Deborah Kurtz on Recruiting, Career Success and Staying Human

Deborah shares her perspective as a recruiter, saying recruiters actually help companies build jobs rather than help candidates find jobs. She talks about how every person has an individual definition of career success, ranging from purely financial motivations to pursuing a passion. Data and metrics are increasingly important across all industries - candidates need to effectively communicate their accomplishments and the business impact they've made.

Remote and hybrid work remains a divisive issue post-pandemic. Deborah hasn't seen automation fully replace humans, but rather change the skills demanded. For example, communication skills are becoming more critical even in technical roles. She advises automating transactional tasks while humanizing emotional interactions. Overall, Deborah emphasizes that both employers and employees fundamentally desire to feel valued and in control. She encourages continual self-driven learning and development, as traditional career paths are less common. Her parting advice to job seekers: keep persevering through the challenges, as there are always more opportunities ahead.