I gave a short talk today to some students at Haverford College and Bryn Mawr College about AI, a career in tech, networking, and getting jobs in general!

My friends Lilly and Johnson from FSH Tech are teaching a J-Term course at these schools to help students learn about agentic AI, production deployment, and building real-world tools. It’s a cool short course, and the students had a lot of questions.

In general, I think students today are worried about the job market, and I can’t blame them. I was asked if it’s harder or easier to get a job now than it was when I entered the industry, and… it’s both? I think it’s easier because there’s a lot more resources out there now that are more easily accessible than ever for the job hunt… but also the economy is weird, it’s hard to find entry-level roles, and the AI spam on both sides of the job application table is a huge mess.

The point I really wanted to drive home in this talk, and one that I think is important for everyone (not just students), is that human connection now is more important than ever. Referrals tell employers that you’re a real human, not just a bot mass-applying to roles. It’s a really powerful signal for them, even if you haven’t worked super closely with the person who is referring you.

My favorite book on this subject is Build Your Dream Network by J. Kelly Hoey. Getting those human connections can start with something as simple as a follow-up email, and can really blossom into a great relationship.

Anyway, it was good chatting to the students, I had a great time! And… now I gotta reply to the ones that were really listening and sent me follow-ups directly afterwards, ha. The kids are all right!