In this episode, Aaron Makelky, Dan Yu, and John Lovig cover how to navigate layoffs, whether you're watching them happen around you or going through one yourself.

Dan shares the numbers: over 1.1 million layoffs in 2025, a 54% jump year-over-year, making it the worst since COVID and the 2008 financial crisis. Tech, telecom, retail, airlines, and food service have all been hit. Amazon, Verizon, IBM, Starbucks, Meta, Microsoft, and UPS have made cuts, and seasonal hiring is down by about half compared to previous years.

The hosts offer practical advice for those seeing colleagues get let go. Dan recommends downloading your contacts, performance reviews, and any kudos emails while you still have access. These documents become critical when job searching. John emphasizes starting to network before you need to: coffee chats, reaching out to recruiters, or posting content on LinkedIn. Aaron's mental test: ask yourself what you'd wish you were doing right now if it had been you on that list.

John introduces the concept of "layoff fatigue"—the psychological and emotional toll of either enduring a prolonged job search or surviving multiple rounds of cuts at your company. The hosts discuss how this fatigue shows up in interviews (recruiters can spot cynicism immediately) and offer strategies for combating it, including finding joy outside of work, getting accountability partners, and maintaining perspective on what's actually within your control.

The episode wraps with a discussion on outplacement services—what they actually provide, the right questions to ask, and how to maximize their value, including the tip to pause services during slow hiring periods like the holidays.

For more resources, visit futureproof-yu.com.

Timestamps

0:00 – Intro
0:49 – The state of the 2025 job market: 1.1 million layoffs, 54% year-over-year increase
2:08 – Which job market numbers to trust (government data vs. ADP reports)
3:10 – Industries hit hardest: tech, telecom, retail, airlines, federal government
4:29 – Seasonal hiring down by half—what it signals about consumer spending
5:10 – What to do when you see colleagues get laid off
5:59 – Download your contacts, performance reviews, and KPIs while you can
7:32 – Start networking before you need to
9:25 – The difference between a transactional reach-out and a genuine one
11:10 – Dan's story: calling a laid-off client every few weeks for 18 months
13:02 – Take your laid-off boss out for a drink
13:51 – Update your LinkedIn profile during any company change
14:59 – Keep a file of thank-you notes for tough days
15:51 – What is "layoff fatigue"?
17:30 – Finding joy outside of work to reduce stress
18:33 – Layoff buddies: accountability partners for your job search
19:35 – Start a corporate alumni networking group on LinkedIn
20:28 – Can recruiters spot layoff fatigue in interviews? (Yes, immediately)
22:30 – "Bitter, angry, sad, and despondent is not sexy"
24:00 – Separating your identity from job search outcomes
25:40 – Locus of control: what you can and can't hold yourself accountable for
27:26 – Increasing your surface area for good things to happen
27:49 – Give LinkedIn recommendations as "lotto tickets with extra juice"
29:00 – Outplacement services: what they actually do (and don't do)
31:17 – Questions to ask about outplacement: success rates, coaching, databases
32:22 – Tip: pause outplacement services during slow hiring periods
32:35 – Outro and wrap-up

We’re thrilled to be sponsored by IXL.

IXL’s comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:
Simplify and streamline technology
Save teachers’ time
Reliably meet Tier 1 standards
Improve student performance on state assessments
🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.

Join recruiters Dan Yu and John Lovig as they share insights from the trenches on Q4 2025 hiring trends, AI's impact on recruitment, and essential strategies for job seekers navigating today's market.

Timestamps & Topics

[0:00] Introduction & Q4 Hiring Trends Overview

Aaron introduces the episode topic and the team discusses what's happening in Q4 hiring across the market.

[0:36] AI's Impact on Hiring

• Tech companies hiring for AI-enabled roles
• AI-first recruiting: companies seeking candidates who use AI in their workflows
• Executive-level searches indicating company growth
• Surge in tech recruiter postings

[2:13] Seasonal Hiring Patterns & Budget Spending

• Q4 as a strategic hiring period
• Budget constraints driving year-end hiring decisions
• "No fire, no hire" trend discussion
• Companies becoming more mindful about talent acquisition

[4:25] Job Hugging Trend Explained

• Definition: Doing anything to stay in your current job
• Behaviors: Taking on extra work, managing up, demonstrating value
• Connection to AI adoption and productivity increases
• Importance of being prepared for unexpected layoffs

[6:00] LinkedIn Profile Optimization for AI Search

• Building a robust LinkedIn presence
• Documenting accomplishments publicly
• Downloading contacts and memorializing achievements
• Preparing for potential career transitions

[8:00] Agentic AI in LinkedIn Recruiting

• LinkedIn's new AI agents for candidate search and messaging
• How AI search differs from traditional recruiting methods
• Importance of profile visibility for AI algorithms
• Risk of being overlooked without proper optimization

[9:39] Keyword Strategy for Visibility

• Using ubiquitous, industry-standard keywords
• Balancing specific and common terminology
• Keyword frequency and recency matter
• Strategic placement in current role and about section

[10:01] Using Pinned Posts Effectively

• Three pinned posts appear prominently on profiles
• Confirming expertise through content
• Recruiter attention span: 6-8 seconds to engage
• Examples of strategic post pinning

[11:11] LinkedIn Profile Knockout Mistakes

• Creative roles without portfolio examples in posts
• Missing professional profile pictures for client-facing roles
• Lack of background/banner images
• Not showcasing work you're proud of

[13:10] Closing & Course Information

• LinkedIn optimization live course: November 6th
• Downloadable/asynchronous course options available
• Visit futureproofyou.com for more information

Key Takeaways

1. AI skills are becoming essential across roles, not just technical positions
2. Q4 is an active hiring period driven by budget cycles
3. Your LinkedIn profile must be AI-search optimized with strategic keywords
4. Recruiters spend 6-8 seconds scanning profiles—make every element count
5. Document your accomplishments and maintain an up-to-date professional presence

Resources Mentioned

• FutureProofYou.com - Course information and resources
• LinkedIn Optimization Course - Live (Nov 6) and downloadable formats

Connect with the Hosts

Find Dan Yu, John Lovig, and Aaron Makelky on LinkedIn to learn more about hiring trends and career optimization strategies.

We’re thrilled to be sponsored by IXL.

IXL’s comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:
Simplify and streamline technology
Save teachers’ time
Reliably meet Tier 1 standards
Improve student performance on state assessments
🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.

Terri Dien went from White House Press Office to campaign wins to culinary school at 30-something, then stacked skills across restaurants, teaching, corporate dining, four cookbooks, and now voiceover. We cover: how to test and iterate, translate strengths into new lanes, use networks instead of blind applying, design better learning with simple takeaways, and why failing in public is often the fastest teacher. Speed round at the end (Zuni roast chicken fans, unite).

• 00:00 Intro

• 02:00 White House → campaigns

• 07:00 Burnout + food as signal

• 13:00 Culinary school pivot

• 20:30 Imposter syndrome → street cred

• 23:00 How she designs classes that stick

• 26:30 Risk and safety nets

• 28:00 Networking > applying

• 31:00 Mentors + “permission to fail”

• 33:30 Advice if you feel stuck

• 36:00 Voiceover 3- and 5-year plan

• 41:00 Cookbooks

• 44:00 Bon Appétit opportunity

• 48:00 400 kids/day, food safety

• 51:30 Speed round

Check out futureproof-you.com for free resources to help you take control of your career today!

We’re thrilled to be sponsored by IXL.

IXL’s comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:
Simplify and streamline technology
Save teachers’ time
Reliably meet Tier 1 standards
Improve student performance on state assessments
🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.