Job Market Tea: June 2025

Episode 23: Apparently We’re Recording Again

Apparently We’re Recording Again We’re back — and you know you missed us. (Not as much as we missed talking about the chaos, but close.) Episode 23 is our unofficial soft reboot: the one where life finally slowed down long enough for us to sit, breathe, and hit record again. No dramatic comeback arc… just real conversation, recalibration, decluttering, and the kind of life updates that only happen when the universe forces you to pause. In this episode, Jennifer and Danielle dive into: • The collective “reset energy” running through everyone right now • The emotional noise of visual clutter (and the joy of letting things go) • Why constant motion kills strategy, creativity, and clarity • Mindless scrolling, smut TV, and psychoanalyzing strangers on reality shows • Digital platforms and the hidden agendas behind the content we consume • The art of doing nothing — on purpose • Rebuilding life quietly, slowly, intentionally If you’ve been reorganizing your space, your mind, or your entire existence… we see you. Hit play. We’re recording again — apparently — and you know you missed us.

Episode 22: Master Builder, Dragon Soul

In this episode, Jennifer and Danielle explore the role of the builder…the often-unseen systems thinkers, cultural shapers, and organizational empaths who hold it all together. Tapping into the power of master number 22 and Life Path 4, the conversation centers on what it really means to build something that lasts, especially when no one’s watching.They dive into how foundational leadership happens in the middle layers of organizations, not just at the top…and how missing a single thread can cause everything to unravel. From change management and trust dynamics to misaligned vendor strategies and feedback loops that die before they reach the surface, this episode is a wake-up call for leaders, partners, and anyone shaping systems from the inside out.Whether you’ve been the one holding it all together or you’re trying to build smarter from here on out…this one’s for you.Key Topics Covered:What makes a Master Builder…and why fours are the backbone of everything- Why trust is foundational and often broken by subtle moments- Organizational threading: what happens when you miss a loop- Early warning systems and the power of seeing the "sneeze" in the data- The problem with vendor thinking and one-way revenue asks- Why Indeed’s approach is a case study in tone-deaf change- Moving from contributor to creator in your own careerTimestamps:00:00 – The Master Builder Vibe Jennifer introduces the power of the number 22 and Life Path 4, framing the episode around infrastructure, trust, and the systems that hold it all together.04:30 – Pulling the Thread (or Missing It) A deep dive into why systems people are often overlooked—and how one missed “loop” in the thread can unravel the whole organization.07:30 – Trust as a Foundation Jennifer and Danielle explore how trust is given, earned, and destroyed—and why it’s the core metric behind culture, leadership, and change management.16:00 – The Indeed Case Study: When Feedback Dies in the Funnel Using real-world examples, they unpack how layoffs, tone-deaf leadership, and broken communication loops signal a failing foundation.28:45 – Vendors vs. Partners: Are You Helping Me or Charging Me? A bold callout on transactional sales models, programmatic platforms, and the missed opportunity to advise instead of extract revenue.Until next time, we’ll be here..saying what we mean, even if our inner editor flinches.Listen now on Spotify, Apple, or wherever you get your podcasts.Cue the music. Hold our drink. Let’s get into it. We’re about to say what you’re thinking…Music Inspiration: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOsM-DYAEhY&list=RDgOsM-DYAEhY&start_radio=1Shop Jennifer’s Store for Ausrine™ Products: ⁠https://ausrineskincare.com/TheWorkstiesThe Worksties email: theworksties@gmail.com Buy Us a Coffee! ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/theworksties... Riverside Podcast Platform: ⁠⁠https://www.riverside.fm/?utm_campaig.... Music from ⁠⁠#Uppbeat⁠⁠⁠⁠https://uppbeat.io/t/all-good-folks/c.... License code: XBVTFXDPGBGOXHPR ⁠⁠#TheWorksties⁠⁠ ⁠⁠#talent⁠⁠ ⁠⁠#trending⁠⁠ ⁠⁠#talentacquisition⁠⁠ ⁠⁠#Recruiting⁠⁠ ⁠⁠#WorkStories⁠⁠ ⁠⁠#Staffing⁠⁠ ⁠⁠#Hiring⁠⁠ ⁠⁠#realtalk⁠⁠ #recruiting #talentbranding #employerbrand #influencermarketing #socialrecruiting #futureofwork #worksties #afterhours #recruitmentmarketing #realconnection #talentstrategy

Job Market Tea: June 2025

June 2025 Job Market Tea Lukewarm Crunch with Breadsticks: Job Market Tea, June 2025 Edition Description: After a brief hiatus, your favorite work besties are back with June’s Job Market Tea! Jennifer and Danielle break down the numbers behind the “solid but sleepy” June jobs report. From revised payrolls to rising layoffs and private sector shrinkage, this episode covers what’s real, what’s hidden, and why it all feels… weird. We also dig into: * How wage growth feels flat in real life * Why labor force participation is the stat to watch * The ghosting cycle creeping back into recruiting * A spicy take on job boards vs. the music industry (yes, really) * Best served lukewarm with a side of economic uncertainty. Let’s get into it. ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 – Welcome back: June’s Job Market Tea The worksties Return 00:25 – Payrolls revised up, unemployment drops (but does it matter?) 01:10 – Labor force participation slips to 62.3% 01:50 – Wage growth up 0.2% MoM, 3.7% YoY (real-life impact feels off) 02:30 – Layoffs: 150+ companies cut jobs, including Indeed 03:11 – Federal Reserve rate cut expectations shift 04:00 – Breadsticks & the Olive Garden economy 🍝 05:21 – Fewer jobs, more ghosting: What recruiters need to know 06:00 – Private hiring lowest in 8 months – warning bells? 07:10 – The softening private sector and shrinking workweek 08:10 – Older workers quietly stepping out 09:38 – Holiday hiring watch: Will seasonal trends show up? 10:53 – Economic sentiment vs. job market stats: the mismatch 12:13 – The impact of global uncertainty on confidence 14:50 – News, fear, and our overwhelmed lizard brains 16:44 – Netflix, band boxes, and blind auditions: a musical detour 20:03 – Music industry vs. job board giants: a parallel fall 21:34 – Big purchases, burnout, and the cost of everything 21:50 – Like, share, follow: See you next time! Shop Jennifer’s Store for Ausrine™ Products: ⁠https://ausrineskincare.com/TheWorksties [https://ausrineskincare.com/TheWorksties] The Worksties email: theworksties@gmail.com Buy Us a Coffee! ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/theworksties...  Riverside Podcast Platform: ⁠⁠https://www.riverside.fm/?utm_campaig....  Music from ⁠⁠#Uppbeat⁠⁠⁠⁠https://uppbeat.io/t/all-good-folks/c.... License code: XBVTFXDPGBGOXHPR ⁠⁠#TheWorksties⁠⁠ ⁠⁠#talent⁠⁠ ⁠⁠#trending⁠⁠ ⁠⁠#talentacquisition⁠⁠ ⁠⁠#Recruiting⁠⁠ ⁠⁠#WorkStories⁠⁠ ⁠⁠#Staffing⁠⁠ ⁠⁠#Hiring⁠⁠ ⁠⁠#realtalk⁠⁠ #recruiting #talentbranding #employerbrand #influencermarketing #socialrecruiting #futureofwork #worksties #afterhours #recruitmentmarketing #realconnection #talentstrategy

Job Market Tea: May 2025

This is not your typical economist take.We're just two women living in this actual economy, reporting what we see and feel — because too many of the reports out there are written by people who don’t live here, don’t work here, and frankly don’t get it.In this month’s Worksties Job Market Tea, we ask: Are we cooling, cracking, or just being sold a headline?Because while the official numbers look "steady," here’s what we’re actually seeing at the seat level:Fewer people are participating in the workforceMore jobless claims are hitting the marketWage gains aren’t keeping up with the cost of livingProfessional hiring is getting cautious — and longer to close818,000 jobs in 2024 were quietly revised awayAnd the "first look" job reports? They’re only about 60 to 75 percent accurate — but they’re what drives the headlines and decisions.If you’ve been wondering why your job search feels harder, or why hiring feels slower, or why your team is hesitant to fill that role — this is why.We break it all down — not as economists, but as women who have built careers here, raised families here, and who are paying these grocery bills right alongside you.What We Cover:The real signals the May report is sendingWhy participation is the number to watchWhy longer time-to-hire is the new normalWhy professional hiring is in a strategic pauseWhy we are entering a pressure moment — and what that means for summerMarket Vibe Check:Hiring is cautious and strategic.Wage growth is not keeping up with real costs.Job seekers are pulling back.Recruiters are seeing longer fill times and tighter client spend.This is the Worksties take — the one grounded in what’s actually happening in the US job market, not what the spreadsheets overseas say is happening.Next month’s report? It’s going to be pivotal.Listen now on Spotify, Apple, or wherever you get your podcasts.Cue the music. Hold our drink. Let’s get into it. We’re about to say what you’re thinking…This Episode is Sponsored by social jobs.comShop Jennifer’s Store for Ausrine™ Products: ⁠https://ausrineskincare.com/TheWorkstiesThe Worksties email: theworksties@gmail.com Buy Us a Coffee! ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/theworksties... Riverside Podcast Platform: ⁠⁠https://www.riverside.fm/?utm_campaig.... Music from ⁠⁠#Uppbeat⁠⁠⁠⁠https://uppbeat.io/t/all-good-folks/c.... License code: XBVTFXDPGBGOXHPR ⁠⁠#TheWorksties⁠⁠ ⁠⁠#talent⁠⁠ ⁠⁠#trending⁠⁠ ⁠⁠#talentacquisition⁠⁠ ⁠⁠#Recruiting⁠⁠ ⁠⁠#WorkStories⁠⁠ ⁠⁠#Staffing⁠⁠ ⁠⁠#Hiring⁠⁠ ⁠⁠#realtalk⁠⁠ #recruiting #talentbranding #employerbrand #influencermarketing #socialrecruiting #futureofwork #worksties #afterhours #recruitmentmarketing #realconnection #talentstrategy

Your Name Walks Into The Room Before You Do. The Reputation Episode.

Queue: “Rumour Has It” – Adele"Your name walks into the room before you do." That’s true whether you’re walking into a Zoom call or a conference ballroom. In today’s workforce, reputation isn’t just about performance—it’s about perception, relationships, and how much of your voice is allowed to shape the narrative.In this episode, Jennifer and Danielle unpack the realities of reputation at work: how it forms, how it gets misunderstood, what’s in your control—and what isn’tThey share real stories about 360 reviews, gendered language (aggressive vs. assertive), managing gossip in remote environments, using reputation strategically, and protecting what you’ve built—without losing yourself in the process. Whether you’re trying to evolve your professional brand, shed a label, or simply stay authentic as your leadership voice changes, this episode will resonate. Best Moment Timestamps: 02:04 "There will be no explanation, there will only be reputation." – Danielle (Taylor Swift reference that anchors the whole discussion) 03:03 Jennifer on how leadership stage (building mode vs. mentoring mode) changes how reputation forms. 06:39 Danielle: “I don’t want my name associated with something I know may fail.” — Navigating reputation tied to accountability. 14:24 Jennifer unpacks the reality of 360 reviews, how they’re used, and why perception isn’t always truth. 17:48 Jennifer shares about her inner dialogue and the harsh self-criticism that precedes anyone else’s feedback. 26:40 "Once you’ve built a good reputation, you have to be careful how and where you use it." — Jennifer on discernment and protecting professional capital. 30:29 Danielle: When feedback lacks clarity and leadership creates misaligned expectations—how reputation suffers in the gray space. 32:38 Jennifer on leadership reputation pitfalls: “You get a reputation for having no direction—and then suddenly you’re in a fire drill.” How poor communication shapes labels you didn’t intend to earn. 35:34 Jennifer closes with: “The only thing someone can count on every day from me is that I open my eyes. What happens after that? Anyone’s guess.” — a candid reflection on how reputation and leadership evolve moment to moment. Key Themes: Reputation is an asset—but also a liability if not actively shaped.Gendered leadership perceptions: when assertiveness becomes “aggressive.” 360 reviews: helpful feedback or weaponized tool?Using gossip strategically—and when not to.How your energy changes based on who’s in the room. Protecting your professional reputation while staying authentic.Tips to check alignment: Are you speaking in your own words at work? What do people come to you for advice on? That’s often where your voice lives. Do you use the same voice in meetings, emails, and your own inner monologue?In Episode 22: “Next episode we’re talking about structure, security, and why Life Path 4s are the blueprint-builders—and how that shows up when everything around you feels like it's shifting.” Until next time, we’ll be here...saying what we mean, even if our inner editor flinches.Listen now on Spotify, Apple, or wherever you get your podcasts. Cue the music. Hold our drink. Let’s get into it. We’re about to say what you’re thinking…T his Episode is Sponsored by Socialjobs.com Shop Jennifer’s Store for Ausrine™ Products: ⁠https://ausrineskincare.com/TheWorksties The Worksties email: theworksties@gmail.com Buy Us a Coffee! ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/theworksties... Riverside Podcast Platform: ⁠⁠https://www.riverside.fm/?utm_campaig.... Music from ⁠⁠#Uppbeat⁠⁠⁠⁠https://uppbeat.io/t/all-good-folks/c.... License code: XBVTFXDPGBGOXHPR ⁠⁠#TheWorksties⁠⁠ ⁠⁠#talent⁠⁠ ⁠⁠#trending⁠⁠ ⁠⁠#talentacquisition⁠⁠ ⁠⁠#Recruiting⁠⁠ ⁠⁠#WorkStories⁠⁠ ⁠⁠#Staffing⁠⁠ ⁠⁠#Hiring⁠⁠ ⁠⁠#realtalk⁠⁠ #recruiting #talentbranding #employerbrand #influencermarketing #socialrecruiting #futureofwork #worksties #afterhours #recruitmentmarketing #realconnection #talentstrategy