Candidates are embedding hidden text and instructions in their resumes to game automated AI hiring platforms. This 'prompt hacking' tactic, reportedly found in up to 10% of applications by one firm, represents a new front in the cat-and-mouse game between applicants and the algorithms designed to filter them.

Countering the idea that AI sacrifices quality for speed, Honeybook's recruiting agent found four net-new, high-quality candidates the team had missed manually. The fifth candidate it found was one the team was already pursuing, validating the AI's quality and ability to augment human efforts.

In an era where AI can assist with coding challenges, 10X's solution is to make their take-home assignments exceptionally difficult. This approach immediately filters out 50% of candidates who don't even respond, allowing for a much faster and more focused interview process for the elite few who pass.

With 88% of companies using AI to screen resumes, traditional applications are often unseen by humans. A new hack involves sending a small Venmo payment with a resume link directly to a hiring manager, creating an unignorable notification that bypasses automated gatekeepers.

A benchmark testing AI agents against paid freelance jobs found the best performers could only autonomously complete 2.5% of the work. This provides a crucial reality check, showing that while AI excels at discrete tasks, full job automation by general-purpose agents is still far from reality.

To get hired in a competitive market, stop spamming resumes. Instead, consistently create and publish content on platforms like LinkedIn that showcases your expertise, knowledge, and passion for your craft. This demonstrates value and attracts opportunities, making you a magnet for recruiters rather than just another applicant.

When conducting cold outreach to hiring managers or other employees, your primary call-to-action should not be a request for a meeting. Instead, make the ask a low-lift action: 'Please forward this resume to your recruiting partner.' This drastically increases the likelihood of reaching the right person.

In a competitive market, simply applying for a job is not enough. The key to winning is to identify the ultimate decision maker and find a creative way to get their direct attention. Successfully doing so is like catching the 'golden snitch' in Quidditch—it virtually guarantees a win.

While high-profile layoffs make headlines, the more widespread effect of AI is that companies are maintaining or reducing headcount through attrition rather than active firing. They are leveraging AI to grow their business without expanding their workforce, creating a challenging hiring environment for new entrants.