Tech Currents: Conversations on Tech and Work

• TechCurrents talks AI and piracy with Tee Morris, part 1

  Welcome to Part 1 of Episode S1E10 of the Tech Currents podcast with your hosts, Sam Cavaliere and Ron Melanson. In this episode, Sam and Ron kick off with their segment, "LinkedIn Lunacy", diving into the current state of LinkedIn. They discuss the increasing prevalence of political content on the platform and question if it belongs on a professional networking site, noting issues with content filters. They highlight how posts can impact a job seeker's profile from a recruiter's perspective, and emphasize that content on the internet, especially LinkedIn, can "live forever". The discussion covers using LinkedIn for professional purposes versus treating it like other social media platforms for venting, and they critique non-professional content such as "give yourself a point" graphics and "glamour shots" or possibly AI-generated profile pictures that appear disconnected from the post content. They also briefly acknowledge Microsoft's 50th anniversary.   The episode then introduces their special guest, Tee Morris. Sam provides a detailed introduction, highlighting Tee's background as a pioneer in podcasting, notably being the first author to podcast an entire novel in 2005. His extensive work as a multi-talented author is mentioned, including the fantasy epic Morevi, co-authoring the Podcasting for Dummies series (now in its fifth edition), and the award-winning steampunk series The Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences. Tee's wife, Pip Ballentine, is also mentioned as an accomplished author, including her work on Alien novels. Beyond writing, T. Morris is recognized as a social media innovator and for his streaming activities on Twitch, playing games like Destiny, VR, and Magic: The Gathering. They discuss the origin of Tee's paranormal investigation show, Old Spirits Investigations, which began as a Twitch streaming game playing Phasmophobia during the pandemic. Tee shares insights into his current focus on content creation for Old Spirits Investigations and balancing his time. They share humorous anecdotes about playing games with their daughters and the "Twitch Dad" persona, acknowledging that older gamers still have skills. Sam states that Tee was brought on specifically to talk about tech, particularly AI and what is being used to train the language models.   However, due to the significant amount of quality content in their conversation, the hosts announce that the interview with Tee was too extensive for a single episode, and this recording is Part 1. The deeper dive into the discussion about AI training data, ethics, and related topics will continue in Part 2, which will be published shortly after Part 1.   Tee's Old Sprits Investigations Channel on YouTube can be located at https://www.youtube.com/@OldSpiritsInvestigations/featured   The Store for Old Sprits Investigations can be found at https://www.youtube.com/@OldSpiritsInvestigations/store   And Tee's Twitch Channel can be found at https://www.twitch.tv/theteemonster #TechPodcast #TechCurrents #Podcast #Episode #Technology #AI #MachineLearning #AITraining #LinkedInLunacy #SocialMedia #TeeMorris #Podcasting #Author #Twitch #OldSpiritsInvestigations  #Copyright #Piracy #IntellectualProperty  #FairUse #DigitalMedia #ContentCreation #SamCavaliere #RonMelanson #TechIndustry #PodcastLife  

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• Tech Currents and Amy Miller, the Sequel!

  Tech Currents podcast is hosted by Sam Cavaliere and co-hosted by Ron Melanson. It features real talk about technology and stories from working in the tech world. A frequent guest and "friend of the program" is Amy Miller and she joins the hosts in this weeks discussion focusing on more job seeking advice.   The episode specifically delves into "LinkedIn Lunacy," discussing various contentious topics seen on the platform, such as the "open to work" banner, debates on resume formatting, and unusual interview expectations.  A significant focus is placed on fake profiles and scams on LinkedIn, including the theft of personal personas and predatory practices offering paid services like resume optimization.   The conversation also explores the increasing use of AI in recruiting, raising concerns about the ethical implications of uploading candidates' Personally Identifiable Information (PII) into public AI tools like ChatGPT. They discuss resume scoring tools and question their validity and motives, viewing them as part of an "influencer economy" where individuals profit by targeting vulnerable job seekers. The hosts and guest emphasize sharing free, practical advice from the perspective of active recruiters to help job seekers navigate the challenges ethically   Worth noting, in this episode Sam references a video from Brene Brown regarding the psychology of blame.  The video is 3:25 and can be found at https://youtu.be/RZWf2_2L2v8?si=4JhA3HJm3V1_wsr0 . Its highly recommended. #Careers #technology #jobseeking #LinkedInLunacy

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• LinkedIn Lunacy

  The Tech Currents podcast features hosts Sam Cavaliere and Ron Melanson discussing current topics in the technology world, including personal experiences and advice. In this particular episode, they address recent "LinkedIn lunacy," highlighting fake profiles, job scams, and misleading career advice found on the platform. They offer insights on navigating these issues and share perspectives on job searching, such as the value of the "open to work" banner and the format of resumes. The hosts also touch upon the debate surrounding AI training on copyrighted material. Finally, they examine the importance of being mindful during job interviews, particularly regarding seemingly casual small talk questions that can reveal unintended information. #careers #Jobseeking #opentowork #interviews       

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• S1E7 Freeform and the LinkedIn Profile Makeover

  The podcast episode "S1_E7_Freeforming_and_the_LinkedIn_Profile_Makeover_show.mp3" from the Tech Currents podcast features a free-flowing conversation between the hosts Sam Cavaliere and his co-host Ron Melanson. They deviate from their planned agenda to discuss current issues related to job seeking strategies and LinkedIn profile optimization in what they describe as the "worst job market any of us have ever seen," referencing recent significant layoffs. Key topics discussed in the episode include: The chaotic and potentially predatory nature of LinkedIn in the current job market, with warnings against scams offering expensive but potentially worthless services like LinkedIn profile makeovers or certifications. They advise listeners to be cautious of unsolicited offers and to explore free resources and seek feedback from their network. Sam Cavaliere even offers to personally review listeners' profiles. Strategies for optimizing a LinkedIn profile to attract recruiters and hiring managers. This includes advice on: Having a professional photo taken even with a smartphone, emphasizing neatness and business attire. Crafting a compelling headline that describes what you do and how you add value, going beyond just a job title. Writing a concise yet interesting summary or "about" section that tells your story and highlights your strengths without underselling yourself. Ron Melanson mentions that the character limit for this section is around 2600. Detailing experience and achievements using a bullet-point format with a focus on tangible, measurable results and the impact or outcomes of your work, rather than just listing responsibilities. They stress the importance of showing the impact of your work to stand out. Leveraging the skills section and the recent increase to up to 100 skills to enhance boolean searchability for recruiters. They discuss how recruiters actively search for candidates based on skills. A discussion on the limited value they place on endorsements and recommendations for hiring managers. The importance of active engagement on LinkedIn beyond simply liking posts, including sharing opinions, taking positions, and creating content to build a presence and get noticed. They emphasize that authentic engagement can lead to unexpected opportunities, as Sam Cavaliere experienced when his article led to an interview. Advice on maintaining professionalism on LinkedIn while acknowledging the frustrations of job searching. They caution against excessive negativity and suggest alternative platforms for venting. The impact of being "rusty" in interviews after a long period without job searching and the importance of practice. Ron Melanson shares an anecdote about mentoring someone who improved with interview practice. The necessity of using industry-standard job titles on LinkedIn profiles to ensure they are easily understood and searchable by recruiters. They advise against using unusual or non-standard titles. General encouragement for job seekers to leverage available resources, be wary of guaranteed results from paid services, and focus on the impact of their work. They suggest shopping around for resume and LinkedIn help if needed. Reassurance that being laid off is generally not a reflection of personal performance in the current economic climate. They criticize the characterization of laid-off employees as "low performers". The hosts offer practical, experience-based advice and encourage listeners to reach out with questions and feedback via LinkedIn or email. They also mention upcoming episodes that will delve deeper into networking and feature a return conversation with Amy Miller. The overall tone is supportive and aims to help job seekers navigate the challenges of the current job market.    Additional Show Notes: People to Follow on LinkedIn: Lisa Dupras - https://www.linkedin.com/in/dupraselev8coaching Ed Herzog -https://www.linkedin.com/in/edherzog-resume-writer?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app Amy Miller -linkedin.com/in/amymil Ron Melanson -linkedin.com/in/ronaldmelanson

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• Busting Job Search Myths with Amy Miller

  In this episode of Tech Currents, hosts Sam Cavaliere and Ron Melanson are joined by Amy Miller, a top influencer in talent acquisition and recruiting, creator of the recruiting in yoga pants blog. Amy brings her 26 years of experience in the field to discuss common job search myths and offer real-world advice for job seekers. This episode focuses on busting myths about Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS), providing advice about LinkedIn's open to work banner, the use of PDF versus Word resumes, the importance of cover letters, and addressing career gaps. Amy's real-world perspective and practical insights make this a must-listen for anyone navigating the job market.   #technology #personaldevelopment #personalbranding    Episode Notes Host: Sam Cavaliere Co-Host: Ron Melanson Guest: Amy Miller, a recruiting and talent acquisition influencer. https://recruitinginyogapants.com   Key Topics: Debunking myths about Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS). The use of LinkedIn's "Open to Work" banner. The debate over using PDF versus Word formats for resumes. The relevance of cover letters in today’s job market. Addressing career gaps. Key takeaways: ATS is a digital filing cabinet for recruiters, not a tool designed for job seekers. It is used to store applicant information and track the life cycle of a job requisition. The concept of "ATS-optimized" resumes is a myth. A simple, easy-to-read resume is sufficient, and complex formatting may cause parsing issues. Immediate rejections are usually due to knockout questions, not because the ATS is automatically rejecting your resume. Using the "Open to Work" banner on LinkedIn can be beneficial as it signals to recruiters that a candidate is actively looking. Both Word and PDF formats are acceptable for resumes. The format does not matter as much as the content itself. Cover letters may be necessary depending on the company's requirements and the type of role. They can serve to show communication skills, but their original purpose has largely disappeared. Career gaps should not be a significant issue, and candidates should address them briefly, focusing on forward momentum and skills development. It is important to tailor your application to the specific job and company, focusing on relevant skills and addressing the company’s needs. Call to Action: Follow Amy Miller on LinkedIn and check out her blog at recruitinginyogapants.com and her YouTube channel https://youtube.com/@amymiller?si=3VZbwRNPRiK6jazl   Timeline of Topics [0:00 - 2:40] Introduction of hosts Sam Cavaliere and Ron Melanson, and guest Amy Miller. [2:40 - 6:40] Amy’s background, motivation for posting content, and the goal of her content. [6:40 - 17:50] Discussion of the "dreaded" ATS-optimized resume and the need to understand how the job market has changed. [17:50 - 35:30] Debunking myths about ATS, including what it is and how it works, including how it stores and processes data, knockout questions, the function of the application fields. [35:30 - 39:20] Discussion of the "Open to Work" banner on LinkedIn and the advice to be prepared for increased recruiter contact. [39:20 - 47:40] Discussion of the use of PDF vs Word for resumes, and the importance of naming a resume appropriately, focusing on the fact that the ATS doesn’t care about file type. [47:40 - 50:15] Discussion of cover letters and their relevance in the modern job market. [50:15 - 57:10] Discussion of career gaps and how to address them, as well as the importance of focusing on specific skills. [57:10 - 61:00] Conclusion and plans for a part two, and thanking Amy for her contributions

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