Job interviews in English are brutal when it isn't your first language — you blank out and forget the lines you rehearsed.

So I built Interview Copilot. You paste your resume + the job description, and it:

• generates tailored English answers for likely questions
• runs AI mock interviews (questions read aloud via TTS, with a timer + feedback)
• shows a pronunciation guide under every sentence
• optionally assists live during the real interview

Free to practice: https://geoinfomatic.pythonanywhere.com/interview?ref=lemmy

I am aware that applying for jobs actually has very little to no probability. Which platform is preferable while looking for work and wishing to apply? Please let me know in the comment if there are any platforms that I'm missing that are truly useful. Many thanks to all!

LinkedIn, Naukri, Indeed

Mention others in the comments if any!

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.ml/post/45059519

Ever seen our AOSP based apps (Phone,Messages,Gallery...) & thought I could make a difference to bring them up?

We're seeking a senior Android engineer to take ownership of the default app suite:

https://grapheneos.org/hiring#android-apps-software-engineer

Code standard is high, vibe coders need not apply.

So, this is my first job for a well and Pump company, it's a small company, but it's been running 5+ years and is worth over a million, thing is, I'm miserable, this job has had me stressed out so much that I started thinking of switching.

A few months back, in a morning meeting, I can't quite remember the context, but I do remember saying that "this wasn't where I saw myself" which is true, I'm a very techie person doing manual labor, even spent several years in college before getting burnt out doing all the extra shit you need. Thing is my boss latched on to me saying that and kept bringing it up, and recently he wanted me to get a licence with him in public water systems that he would pay for, cool, but I was miserable and didn't want to owe him anything if I left so I said no.

That is when he brought up if I saw this as a career or just a job, now, mind you this is the type of guy that can be spiteful, so I had to make a choice on the spot and either lie to make sure I was still put on jobs or tell the truth and not screw myself out of recommendations, I would like SOMETHING to put on my resume, so I told him it was a job.

Now this morning, I get a text in a group chat that I wasn't needed today, and I kinda felt like he was trying to do the same last week, but me and my coworkers wiggled me out of it each time, I'm sure my coworkers will get me some work, cause they some bros, but it'll be by twisting my bosses arm and if I'm coming in, it'll probably be for necessity.

This is my love letter to the corporate world. I would like to share it as a way to vent:

Dear employers,

I do not have a job.

I do not want a job.

I want to work, and I want my expenses paid for, but I do not want to spend a single second going through the parasitic, disrespectful, abusive process to apply for a job and work for a company.

Allow me to walk you through the typical process to apply for a job, as you may be unaware:

The first step is to create a résumé. In order to even be considered for most positions, the résumé must use what is officially called "corporate jargon." However, "corporate bullshit" is a more fitting name. It's a style of language used by corporations in an attempt to sound professional, but instead it makes the text convoluted, wards off any applicants with an ounce of self respect, and sounds downright disgusting, pompous, and inhumane.

Let's look at an example. I've noticed "thrives in a fast-paced environment" is an extremely common phrase that appears in job listings. People assume it means "enjoys working at an exciting and eventful job," but what it actually means is that you are constantly rushed, hassled by managers, no time for breaks to collect yourself or fix pressing issues, and constant pressure and stress. That is not a healthy job, so advertising it as such is slimy and deceptive.

That same corporate bullshit is the language most employers expect to inject into each résumé in order to even be considered for the role. You can imagine the kind of people that attracts for the position.

After the résumé has been botoxed with the most vile language possible, the résumé must include a plethora of personal information. That includes a full name, phone number, email, home address, job history with references (which includes the personal information of other people), the name of every academic institution you attended, and much more.

If that information fell into the wrong hands, the ramifications would be catastrophic. Many job applications ask for things as detailed as your social security number before you're even considered for the position, and you're handing that along with your résumé to complete strangers. You're also trusting all of those strangers not to mishandle that information by carelessly throwing it away before shredding it or abuse that information themselves. Anyone could use that to commit identity theft, stalk you, or rob you.

Given how many jobs people apply for before they are accepted, it would be completely natural to feel uncomfortable handing out that personal information. Unfortunately, some jobs will only seek out applicants that post their résumé on services like Indeed or LinkedIn.

Speaking of which, both Indeed and LinkedIn collect and sell all personal information about its users. Anyone can and do buy that information. They explicitly state this in their privacy policy:

LinkedIn: "We will share your personal data with our Affiliates to provide and develop our Services." (https://www.linkedin.com/legal/privacy-policy#share 3.4 Related Services)

Indeed: "We collect personal data for research purposes to improve our products and services, understand user behavior and enhance user experience. Types of data collected varies with the specific study being performed but may include: First name, Last name, Gender, Age, Email address, Telephone number, Home address, IP address, Account ID's" (https://hrtechprivacy.com/brands/indeed#Data-collection-and-use Additional Purposes and Disclosures of Information)

Using those services breaches your personal information, plain and simple. People like myself will use those services to view jobs only, and apply outside of those sites (such as in person). Unfortunately, many jobs fail to include their address in the listing or are remote only.

I once found a listing for an IT job in my area. I visited the address on the job listing, and discovered that it was the address of a (rightfully) very confused man who had no idea about the job listing. Had I applied online instead of in person, my information most certainly would have been mishandled.

Many of the jobs I attempt to apply for in person all say "everything's online," and see no issue with that. Many jobs hiring for cybersecurity positions get suspicious if you show that you care about privacy. If someone doesn't even protect their own personal information, what makes you think they would be good at protecting yours as a career?

The next issue with job listings is the outrageous requirements. I have met brilliant individuals who would excel in their fields, yet struggle to find a job because they have no formal education, certifications costing hundreds of dollars each, or prior experience. Employers don't even give them a chance to demonstrate their knowledge.

Sometimes, employers will deny an applicant for being "overqualified." Instead of treating the applicant like a professional and valuing their experience and work, the applicant is flat out denied for the position. If the applicant tries to downplay their experience, they are instead "underqualified." Truthfulness is punished, and so the ones who make it through the application process lack integrity and honesty.

If an applicant finally manages to get an interview in person, the interview process is just as egregious as the application process. The ones in charge of hiring often know nothing about the position they are hiring for, so instead base their judgments entirely off of social and communication skills, which includes corporate jargon. Many of the questions asked during interviews are useless and have a hidden agenda. Applicants are expected to "study" these questions as if the interview is an exam. These questions rarely ever test the applicant's ability in the role.

Employers expect applicants not to waste their time, but will have no problem wasting applicants' time. If an applicant is anything but perfect, most employers will cease communication with the applicant without prior notice. From the applicant's point of view, he or she is waiting for a response from an employer before applying for the next job. The applicant does not want to apply for another job if it isn't necessary, because that takes time, effort, and personal information should be shared sparingly. Ghosting applicants is incredibly rude and egocentric.

If an applicant is approved for the role, many businesses will treat them like criminals by exposing them to scrutiny and unwanted investigation such as drug tests, social media stalking, etc. These practices are invasive, undermining, and belittling. People should be treated with trust and kindness, instead of distrust and judgment. Refusing any of these practices will get the applicant denied for the position.

There are numerous security and privacy concerns with telephony, email, banks, and others, most of which businesses refuse to accommodate. Corporations also include plenty of surveillance such as monitoring software, surveillance cameras, and other technology that harms work ethic and mental health through effects such as the Hawthorne effect.

With all of this in mind, the pure, experienced, honest, respectful people are punished and denied by employers every step of the way. What ends up happening is that people either become desperate enough to bend over to these malpractices, earn a low paying but ethical job at a small business, or end up without a job altogether. This needs to stop, and preventing it is not hard at all. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

• Use normal, human language.
• Post job listings on local job boards.
• Encourage people to apply in person by removing any online applications.
• Discourage résumés or responsibly handle all personal information you receive.
• Put those who know the position best in charge of hiring for that position.
• Give every applicant a chance to demonstrate their skills without judging a book by its cover.
• Communicate using secure platforms such as face-to-face, Signal, SimpleX Chat, and others.
• Give people the benefit of the doubt, and only take action if there is reasonable suspicion.
• Treat your employees with the privacy and respect they deserve.

Be the change that needs to happen in the world.

Sincerely,

Anonymous

Hey everyone, I came across an interesting part-time opportunity via Mercor, a San Francisco–based AI talent platform that partners with top AI startups.

They’re looking for a Chinese Linguistic Expert to help improve how AI models (like Gemini and similar tools) interpret Chinese prompts when generating images and videos.

It’s a mix of language, culture, and generative AI — perfect if you’re into how AI systems understand and visualize text-based inputs.

What you’ll do

Review AI-generated images and videos based on Chinese prompts.

Check for accuracy, fluency, and cultural alignment.

Provide linguistic & cultural feedback to improve model behavior.

Experiment with multimodal AI systems to find quirks and edge cases.

Work asynchronously with AI researchers and technical teams.

Who they’re looking for

Fluent in Mandarin Chinese and English.

Deep understanding of Chinese culture, idioms, and media.

Interested in AI and linguistic interpretation.

Bonus: experience with translation, localization, or content review.

Job details

💼 Start: Immediate

⏱ Duration: 5 weeks (possible extension)

🕓 Commitment: 10+ hrs/week, flexible schedule

🌍 Fully remote & asynchronous

💰 Pay: $28–$33 USD/hr (paid weekly via Stripe)

⚖️ Type: Independent contractor

About Mercor

Mercor connects global experts with leading AI companies. They’re backed by Benchmark, General Catalyst, Adam D’Angelo, Larry Summers, and Jack Dorsey.

If this sounds like something you’d enjoy, here’s the job post link: 👉 Apply here via Mercor

Hey, I came across a Platform Engineer opening at a company called Mercor and thought it might be worth sharing for anyone into infra / distributed systems.

They’re working on AI models that help automate hiring — apparently used by some of the big AI labs. The role is focused on building and maintaining internal platforms: APIs, messaging, workflows, observability, and debugging across distributed systems. It’s a pretty solid mix of Python + Go and deep infrastructure work.

The position is based in San Francisco (seems remote-flexible), and the team looks quite strong technically.

If you’re into building reliable backend systems that other engineers depend on, this one might be up your alley.

click below link to apply

work.mercor.com/jobs/list_AAABmM9Ufaa3R7c69t1Naqgf?referralCode=948a086e-c9b4-4b27-8c19-ec3770a89100

I'm from a less fortunate country, looking to move to EU (or Aussie).

Been looking around and all the job posts I see requires that I'd already been living in their city. This is not feasible for me as I'd need visa, which would need company sponsorship.

Any advice?

I have a flip phone that I prefer to keep it always off with the battery removed - due to privacy reasons. I also have a text-only VOIP number (couldn't find a service that accepted Monero and had calling functionality) and an email.

I've been looking for jobs and I've put my VOIP number (mentioning that it's text-only) and my email on my resume. However, I didn't put my flip phone's phone number on it. So, I've just been wondering, is this really going to affect my chances of getting an job?

Right now, I am currently in the process of hunting for jobs (mostly minimum wage though). I am currently trying to write as many cover letters and resumes as I can, and I'm planning to go out on January 2nd to apply to as many positions as I can both in-person and online (if that's allowed).

How many resumes/cover letters do you think I'll need in order to actually get an interview and a job?

So far, I only have around 15 resumes/cover letters, but I try to tailor them.

Am I also legally allowed to apply both online and in-person to the same job position at about the same time in Ontario, Canada?

Total of 6 years (my fault), graduated with honors. Can't get a job because I don't have experience. Countless applications out. Zero interviews.

TL;DR job app asked me for the verification code proving I completed the questionnaire "in order to proceed". I completed it with a fake SSN and the verification code was 1234.

Try putting in 1234 if you encounter this.

This -- "Work Opportunity Tax Credit Questionnaire" -- came up when applying through one of the big job search sites in the U.S. Turned out this was posted by a corporate staffing agency. Not the biggest one.

The Questionnaire asks for PII including social security number, name and address.

You are not required to do this, despite their absurd web form that states "optional field is required" or some shit. In my case, they wouldn't get any tax credits anyways

Hello there!
Hope you're having a good day.
I also hope that this isn't against the community rules, and if it is, I'm really sorry. I thought it might be of interest to the users who are browsing this community.

I have made a new community called ![email protected], to create a marketplace for jobs here on Lemmy, that works in a decentralized and user-centric way.

I'd love to see your posts there if there's anything that you can share with the rest of the Lemmy community! :)
Whether it's a post about the new position that you have available, your cool new project that needs a helping hand, or your awesome skills that you want to share with the world!

Thank you for reading, and again, have a good day!

Knowing When To Walk Away — The Four Hour Interview

A while ago, I received a lead from a startup for a potential contract.

They reached out to me after undergoing a cybersecurity review by a third-party company and had done very poorly.

For example, they lacked even the most basic security measures like multifactor authentication which I'd consider a bare minimum in today's climate.

Despite this, I was interested as it's kind of my job to help with something like this. Here is how the interview process went:

The first hour
The interview process began smoothly. The initial interview was online with the person I'd be reporting to. It lasted an hour, and I felt it went well.

The second hour
The next interview was in person with another executive in a related role. Once again, no red flags.

The third hour
By the third interview, I was getting a bit tired. This time, it was with a HR executive. I respected the process, but I'll admit that after three hours, the thought of charging for my time had crossed my mind.

The fourth hour
After the third interview, they still seemed interested but wanted me to meet with the company that handles their outsourced cybersecurity services, known as a Managed Security Service Provider (MSSP). I was hesitant but agreed. In hindsight, this was a mistake for several reasons:

1. Misaligned Priorities: The MSSP doesn't represent the company, and the interview felt off. Most of the questions revolved around how I'd be funneling work to the MSSP and implied that my role would hold little value in the bigger picture.
2. Low Cyber Maturity: Given the organisation's low cyber maturity, involving an existing solution at this stage seemed counterproductive.

After a very strange 15-minute interview with the MSSP, they informed me that they had decided not to proceed with the role. Looking back, there are a few things I could have done differently:

1. Set Boundaries: I should have budgeted no more than four hours of free time for the interview process.
2. Decline External Stakeholder Meetings: I should have refused to meet with external stakeholders who are not directly involved in the decision-making process.

I think it's okay to say no, especially when dealing with startups that are still finding their footing.

What would you do in this situation?

@jobs

#macroblog #infosec

cross-posted from: https://qoto.org/users/mapto/statuses/112885446373011247

Looking for a junior researcher to work on semantic shift

We are studying the semantic shift of linguistics metalanguage in Early Modern English and we need your help.

#changeIsKey #semanticShift #computationalLinguistics #digitalHumanities
@linguistics @digitalhumanities
@digitalhumanities
QT: https://fediscience.org/@IslabUnimi/112885415246430765