🌟 Editor's Note
It’s closing in on 15 years since I left a stable and well-paying job, said goodbye to a core group of friends, and packed up my Tenderloin studio on a mission to take a chance on myself and follow my dreams.
This kicked off a period of finding myself. Something I didn’t even know I needed.
Me shortly after moving in 2015. (📸 : JP Montalvo)
I started over at a city college, working countless part-time jobs (at once lol). Found myself moving to L.A., eventually completing by B.A. and was fortunate enough to land jobs in media ever since.
I’d be lying if I said it was easy. Anything but. There were times along the way when I deeply regretted my decision. Did I make a mistake? All this time, effort, work, (and all these school loans..) and I still felt behind..
But along the way, something happened. I started realizing who I am, what mattered to me, and what I wanted. I saw a target: growth.
🎯 I started taking my career seriously and built the habit of taking small steps every day toward my goals.
📈 I immersed myself in knowledge, absorbing as much as I could (and shared it as much as possible!).
🔗 I deepened my connection to my values and how they showed up in my everyday interactions.
And now, I’m proud to say I’ve stepped into my first true management role in an industry I chased for years, despite imposter syndrome as a passenger.
Me now. (📸 : Adam Oliver)
You, too, might be on a path to finding a new you. Of course, the economy has been on its own wild ride with industries reshaping, layoffs across industries, and AI redefining the workplace.. what used to feel “stable” suddenly doesn’t.
So if you’re finding your path, wondering where you can add value, and… maybe even questioning if you’re on the right track:
Stay true to who you are and what you’re good at. Move toward ideas where progress feels natural. You’ll light the way for others who are watching, learning, and quietly thinking, okay… if they can do it, maybe I can too. 💜
Jen
⚡️ In This Issue ⚡️
🧊 Top Story
🐝 The State of the Workplace
🗞️ The Workplace Wire
🏆 Employee of the Month
TOP STORY
🧊 Job Market on Ice
August’s jobs report was a dud: just 22,000 new roles added, the weakest hiring pace in years. Uncertainty around tariffs, immigration crackdowns, and Fed policy has employers pumping the brakes, while jobseekers feel the chill — especially younger workers already squeezed by AI. The unemployment rate crept up to 4.3%, its highest since 2021.
And yet… September has long been the unofficial “second January” for hiring. Historically, companies come back from summer slowdowns ready to open reqs and kick off fresh recruiting pushes. Will 2025 break the pattern, or is the “September Surge” still alive?
Software engineer turned Founder Jean Lee sums it up perfectly:
So, whether September delivers a hiring boom or just another round of “we’ll call you back,” one thing’s obvious: stay ready!
Read more here.
THE STATE OF THE WORKPLACE
🐝 These Workplace Trends Have Offices Buzzing
The latest workplace trends on and poppin’. I’ve rounded them up so the next time a co-worker drops a term, asks for your take, or cracks a joke, you’ll actually know what they mean.
Quiet Cracking | qui·et crack·ing | verb
A persistent state of workplace unhappiness that leads to disengagement, declining performance, and an increased desire to quit.
That slow, soul-sucking grind when work wears you down from the inside out—like burnout’s sneakier cousin.
Usage: “After the reorg, half the team was quiet cracking before leadership even noticed.”
💬 Like this: “He wasn’t burned out, just gently quiet cracking like a glow stick at a rave.”
Hushed Hybrid | hushed hy·brid | noun
An unofficial workplace arrangement where employees quietly split time between home and office without formally declaring it.
The art of “working from home” while your calendar suggests you’re totally in-office (and vice versa).
💬 Like this: “They’re living the hushed hybrid dream.”
Job Hugging | job hug·ging | verb
The act of clinging to a current role despite dissatisfaction, often driven by economic uncertainty or fear of change.
Career comfort-blanket mode: holding on to a job you’ve outgrown because… yikes, have you seen the job market?
💬 Like this: “She called it loyalty. HR called it retention. I called it job hugging.”
Task Masking | task mask·ing | verb
The practice of appearing busy by prioritizing low-value tasks while avoiding meaningful or difficult work.
Professional peekaboo: hiding behind checklists so no one notices you haven’t touched the big project.
💬 Like this: “At this point, my entire calendar is just task masking with vibes.”
🗞️ The Workplace Wire 🗞️
🚗 California’s Big Union Energy
Uber and Lyft finally swiped right on unions. After years of ghosting organized labor, the rideshare giants cut a deal with California that gives drivers a pathway to unionize in exchange for some sweet insurance breaks. Now, drivers get a shot at better pay and benefits, companies get cheaper coverage, and maybe, just maybe, your ride home won’t cost half your paycheck. Read more here.
🛻 Small Town, Big Perks
Turns out small towns really do want you and they’re willing to throw cash, housing help, or even free tuition your way. Cities across the U.S. are offering tens of thousands in perks to lure workers from big metros, betting your paycheck can give their economy a glow-up. Basically: move in, unpack, and get paid. Read more here.
🤖 Barrier to Entry-Level Jobs
A new Stanford study says entry-level gigs are already feeling the AI squeeze—young workers (ages 22–25) in fields like customer service, accounting, and even software dev have seen a 13% drop in jobs since 2022. Translation: experience beats “book smarts” when the bots move in. Read more here.
🏆 Employee of the Month 🏆
Customer service at its finest.
Congratulations to Penny, September’s Employee of the Month. This dogtrepreneur runs her own grocery store and never bags the wrong item. Just make sure she gets her correct payment. 🐾
@penny.corgipoo And? And pay up, that’s what. #sassydog #doggrumbles #cutedog #funnydog #dogtoy ♬ The cutest song in the world - Bruno Portinho Trilhas para filmes
Until next time! ✌️
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