars after some collided with “chains or gates.” More recently, a Waymo vehicle hit and killed a beloved bodega cat in San Francisco, sparking outrage from residents.
Whether it’s local bakeries or big chocolatiers, there’s a version of Dubai chocolate just about everywhere. So how did this dessert become a viral sensation, and how are businesses around the world cashing in on the trend?
Thirty years ago, I fell in love with Croatia’s rugged shoreline the moment I saw the crystal-clear waters.
I grew up with sandy lakesides instead of tropical waters, so spending hours watching sea cucumbers, small fish, and crabs felt like nothing I’d ever seen or known before.
I’ve visited Croatia almost every year since then, and it’s continued to feel refreshingly authentic — unspoiled, relaxed, and not staged for tourists. Here are four of my favorite places in the country.
“Game of Thrones” fans should take a day trip to Lokrum Island to see a replica of the Iron Throne
Lokrum Island was a filming location for “Game of Thrones.”
Hterry15/Shutterstock
If you’ve ever dreamt about sitting on the Iron Throne from HBO’s “Game of Thrones,” I highly recommend visiting Lokrum Island, which doubled as the city of Qarth in the series.
After a short 15-minute ferry ride from Dubrovnik, you can wander the gardens of the Benedictine monastery.
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There’s also a small exhibition commemorating the series, with a replica of the Iron Throne.
And if you’re not a fan of the show, there’s still plenty to do on the island. Don’t miss floating in its salt lake (Mrtvo More), relaxing at one of the secluded beaches, or snapping pictures of the many free-roaming peacocks.
Relax on a quiet beach along Rab’s seaside promenade
I’ve been visiting Croatia since I was a child, and I love coming back to Rab Island’s beaches.
Emese Maczko
Although many tourists flock to Lopar and its sandy beaches, I prefer to spend time along the quiet seaside promenade between the towns of Palit and Rab.
This promenade is a place for simple joys, like starting your day with a jog, enjoying delicious breakfast with a view, or taking a refreshing swim. The energy remains high throughout the day as families swim, hunt for seashells, and grab ice cream.
The pathway is dotted with little beaches tucked under the shade of pine trees. In the summer, I love relaxing while listening to the rhythmic hum of cicadas, a sound so quintessentially Croatian that I can’t imagine the season without it.
Rastoke looks like a fairy tale brought to life
The waterfalls in Rastoke are beautiful.
DaLiu/Shutterstock
Located about 30 minutes away from Plitvice Lakes National Park, Rastoke is more than just a quaint little village.
With over 20 waterfalls along the Slunjčica River, original mills, a fairy garden, and an eco museum, visiting Rastoke is like taking a step back in time.
My kids loved visiting the fairy garden, which featured a variety of hidden fairy sculptures. Meanwhile, I enjoyed walking along a boardwalk to explore the waterfalls.
Imotski is one of the best hidden gems in Croatia
The town of Imotski overlooks Blue Lake.
Joachim Bago/Shutterstock
Perched at the top of a plateau overlooking Modro Jezero (Blue Lake) — which is located in a sinkhole — is the town of Imotski.
I recommend starting your trip with a visit to the Blue Lake Viewpoint. When water levels are high (typically after late spring-early summer rainfall), you’ll find people swimming.
But the fun doesn’t stop on the rare occasion that the lake dries out. In fact, it’s tradition for the empty crater to become the stage for a soccer game between the teams Vilenjaci (Elves) and Vukodlaci (Werewolves).
I also enjoy visiting the Topana Fortress, which is located at the town’s highest point, and the nearby Crveno Jezero (Red Lake), which is in a sinkhole, too, and boasts unreal views.
No matter where you go in Croatia, I’m sure you’ll be hungry to return for more — I know I am.
Walking by the holiday decorations, I see the lights. It’s hard to miss them since they’re everywhere — blinking from plastic trees and dangling from the ceiling. It’s undoubtedly a well-lit wonderland, but I don’t stop to look. That is, I can’t stop.
The colored lights are an instant reminder of my dad. Memories of him carefully placing his favorite strings of blue lights on our tree bring a jagged emptiness. It’s been three years since my father died unexpectedly, and the holidays continue to deliver quite the gut punch.
I’m learning what to do with my holiday grief
Holiday grief is something I didn’t anticipate unwrapping every year. When my father passed away from a sudden heart attack, my family fell into a kind of shock. He was in good health and only a few months before, had a routine checkup with no abnormalities. His passing didn’t make sense.
In the weeks after he left us, we did all the things you do, helping my mom as best we could, but we weren’t prepared. Now, I’m a statistic fitting in with the 76% of adults who’ve lost a parent before age 59, and the 36% who don’t want to celebrate the holidays due to feelings of grief. I am 100% certain that I haven’t figured out how to do the holidays without him.
It’s the seemingly insignificant things that sneak up and trigger my grief: My first Christmas without him, I walked past the kitchen counter and, without thinking, looked for my great-grandmother’s cookie cutter. My dad used it to shape Oma’s cookies, and while he was cutting the dough, I’d hear him ask with a grin, “Did I ever tell you the story about when I was in high school, and Oma made me a secret plate of cookies?” Yes, every Christmas.
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Then there were the batteries. As my dad tells it, when I was around 8, and my younger sister was 4, “Santa” forgot to buy batteries for our electronic presents. Batteries were definitely not included, and my dad drove to all the gas stations and grocery stores within a 30-mile radius only to find them closed, because, well, it was Christmas morning. “And that’s why I always have extra batteries,” Dad would explain as he slid open the stuffed-full (but well-organized) battery drawer.
These memories of cookies, batteries, and family stories all play on repeat in my head. The emptiness follows suit, and then the sadness takes its place. I can’t untangle my dad’s memories from any of our holiday rituals. So, how do I celebrate without him?
By telling family stories, I’m staying connected to my dad
Last year, my 11-year-old and I were enjoying the stillness by the Christmas tree when it occurred to me to ask: “Did you know Papa’s favorite colored lights were blue?” I told him how I grew up with all blue lights because Papa loved them so much. “And he had a system for stringing them closer to the trunk because Papa said, ‘It made the tree glow.'”
We sat together for a breath staring at the lights, and out of nowhere, my son flung his arms around my neck and gave me a surprise hug. “I like Papa’s stories,” he whispered. And just like that, a new tradition was born. My dad told the stories that meant the most to him, and now I have ones to add — all about my father. Family stories keep us connected, and it’s this ritual that helps me through the holidays. So, I’ll keep going.
“Did you hear the one about the time Oma made a secret plate of cookies for your Papa,” I asked. When my son looked up, the glow of the blue lights reflected in his eyes, and for an instant, I felt like maybe Papa wasn’t as far away as I thought.
Call it the Great Freeze — or the Great Frustration.
Business Insider spoke with dozens of job seekers across generations in 2025, some of whom have been unemployed for more than a year.
They voiced a wide range of frustrations about their searches — including slow hiring timelines, so-called “ghost jobs,”suspected ageism, employers going silent midway through the process, overwhelming competition for each role, and the belief that AI filters areoften screening their résumés before a human ever sees them.
Their job-finding journeys come at a time when employers are hiring at one of the lowest rates since 2013.
Whether the job seekers blame AI, corporate efficiency pushes, or broader economic uncertainty, they say it all adds up to a deluge of applications and a dearth of job offers. Still, through the frustration, they’ve also found ways to cope and connect with a community of fellow job seekers.
“I believe the hiring system is broken,” said Matthew English, who’s been looking for full-time work since October 2024 after a decadeslong career in accounting. Despite applying for hundreds of jobs — from accounting roles to the Chick-fil-A cow mascot — he’s been unable to secure a full-time offer. He said he’s burned through much of his savings, and that last Christmas, he couldn’t afford to buy gifts for his family.
“I have about drained my life’s savings,” said English, who is in his 60s and lives in Alabama. “Money that you’re expecting to use in retirement is now being used to survive.”
The New York Fed regularly asks people to estimate the likelihood that, if they lost their job today, they’d be able to find a new one in the next three months. In August 2025, that average probability dropped to its lowest level since the survey began in 2013 — and has only recovered slightly in the months since.
Kory Kantenga, the head of economics for the Americas at LinkedIn, said 2025’s labor market had “low momentum.”
“The cumulative effect of three years of slowdown — it’s completely understandable why they feel like this might be the worst labor market they’ve ever been in,” Kantenga said.
The frustrations of job hunting in 2025
Hilary Nordland began looking for work after being laid off from her marketing role in July 2024. To help pay the bills, she said she started donating plasma and drew on her retirement savings.
Nordland, who’s in her 50s and lives in Minnesota, said one of the most frustrating parts of her job search has been landing interviews — only to have opportunities fall through for unexpected reasons. She said she’s had interviews canceled the same day they were scheduled because the role was suddenly put on hold or filled internally. On one occasion, she said, an HR representative told her she’d be a great fit — but the rep was fired before they could schedule the interview.
“This job market is terrifying,” she said. “It’s a black hole that makes you question everything — and I don’t see a clear path through.”
Hilary Nordland said it’s been frustrating to see promising job opportunities fall through unexpectedly.
Hilary Nordland
US employers have announced 1.17 million job cuts so far in 2025, the most since 2020. While the unemployment rate remains relatively low by historical standards, it has risen to its highest level since 2021, when the economy was still recovering from pandemic-related disruptions.
High demand for jobs — combined with the rise of AI-assisted applications — has contributed to an influx of submissions for open roles, making it harder for qualified candidates to stand out. Last quarter, the average job posting received 242 applications, nearly three times the number in 2017, according to data from Greenhouse, a hiring software provider.
Aaron Terrazas, an independent economist, said job seekers’ frustration with this year’s labor market was justified.
“Just because the aggregate jobs data look stable, steady, slowing but stable, doesn’t mean that it hasn’t been very difficult for some people,” Terrazas said.
Heather Driscoll began looking for a healthcare management job after being laid off last year. She said she’s struggled to pay the bills and had to draw on her 401(k).
“The amount of time, research, enthusiasm — the dressing up, hair, makeup — just to sit on a Zoom call and get no feedback or rejection, is insane,” she said.
Driscoll, who’s in her 50s and lives in Colorado, said she has reached the final interview round multiple times but has been unable to secure an offer. She suspects that ageism and sexism could be working against her.
Giving up on job goals
A challenging job market has forced some job seekers to confront the possibility that their goals and aspirations may be out of reach.
At age 40, Kenneth Ferraro quit his job as a truck driver to pursue a bachelor’s degree in political science at New York University. He hoped it would set him up for a career in public service — but after struggling to find work, he returned to trucking last year. He said he’s stuck with more than $100,000 in student debt.
While having a college degree improved his credentials, Ferraro said he thought his age had held him back in the job market.
He recalled applying for an entry-level government position that seemed like a good fit. The early stages of the interview process felt promising, but he said things shifted after the in-person interview — and he suspects his age was a factor.
“As soon as the hiring manager saw me, his whole demeanor changed,” Ferraro said. “He ran through the questions and never truly engaged with me.”
Kenneth Ferraro said he believes his age has held him back in the job market after earning a bachelor’s degree in his 40s.
Kenneth Ferraro
Solomon Jones hoped that earning a college degree would open doors. After earning his bachelor’s degree in sports communication in May, he struggled to find employment. Jones said that some of the sports communications job postings he’d come across had attracted more than 1,000 applicants.
“The goal is to obviously get a job in the sports industry, but realistically, I know that life isn’t fair,” said Jones, who’s in his 20s and lives in New Jersey. “So at this point, I’m just trying to find a job, period.”
How job seekers are coping with the stress — and breaking through
Some job seekers Business Insider spoke with have leaned on others — including friends, family, professional contacts, and fellow job seekers — for support and solidarity during their job searches.
After being laid off by Microsoft in May, Ian Carter struggled to find a new job. He switched to a month-to-month lease on his Redmond, Washington, apartment, but eventually moved to Florida to save money by living with family while continuing his search.
Carter said he’s connected with others who’ve lost their jobs and visits the private “MSFT Survivors” Facebook group, which includes people who’ve been laid off throughout Microsoft’s history.
“Layoffs kind of affect people mentally,” said Carter, who’s in his 30s. “I’ve reached out to people so we can be each other’s support system.”
Ian Carter moved from Washington to Florida to live with his family after struggling to find work.
Ian Carter
In July, Sriram Ramkrishna was laid off by Intel for the second time. On his last official day with the company, his wife also lost her job. When he learned the news, his mindset shifted from “I’ll find a job when I can” to “I’d better find a job.”
But over the past few months, he’s struggled to make much headway. Ramkrishna said one of the things keeping him going is the support of his former Intel colleagues, who also lost their jobs.
“Many of us have been helping each other with our job searches — sharing opportunities and offering support,” said Ramkrishna, who’s in his 50s and lives in Portland, Oregon. “It feels like we’re all looking out for each other.”
Chris Martin, lead researcher at Glassdoor, said uncertainty helped drive this year’s low-fire, low-hire job market, such as businesses navigating the effects of tariffs and AI. Terrazas, the independent economist, doesn’t think uncertainty will fully fade next year, but said employers won’t be facing the initial shock of policy changes from a new administration.
Most job seekers can’t afford to put their searches on hold until conditions improve. Despite the challenges, some have managed to break through.
When Alexander Valen was laid off from his project manager role at Accenture, he was initially optimistic that his more than two decades of experience would help him land a new job. But after nearly two years of job searching — and falling behind on his mortgage — that optimism had vanished. Valen, who’s in his 50s and lives in Florida, said he and his wife, a stay-at-home mom, relied on DoorDash earnings, unemployment benefits, and help from family to get by.
But a few months ago, someone in his network recommended he explore roles at the freelance platform Toptal. Valen applied for a project manager role, went through the interview process, and landed the position, which he said fell within the $80 to $100 an hour compensation range he’d been targeting.
Valen’s top advice for other job seekers: Reframe how you view the process — and lean on others along the way.
“The search becomes far less discouraging when you treat it as an opportunity to grow rather than a verdict on your worth,” he said. “And in a market this competitive, networking isn’t optional — it’s the force multiplier that ultimately led me to my role.”
The United States is reviewing the social media accounts of some visa applicants, adding another hurdle for workers and other visitors to clear under the Trump administration.
It’s also adding a hurdle for embassies processing those visa applications.
The State Department said in June that certain visa applicants would have their online activity vetted as part of its screening process. Six months later, the department expanded the list of visas that were subject to “online presence reviews.”
The new rule has complicated the visa application process, causing significant delays for approvals.
They have also rattled some companies, including Google and Apple, whose legal counsels have advised staffers requiring a visa stamp to re-enter the US not to leave the country due to extended processing times resulting from the new requirements.
Consular offices began conducting online presence reviews for H-1B applicants on December 15, but they’re not the only ones affected.
Here is what you need to know.
Who does the social media reviews impact?
Earlier this month, a State Department spokesperson told Business Insider that the US is requiring H-1B visa applicants and their dependents to make their social media accounts public so consular officers can review their activity.
The H-1B visa program enables companies to temporarily employ foreign skilled workers in specialized roles. Data collected from the Department of Labor showed that almost 50% of H-1B applications are in “professional, scientific, and technical” fields. They are commonly relied on in the tech industry.
The State Department said international students and exchange visitors are also subject to “online presence” reviews, specifically for F, M, and J non-immigrant visa applicants.
In its memo, Google’s legal counsel told staffers that lengthy processing delays were affecting H-1B, H-4, F, J, and M visa holders.
Why the US is reviewing social media
Federal agencies under President Donald Trump are enforcing stricter and more restrictive immigration policies.
In January, Trump issued an executive order aimed at enhancing immigration screening. It was meant to protect American citizens from those the administration says “intend to commit terrorist attacks, threaten our national security, espouse hateful ideology, or otherwise exploit the immigration laws for malevolent purposes.”
Trump expanded upon that executive order in June and then again this week. Combined, those subsequent orders partially or fully restrict entry for citizens from 25 countries.
In September, the Trump administration also began charging a $100,000 fee for new H-1B applications.
It cast the fee as a corrective. Trump said that the H-1B system had strayed from its original purpose of filling high-skilled worker shortages and was instead being “deliberately exploited to replace, rather than supplement, American workers with lower-paid, lower-skilled labor.”
In its announcement about the social media checks on December 3, the State Department said the changes were meant to increase national security.
“A US visa is a privilege, not a right,” a spokesperson for the State Department told Business Insider at the time. “In every visa case, we will take the time necessary to ensure an applicant does not pose a risk to the safety and security of the United States.”
What to do (and not do) if you are affected
It might be tempting to delete your social media accounts, but it’s not that simple.
The law firm Davis Wright Tremaine advised in a post on its website that visa applicants should review their social media to ensure there is no information that might contradict the details submitted in their applications. The law firm Duane Morris advised against deleting posts or profiles. If an immigration official notices, it could be seen as evasive.
Perhaps the most important thing a visa applicant can do is stay in the US during the process.
Shaun Foster, an immigration attorney who owns the firm PampaninFoster based in Cambridge, Mass., told Business Insider in a LinkedIn message that he is encouraging clients on H-1B visas to play it safe.
“We’ve continued to emphasize generally to stay in the US, and to keep moving forward in working toward your immigration goals from within the US,” he wrote. “We’re much better positioned, as immigration counsel, to more strongly assist and guide people from within the US. There’s less control when you start integrating international consular elements.”
How companies are reacting
Lawyers for Google and Apple have already advised some employees on visas not to travel outside the US due to delays at embassies stemming from the increased scrutiny.
“Please be aware that some US Embassies and Consulates are experiencing significant visa stamping appointment delays, currently reported as up to 12 months,” Google’s legal counsel wrote in a memo sent on Thursday to employees on visas.
Fragomen, a law firm that represents Apple, similarly said in a memo sent last week to some visa holders at the company that they should refrain from travel.
“Given the recent updates and the possibility of unpredictable, extended delays when returning to the US, we strongly recommend that employees without a valid H-1B visa stamp avoid international travel for now,” the memo said.
Both memos were seen by Business Insider.
Those companies and many others are still smarting after Trump imposed the $100,000 fee on new H-1B visa applicants in September.
After that order, which initially didn’t specify that it only applied to new applicants, human resources teams at companies like Google, Amazon, Microsoft, Meta, Salesforce, JPMorgan, and Zoom sent warnings to staffers advising them not to leave the US if they’re on an H-1B visa.
In one case, dozens of H-1B holders on an Emirates flight out of San Francisco began deplaning as soon as they received the news alert.
The widespread panic in corporate America forced the Trump administration to clarify that the fee would only apply to new visa applicants, not existing visa holders.
