By Jeff Altman, Big Game Hunter
Stop kidding yourself.
If you’re a college-educated information worker under 50, the intellectual capital you spent decades building is no longer the armor you thought it was.
Reality without bullshit?
Artificial intelligence no longer just “augments” your job. It’s eating up the tasks that justify your high salary. If your job involves processing, analyzing, or summarizing, you’re standing on melting ice.
In my years as a recruiter and coach, I’ve seen the market change, but never anything like this. It’s not just about automating the factory floor; This is a white-collar bloody battle. Entry-level roles are disappearing, and middle managers are being condensed into models that don’t require a 401(k) or lunch break.
If you have more than 15 years left in your career, you need a strategy that isn’t based on hope. Here’s the game plan:
1. Find your seat before the music stops If you’re currently looking, stop waiting for the “perfect” role. Whether you’re a contractor or an employee, “perfect” is the enemy of “paid for.” Protect the base of operations immediately. Target roles that require high-stakes negotiation, complex empathy, or tacit knowledge that AI cannot replicate. AI is great at book learning; it’s terrible at navigating human egos and office politics.
2. Uncomfortable Once you’re in, don’t make the mistake of thinking that a paycheck is permanent security. Tr (you should never, but now, you desperately need not to make this mistake). Think of your current job as a subsidized transition period. When they pay you, you should look for your Exit ramp.
3. Develop your own “off-road” strategy What does a feasible exit ramp look like?
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Equity and salary: Shift to owning output, not just trading hours in dollars.
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The fulcrum of “people”: Focus on professional roles or senior consulting with real-world relevance, solving the chaos that artificial intelligence will inevitably create.
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Data judgment: Stop being a “data steward” and start being a “problem solver.”
The game has changed. Employers increasingly view expensive labor as a problem that needs technology to solve.
Be the hunter, not the prey. Get a job, stabilize your finances, and keep your eye on the door. You want to exit on your own terms before a line of code deems you “unnecessary overhead”.
Ⓒ Big Game Hunters, Asheville, NC 2026
About Big Game Hunter Jeff Altman
People hire “Big Game Hunter” Jeff Altman to provide no-nonsense job coaching and career advice around the world because he makes your job search and career success easier.
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