You might be employed working towards an internal or external promotion or unemployed looking to secure employment. Either way, my yearly prediction on what the hiring landscape, what companies are going to be looking for, what traits, characteristics, and skills will be. Most important. Is here. Welcome to the job interview experience. I'm a former executive recruiter search firm, owner talent leader. Today. One of the world's leading most innovative interview coaches and your host of the job interview experience these have been very popular and quite accurate. Whether you are navigating your job search or working towards a major career milestone. I have these predictions here for you today to help you prepare and succeed. When presenting leveraging, pitching your skills to a decision maker. Number 1 20 25 will be the year of skill based hiring companies are increasingly moving away from focusing solely on college degrees and titles. Instead we're prioritizing the skills that candidates bring to the table. It makes total sense Instead of just focusing on a university degree. Prestige, whatever. Companies, especially companies with a tight budget or a startup or whatever else they're focusing on whether or not you have the skills. The degrees are great. But being able to do something doesn't always require degree, as you've seen many times. A lot of folks have it, a green one thing and do something completely different. And we are seeing, I am seeing that separation, that gap get wider, which I think is a good thing. So here's what it means. For you a job seeker, a professional ensure your resume in LinkedIn. Profile clearly showcase your skills specifically. May usual examples like increased sales by 20% increased production, increased safety. Saved 20% per year. Through this or that proficient in this software development skill, able to accomplish. Stretch schools. In 30%, less time than other professionals, other peers, things like that. Highlight technical and transferable skills that align with your desired role. So again, it won't be so much what your degree is even in. it won't be about where you went to college much more. So what your skills are and then being able to prove it. With measurable data. For employees working towards promotion. Upskill strategically identify gaps in your skillset, in what others that are succeeding might possess. Look at what the winners are doing, what skills they have take action on upskilling, whether it be through online courses, certifications, or cross training opportunities. At work, do everything. You can add those skills and be able to measure them whenever you start something, start it with measurement in mind. As much as I like to hate on LinkedIn, there are a lot of certifications and upskilling things you can do there. And here's the best part, demonstrate your commitment to learning and staying relevant. Posting about it on LinkedIn. I used to make fun of the people. I still do that post every little thing of their life on LinkedIn. But. Showing your activity showing to other business owners to recruiters, demonstrating that you have gained new skills, maybe skill they need. We'll keep you top of mind and keep the doors open for more opportunities. This will make you a standout candidate for internal promotions, because you now have the skills that your employer needs, but also they are. They don't want other companies getting too interested. So posting those certifications. It does make you more interesting and attractive on LinkedIn. These skills are the new currency. They are the new solution to problems that companies have when people say. Think about it this way. When you hire someone say on Upwork or Fiverr or whatever, you don't look like, Hey, I need an S E O person that went to this college, and that's the only choice of what I'm going to hire, or that has this exact degree. You want the person with a 705 star ratings and rave reviews from customers? This is the way things are changing. I think it's for the better, because all the college and university have many benefits that we won't get into. The skills and outcomes that you can bring our most important. Number two. Hybrid and remote work rules will demand folks with better self-management skills and an ability to prove or pitch them. Before starting a new role. The hybrid and remote work force. Isn't slowing down, but companies expect employees to be much better at self-management and. Good use of their time. So productivity tools, things like that. Are important, but it's almost a certain personality type that has proven works out well to work remote or hybrid. So instead of being someone that's told, Hey, you have to use these tools. You can suggest productivity tools that you can use for better results for the employer, bring the ideas to them. You can pitch systems. time blocks, activities, meetings, whatever you think will help. This type of thing, work out best. for job interviews, emphasize how you successfully worked remote or hybrid settings and be ready to discuss the tools. You used and share examples of how you've exceeded goals while working independently and also what you do to efficient, be able to justify why it's better to have you work remote, how you're able to get more done as opposed to monitored in an office. Just saying I'm better working at home. I get more done people don't stop by my desk that doesn't cut it anymore. Okay, you need to be able to bring a pitch, a slide deck. Here are the reasons. The three core tools and technologies and systems. And schedules I will use to be more efficient. This is what I've done before. This was the outcome. This is how I stand against my peers, my other coworkers. This is why it will benefit you. If you're working towards a promotion, a better job, they want self-starters that showcase how you contribute to your team success without micromanagement. You could bring up times you've practically solve problems or taking initiative in a remote setting, maybe how the remote setting. Benefit how you're able to leverage that. Maybe it's your physical location in the remote setting helped you get somewhere faster or connect with somebody, whatever it might be. You might also be able to take the lead on introducing new tools or processes to boost productivity. In 2025 ownership of your work will set you apart. In adaptability. In these types of settings, employers value those who can thrive in flexible environments in deliver. Exceptional results. Number three. I almost hate to say this, but personal branding is going to matter more than ever. Just like I talked about on LinkedIn posting, when you upscale things like that, competition heats up. In this tight labor market, how you present yourself both online and offline will be crucial. For job seekers, update your LinkedIn headline, your summary and experience to reflect not only what you've done, but what you're doing, your outcome, your major troubles, post content related to your industry and position yourself as. A thought leader, no matter where you are in your career, employers, often check social media, your current employer and those that you're applying to recruiters. definitely do when making hiring decisions or just snooping on applicants. So keep your online presence, professional and intriguing. If you're working towards a better job or internal promotion, it's about how you're perceived by peers and leaders. So share your successes during. Team meetings or in company newsletters build a reputation. dependable. Innovator someone who gets things done. Someone who overcomes challenges. The word personal branding has always sounded goofy to me. I can't get over it. But I am accepting it more and more. I probably need to do more of it. And I think you will benefit from it too. It's essential for getting noticed, being different and having a differentiator in today's competitive corporate world and a job market. This one has been on my mind and is the most important one. So I saved it for last artificial intelligent tools will become a significant differentiator for job seekers. And even more. So employees seeking promotion. As AI continues to revolutionize everything. Companies are seeking individuals who know how to use them and can leverage them to enhance their efficiency and company efficiency. And. Drive innovation. If you are at a company that. Does things the old way. That's a little old fashion. These are your greatest opportunities. They're looking for someone at any company who can get 60 hours of work a week done in 40 hours without having to stress out or blitz. You say work too hard. Someone who's efficient, someone who works smarter. That benefits the company and it benefits you and it makes you indispensable. You need to stand out as someone who has. Allows AI to do work for them, especially manual work, sorting things out, spreadsheets, organizing, rewording. Employers care about the outcome, what they get, if you can do it in less time, they would love that they don't think it's cheating. They don't think that you're lame for using AI. They love that they can get more from us. So as a job seeker highlight, you are experienced with AI tools on your resume. And during interviews. Whether it's familiarity with AI products, maybe specific to your company or industry. Or just general platforms, whether it be data analysis, software, AI driven customer service tools. Just being able to put a bunch of stuff in AI and have it give you a result in five seconds instead of manually doing it in a couple hours, makes your life easier and it's better for the company. Demonstrate your ability to use AI efficiently and use it to set yourself apart from other candidates. You need to be able to explain. What tool you use, what you discovered it can do, and yes, you can take some credit here and how it benefits the company and how you're excited that the company can get more done in less time. If you are not familiar with AI, if you keep hearing about this and you're like, what the heck? Just do a Google search for how to use AI and then add your industry, how AI benefits customer service representatives, how AI can benefit accountants, how AI can do this or that. How use AI for marketing AI marketing tools to look for courses you'll find free YouTube videos get started now to get really specific. Say that you have a really specific role you're in construction or something like that. You're in HR at a construction company. Looking into AI tools in the construction industry and then AI tools within the construction industry. And maybe those that use AI, you'd be surprised. If you're looking to get a new job, a better job, or get promoted within your current company, invest time in learning and mastering AI tools. Relevant to your industry is one of the greatest ways you can pitch yourself as someone who is innovative. Willing to adapt to change. That is the inevitable AI change and someone who can get more done in less time. You can streamline your workflows, make better data-driven decisions and contribute to your organization's strategic goals in a more impactful way. For instance, has companies are integrating AI to automate workflows and enhance productivity. Emphasizing your value in AI proficiency in driving business transformation will help you stand out. And bring more to the table to justify that big raise or a better job. AI literacy. Won't just be an advantage. It's becoming a necessity. So I'm telling you now become familiar with AI, become familiar with the different platforms. And improve your current skills and understanding of what it can do for you and your employer. You're not only going to improve your efficiency, but also increase your value within the organization and job market. So quick recap. What I see coming for driven professionals in 2025, the rise of skill based, hiring and greater focus on self-management. In hybrid and remote settings, especially someone who knows how to drive teams results in remote setting, the growing importance of personal branding. Even if you don't really like that term, or don't like the idea of spending time on it, like me. It's still worth exploring and making small changes to start. Proficiency in AI tools is a key differentiator. And I hate to say it. It may not even be a differentiator, but. Even as a way to just keep up, you need to start learning how to use AI. These trends are your opportunities. To leverage your current skills and stand out. I recommend you. Take action now. To refine your skills, improve. Yourself management abilities, strengthen that personal brand and embrace AI. You'll position yourself. For success in 2025, I've been doing these predictions for a couple of years now. They've been really popular. I've had some people that listened to them and then hit me up a couple months later and tell me how. Right. I was in, this is my way of helping you out, giving you a leg up. And they had start against the competition for the same role within your current company or for that job that you just applied for and everything else in between. For some of these, just make sure that you add these to your resume once you master them, once you understand them and that you implement these into your LinkedIn. So don't wait for an interview to convey. Your ability to use AI or self-manage. Integrate it into the resume, into the cover letter to get you that interview and then discuss those in your interview. I cover this in a ton of episodes, specific interview application. Tricks best practices, insight. Don't just listen, take action. And just like all the listeners around the world that listen to the job interview experience, leverage these insights to get way ahead. Thanks for listening to the job interview experience. Let's make it a great 2025 together.