Our learnings from 50 Episodes of the Open To Work Podcast
After 50 incredible episodes of the Open To Work Podcast, Matt's shared his reflections on job search advice from HR and TA Leaders from around the world
Hi everyone,
This week, we’re taking a step back to reflect on what really works in today’s job search.
With The Open To Work Podcast hitting 50 episodes, we’re sharing hard-earned lessons from recruiters and job seekers who’ve been through it all—from layoffs to multiple offers. Plus, we’re spotlighting one of the most powerful (and misunderstood) job search tools: referrals.
This week you’ll learn:
🎧 What 50 episodes of job search conversations reveal about what actually works
🤝 Why your referrals might be falling flat—and how to fix them
🧠 Why human connection still beats automation, even in an AI-powered world
📚 How to avoid the biggest myths that keep job seekers stuck
This week’s feature: What I’ve learned after 50 episodes
Written by Matthew Parker
When we launched the podcast in 2023, we didn’t have a grand plan. Just a simple goal: help one person get hired.
Two years later, we’ve learned a lot—from recruiters, hiring managers, job seekers, and, honestly, from our own experiences navigating a tough market.
In this reflection, Matthew breaks down:
Why AI is hurting more candidates than it helps
The myths job seekers still believe (and need to stop)
The advice that continues to hold true across all industries
And the next chapter for The Open To Work Podcast
“You don’t have to be perfect. You just have to be clear, consistent, and kind to yourself in the process.”
Read the full article here
❤️ This week’s podcast: Supporting your partner through a job search
Featuring Mrs Parker
To celebrate our 50th episode, we wanted to call out the unsung heroes behind every job seeker. We recognise that rarely does a job search involve just one person, but a whole system of people who are supporting and rooting for you.
When I was laid off, my wife was right there with me—navigating the emotional rollercoaster, cheering me on, and picking up the pieces on the tough days.
So in this special episode, we sat down to talk openly about:
What it’s really like to support someone through a job search
How to manage the stress (and strain) it can put on a relationship
What Ella wishes more partners understood
And how we found our way through it—together
Whether you’re in the middle of a search or supporting someone who is, I hope this conversation helps you feel a little less alone.
📊Visual of the Week: Referrals that actually work
From Aakash Gupta’s Product Growth
We all know referrals matter. But what if yours aren’t working?
This breakdown from Aakash dives into why so many referrals fall flat—and what to do instead.
📊 Why your referrals fail
✅ The #1 strategy for getting interviews
🧰 A referral tracking system (complete with templates)
📬 Real-world case studies (and the exact messages that landed jobs)
🤖GPT prompts that actually work—for your job search
From Farah Sharghi, former recruiter turned coach
AI can be a game-changer in your job search—if you know how to use it.
Farah Sharghi, a former recruiter who’s now coaching job seekers full-time, shared a brilliant post this week packed with ready-to-use GPT prompts.
They’re practical, specific, and grounded in how hiring really works. No fluff—just high-quality prompts for:
Writing your resume
Prepping for interviews
Tailoring your applications
Negotiating your offer
If you’ve ever wondered how to make ChatGPT actually useful, this is the post to read.
📘 Your Job Search Toolkit: Book + Tracker
Looking for structure in your search? We’ve got you covered.
📝 The Book
How to Get Hired is a practical guide to navigating every stage of your job hunt—written by a recruiter who’s been through it too.
It includes:
Proven strategies for every stage of the search
Detailed workbook exercises
Real-world examples from successful candidates
Templates to help you stand out
👉 Download the book (choose your price)
📊 The Job Tracker
Staying organised is half the battle. The Open To Work Job Tracker makes it easy to:
Track applications, referrals, and follow-ups
Monitor interview progress
Stay focused and reduce overwhelm
👉 Get the free Job Tracker here
Together, they form the foundation of a job search system that actually works.
🎧 Closing Thoughts
This week marks a big moment for me—50 episodes of The Open To Work Podcast.
What started as a project during my own job search became a way to process, contribute, and connect. And along the way, I got to speak with some of the most thoughtful people in hiring—people who genuinely care about helping others get hired.
If you’ve listened, shared, or sent a kind message along the way: thank you. This podcast has been a lifeline, not just for others, but for me too.
Now, as I take a step back to reflect, I keep returning to the same core idea: job seekers deserve advice grounded in reality—not hype.
That’s what this week’s edition is all about:
Cutting through the noise with referral strategies that actually work
Using GPT prompts from real recruiters—not generic internet fluff
Rethinking how we show up with authenticity in a world flooded with AI
And reminding ourselves that behind every job application is a human story
So if this newsletter helped you feel a bit more grounded, a bit more equipped, or just a bit less alone—please pass it on.
And as always, if there’s something you want covered in the next edition, just hit reply.
—
Matthew Parker
Founder, Open to Work Community