When I receive an envelope in the USPS mail and it has the word “Important” stamped on the front, I immediately toss it in the trash without ever opening it.
Because if there’s one thing you can be sure of, any letter containing a rubber-stamped “Important” is the opposite of important.
That wasn’t always true. It’s a recent phenomenon. Maybe 10, maybe 15 years old now.
What’s happened? Why is this?
Overuse. Data. Smart marketers discovered they got a higher open rate. Then every piece of junk mail got stamped “Important.” When that happened, the real stuff stopped using it because the signal became noise.
We’ve entered the same arena with AI content generation.
We now use AI to write “personalized” emails, resumes, and cover letters. Two years ago, this was novel. Now it’s ubiquitous.
Use AI to write the job description. Use AI to screen the candidates. Use AI to select and respond.
Use AI to customize your resume. Use AI to customize a cover letter. Use AI to select and respond.
The only way to get ahead in this world is to keep upping the ante. Hyperbolic job requirements meets hyperbolic accomplishments. A specific, 15-bullet point skills list meets “I just happened to have all of those specific skills.” More adjectives. More “terrible to amazing” turn-arounds. More zeros of value required meets more zeros of value delivered.
The stamp has lost its power.
The way back isn’t louder or better AI. It’s being human enough to increase your signal-to-noise ratio.
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