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The Supreme Court appears to be in favor of lowering the standard for what is required to prove job discrimination when it comes to people who are white, straight, or male. According to The Washington Post, a discrimination lawsuit had been filed in 2020 by Marlean Ames. She had previously been employed at the Ohio government agency managing juvenile corrections. Ames says her position was given to a young gay man in 2019. Then someone else she considered less qualified later received a promotion that she thought she deserved. Ames is a heterosexual white woman and stated that this person was a lesbian. The lower court did not see enough evidence to prove job discrimination had taken place, therefore it ruled against her. For those from majority backgrounds, more evidence is required to show proof that discrimination in the workplace occurred. However, a ruling in Ames’ favor could lead to more “reverse discrimination” lawsuits, Reuters notes. A strong defense would be that majority...
Google has launched Career Dreamer, an advanced artificial intelligence analysis tool that evaluates users’ skills and experiences and suggests personalized career opportunities. According to a Feb. 19, 2025 blog post from Grow With Google Founder Lisa Gevelber, Claire Thorn, a military spouse who spent nearly 20 years as a stay-at-home mom before reentering the workforce , was one of the early testers of Career Dreamer. After answering a few questions about her background and interests, she learned how to translate her life experiences into skills and new career opportunities. “(Career Dreamer) helped identify skills that I take for granted and showed me that they’re important and useful in the workforce,” said Thorn, per Google. “Now, I’m armed with the confidence of knowing that I already possess exactly what employers need.” Career Dreamer identifies patterns and connects the dots between unique experiences, educational backgrounds, skills, and interests. The platform then...
Editorial Note: Opinions and thoughts are the author’s own and not those of AFROTECH™. Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) have been wreaking havoc on the American people, from their quest to gain access to sensitive information within the government to assisting President Donald Trump with his plan to lay off federal employees and dismantle government agencies like the Department of Education . Federal jobs were once a symbol of stable employment, but with mass layoffs and confusion surrounding what jobs still exist, that sentiment may not exist anymore. So far this year, about 200,000 federal workers have had their roles eliminated and 75,000 federal employees have been laid off, with more to come as DOGE continues to comb through federal agencies. Agencies have done hiring freezes, offered buyouts, and mass-fired workers. Some workers doubt that they will even receive the settlement that the administration is offering. Many of these attempts to cut down...
Crafting the perfect resume requires strategic decisions about what to include and what to leave out. One of the most common questions job seekers face is how many jobs they should list. While you want to showcase your experience, overwhelming recruiters with excessive details can work against you. The ideal number of jobs to include depends on factors like your career stage, relevance to the role, and resume length guidelines. How Much Work Experience Should You Include? A general rule of thumb is to include 10 to 15 years of work history. This provides employers with enough context about your career progression while keeping your resume concise. If you have decades of experience, listing every job you’ve ever had isn’t necessary. Instead, focus on positions that are most relevant to your current career goals. For early-career professionals, it’s acceptable to list all your past jobs, internships, or even significant freelance work. If you’ve only had one or two formal jobs,...
Streaming may not be the easiest job, but it’s not harder than a standard 9-to-5 — or at least not according to Kai Cenat . During an interview with Shannon Sharpe on the “Club Shay Shay” podcast, the online streamer was asked if his job is more difficult than a typical 9-to-5, to which he replied, “F-ck no.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Club Shay Shay (@clubshayshay) “Anybody who says streaming is harder than a 9-to-5 is an idiot,” Cenat said. “I work so hard on my streams, it takes a lot of hard work, there’s a lot of planning. You got to be in front of a camera for dozens of hours. I understand that, it’s hard.” “But harder than a 9-to-5? You’re talking about somebody that may not even want to be there,” he continued. “I love streaming. I think about it all the time… The average 9-to-5 worker don’t want to be there.” Cenat added that when those that work a 9-to-5 job finally receive their paychecks, they often use them to pay bills and care for their...
Richard Merritt II had a clear vision for his next career step. Journey In Technology Richard Merritt II’s journey in technology began at the age of seven when he showed interest in old Dell computers and learned to code graphing calculators in math class. “I was actually pretty interested in how computers work. In math class, they gave me those graphing calculators, and I was able to code them to do calculations for me. So, I kind of always wanted to do something with computers,” he told AFROTECH™. Between 2007 and 2012, Merritt attended Texas Tech University. He initially pursued a degree in computer engineering but pivoted to business administration in management information systems after realizing he wanted to explore the intersection of technology and people. Immediately after graduating, Merritt jump-started his career as an IT Analyst Intern at Valero Energy Corporation, as noted on his LinkedIn profile. This internship led to a full-time role as a Technical Product Manager...
After a job interview , it can be difficult to gauge how well you performed and whether you’ll receive an offer. However, there are certain signs to look for that may indicate the employer is leaning toward offering you the position. While no sign is guaranteed, recognizing these signals can help ease your mind and give you a better idea of where you stand. Positive Body Language From The Interviewer One of the most noticeable signs that you may get the job is positive body language from the interviewer. If they maintain eye contact, smile frequently, and lean in during the conversation, it could suggest genuine interest in you as a candidate. Furthermore, if the interviewer mirrors your movements or gestures, it can be a subconscious sign of rapport and connection. Subtle body language cues, such as nodding in agreement or uncrossing their arms, can also signal that the interviewer feels comfortable and open to what you’re saying. Studies show that interviewers who are engaged...
Shaw-naé Dixon is behind a popular soul food restaurant in Staten Island, NY. Dixon’s interest in cooking dates back to her time in the kitchen with her grandmother, her website reads. She would continue to nurture her skills at church and a local soup kitchen. “My grandmother was a dietician for over 40 years, and I know that my grandmother taught me a lot of different recipes when I was growing u p,” Dixon said during an interview with Bon Appétit . “ And it wasn’t necessarily about the recipes and the food, it was about the technique and making sure that I could feed a lot of people at one time. “ In her adult years, Dixon first pursued a career in education. For over a decade, she was a teacher. However, she was pushed into her true calling of becoming a restaurateur after spending time in a coma. “Following a very, I won’t say difficult time, but a pivotal time in my life when I was in a coma, when I woke up, I said, ‘ Chase your legacy and not the luxury.’ Opening up a...
AFROTECH™ Conference 2024 was in Houston, TX, from Nov. 13 to 17 — and on Day 3, LinkedIn hosted an Executive Stage session titled “The Path Forward: Adapting Amidst Rapid Tech.” Career expert Drew McCaskill and technology leader Bef Ayenew led the panel to discuss artificial intelligence’s transformative impact on jobs, teams, and companies. With 1.1 billion members leveraging LinkedIn for career growth, knowledge sharing, skill development, and community building, many have already enhanced their profiles with AI skills . “We’ve seen 140x in times in LinkedIn members globally adding AI skills to their LinkedIn profiles. That’s 140x increase in people adding those skills,” McCaskill said. “70% of companies are reporting that they’re using AI already at work. If you think about it like this, 25% of the skills needed for the jobs that all of us do and have been doing for the past eight years have changed.” “So even if you’re not changing jobs, your jobs are changing on you,” he...
Somtochukwu “Somie” Agunwah wants to empower the next generation of dental students. QCity Metro reports that Agunwah, who moved from Lagos, Nigeria, to Charlotte, NC, in 2003, initially pursued a career in nursing. She earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing from the University of North Carolina, Charlotte and worked as a critical care nurse in Washington, DC, at Howard University Hospital. However, she soon realized that nursing was not the career path she wanted to continue. “I didn’t like the lifestyle of the medical doctors that I was interacting with,” Agunwah told the outlet, referencing the lack of work-life balance and long hours. Agunwah discovered her true calling while working under a Maryland dentist. She pivoted to attend Howard University College of Dentistry, later completing a pediatric residency in Brooklyn, NY. Reflecting on her mission, she decided to focus her efforts on prioritizing children. “They are still teachable,” Agunwah explained, according to QCity...
Navigating the job application process and getting your career off the ground can be tricky, especially if you’re uncertain whether a position you’re interested in is still open. To make matters worse, the labor market is pretty tight right now, with unemployment remaining low at around 4.1% for the month of October. As for total job openings, they’ve actually declined slightly over the past year, down 1.9 million from last September and now sitting around 7.4 million total openings. In a tough market, any little things you can do to get an edge is worth considering. Asking about the status of a job shows initiative and keeps you informed about potential opportunities. Here’s how to inquire respectfully and professionally. Research First Before reaching out, check the company’s website and job posting platforms to confirm whether the position is still listed. Some organizations update their listings regularly, while others may leave old posts online. If the role has been removed or...
The AFROTECH™ 2024 Conference kicked off in Houston on Wednesday, Nov. 13, bringing tech professionals, entrepreneurs, and cultural leaders together for an unforgettable experience. Day 1 started with dynamic networking opportunities, engaging experiences and meaningful conversations, setting the tone for the week as attendees gathered at the Culture Park Stage, presented by Lexus, for music, wellness and community programming. On Wednesday, there was an opening ceremony featuring a marching band and a compelling address by Blavity Co-Founder and CEO Morgan DeBaun, who spoke on community, innovation and the future. The event concluded with a discussion from Derrick Johnson, president and CEO of the NAACP, the nation’s largest civil rights organization, focusing on “The Power of Our Now: Taking Ownership in AI and Our Rights.” One of the key issues DeBaun pointed to was the gap in funding stages, noting that Black entrepreneurs often struggle to make it past the early rounds of seed...
If you’ve been rejected or even ghosted by a job that seemed perfect for you, the question of whether you can reapply may cross your mind. The good news is that, in many cases, it’s absolutely okay to reapply for a job you were previously turned down for. Here’s what to consider if you’re thinking of giving it another shot. Understanding Why You Didn’t Get The Job Before reapplying, try to reflect on why you didn’t land the role the first time. Sometimes, it’s as simple as timing: the company may have had a strong internal candidate, or their hiring needs may have changed. In other cases, they might have been looking for someone with a slightly different skill set. If you’re unsure, review any feedback you received from the recruiter or hiring manager (if provided), as this can offer valuable insights into areas you may need to strengthen. Automatic Screening It’s entirely possible that the hiring team has processed your application through an applicant tracking system (ATS). ATS...
The Covid-19 pandemic brought on a brief, but impactful job crisis. Following the height of the pandemic in 2021, more than 50 million people quit their jobs in what would become known as the Great Resignation . This mass quitting hit a fever pitch between November 2021 and April 2022, seeing almost 4.5 million people calling it quits every single month. That movement lost steam in 2023, though, and by the time the October 29th, 2024 Job Openings and Labor Turnover Summary (JOLTS) report rolled out, those numbers were around 3.1 million per month. If you’re thinking of breaking it to your boss that you want out, you’ll join their numbers. Quitting a job can be a pivotal moment in your career, and how you approach it can impact your professional reputation. Leaving respectfully ensures that you maintain valuable connections, demonstrate professionalism, and leave the door open for future opportunities. Don’t opt for the “ quiet quitting ” route. Instead, here’s how to exit a role...
50 Cent claims he received a six-figure payout from the late Steve Jobs. During an interview shared by “Tha Row TV” on YouTube, the rapper -turned-business-mogul took a trip down memory lane to recall being paid handsomely for a product placement in one of his music videos. This became possible thanks to a conversation with Jobs, who had a meeting with Beats By Dre co-founder Jimmy Iovine at his office. In the interview, he claimed that within the first 10 minutes of meeting, he was able to get his hands on an iPod, which had just been released in 2001. He then convinced Jobs that he could help market the iPod, leading to a $150,000 payday. “I told him ‘Let me see that.’ They gave it to me I said ‘What’s it called. It’s called an iPod? How many songs you said?’ ‘You think you could sell an iPod? I can sell an iPod.’ H e looked at Jimmy, Jimmy said ‘Believe it or not, the kid is gold. I don’t care whatever he says right now it’s gonna go’ and h e just went with it and gave me...