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Emails only scratch the surface. Show up in person.

Show up in person to make things happen, Young Americans are Going Country, How to write with AI without sounding like AI and fake candidates keep coming

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The Deputy
October 24, 2024

“There is absolutely nothing you can control except for showing up and doing your job."

Tituss Burgess

Before you READ further, use promo code “WFHCoffee” and get 20% off any bag of freshly roasted Sumato Coffee. ☕️

In today’s email:

  • Job News: People are too busy to respond to your emails, show up in person to make things happen

  • Overheard at coffee: Young Americans are Going Country!

  • Trending AI News: How to write with AI without sounding like AI

  • Hot Jobs: (keep scrolling down ⬇️)

  • Recruiting Fails: Fake candidates just keep coming in ❌

Job News

The other day, we went onsite to a client, and guess what? We found a ton of low-hanging fruit, handled it in no time, and realized something huge: most of the problems we worry about behind a computer screen are straight-up imaginary.

Here’s the deal—sitting behind your laptop, you start spinning wild stories in your head about everything that’s “wrong” with a client. But one quick in-person visit? Suddenly, things make sense. Turns out, the hiring manager didn’t ghost you because he’s uninterested—he just missed your email because he was out deer hunting. Yeah, that’ll never show up in a subject line. Meanwhile, another manager forgot to pass on interview times because he’s worried about his own job. And then, the cherry on top? A raw, unfiltered convo with the COO about the hires you made.

Lesson learned: people are busy, living in their own worlds, and they won’t make time for you unless you make the time. Emails and transactional meetings only scratch the surface. If you want the real scoop, get out of your comfort zone, show up in person, and dig into what’s actually happening.

Whether you’re an internal or external recruiter, take the leap. Go meet those hiring managers face-to-face. Listen, adapt, and watch your results transform.

Overheard at coffee ☕️

Gone country! Young Americans are ditching big cities for small towns and rural life, a trend sparked by the pandemic and still going strong in 2024. A University of Virginia study shows adults aged 25 to 44 are reversing decades of urbanization, driving population growth in quieter spots.

Why the shift? Remote work, sky-high city costs, and affordable housing. San Francisco’s $1.3 million price tag on homes? No thanks. Folks are opting for places like Jefferson, Georgia, where houses average $410K (thanks, Zillow). Even with some companies reining in remote work, about 20% to 25% of jobs are still location-flexible, according to Goldman Sachs.

It’s not just about saving cash—people are craving space, nature, and new entrepreneurial ventures. This migration is giving rural America a boost, with areas seeing small population gains and new business opportunities popping up. Some rural counties may still be losing people, but those near cities or with outdoor appeal are thriving from this influx, reshaping local economies and housing markets.

🚀 If you want to learn how to write with AI without sounding like AI, checkout what Cezary has done on his medium blog post. At Ramp Talent, We use AI a lot but it’s more than a tool for generating content. We use AI in the creative process to deepen our connection and meaning for the work we are doing. 

If you are curious about how to make AI more meaningful to you, I invite you to try it for yourself and make your own work better.

🔥 Hot Jobs - $1K Referral Fee

Recruiting Fails: A few days ago, an IT leader buddy of mine from a billion-dollar company hit me with a wild story—they hired a fake candidate who actually worked there for six months before getting busted. How? They had to dig into IP addresses to figure out the guy wasn’t who he said he was. Go ahead, laugh it up—because I did too when I first heard it—but this is no joke. Fake candidates are a real and growing problem, and if it hasn’t hit your company yet, it’s coming.

The numbers don’t lie: experts estimate 10-30% of candidates are fakes. Based on what I’ve seen, that sounds spot on. These frauds are sneaky. Some get hired, then outsource their work to someone else. Others juggle multiple jobs, barely doing the bare minimum until they inevitably get caught and move on to scam their next victim. No sweat off their back, right?

If you’re hiring for remote IT roles, buckle up. Fake candidates are about to flood your inbox. Just when you thought hiring couldn’t get any harder, this scam is the latest nightmare to add to your list. Stay sharp—this isn’t going away anytime soon.

Do you have recruiting Fail Stories? Reply with your epic fails – we'll feature them. Own your blunders, embrace vulnerability, and let's all level up together.

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