Thinking about work and reading
I write for a living, which I'm told means impending doom at the hands of LLMs. Except that it seems like the AI bubble is ready to burst, sending the US stock market and global markets into a tailspin reminiscent of 2000 and 2008.
The broader job market is a mess, with exceptionally qualified people unable to find suitable work. Companies are laying people off left and right, then putting the labor on existing staff. Greed and fear are harming those laid off and those hanging onto their jobs.
Historically, jobs come to me. Someone who knows me has a role they need to fill and believes that I will be a good match. I've done IT sysadmin work, app deployment work, documentation, technical content writing. And now, hunched over my laptop or curled up on the couch or lounging in bed, I mull over what my next move or role will be. Nailbiting may or may not be involved.
Bemusingly, I bounce ideas around with Gemini. Its statisical model is quick to reassure me that my skills are very much in demand. Together we, the man and the machine, have come up with a few ideas for me to work on.
- Read more fiction. I think I came across this idea on LinkedIn. Good writers read voraciously. Reading fiction builds empathy and imagination, qualities that are needed by all writers — even technical writers. In the queue: Women, Seated (Yueran), Loved One (Muharrar), Parable of the Talents (Butler).
- Read more non-fiction. Books like Project Management for the Unofficial Project Manager (Kogon), How to Make Sense of Any Mess (Covert), and Just Enough Research (Hall) can help me with content strategy, information architecture, and asking better questions.
- Dig into data analysis. Finding the story behind the numbers and then telling that story in a compelling way is a powerful combination. Business people love reports, and we exist in a system where quantified value is king. Need to look for learning resources.
- Learn about UX writing and design. I'm not so sure about this one, but Gemini is very keen on it. On its face, it does seem to fit with my desire to make complex things simple and approachable. Need to look for learning resources.
At least these things will give me something to expend energy on that isn't just worrying about what might be. And who knows, maybe they will lead to a new role or something different will come my way.