Networth and Chill with Your Rich BFF

Episode Title: Getting a Job in 2026 – Everything You Need to Know!
Host: Vivian Tu (Your Rich BFF)
Guest: Jerry Lee Woo, Career Coach & Co-Founder of OneSulting
Date: January 14, 2026

Overview:

This episode dives deep into the new realities of job hunting in 2026. Vivian Tu and guest Jerry Lee Woo share actionable advice for job seekers—covering everything from resumes to interviews to negotiating offers. The focus: demystifying the employment process and giving listeners an edge in a tough, AI-driven job market.

Main Discussion Points & Insights

1. Introduction to the Current Job Market (08:37)

• The job market is tougher than ever, with recruiters seeing triple the number of applications compared to three years ago.
• Key to standing out: specificity in the types of jobs you’re applying for, and transforming yourself from a generic candidate to one with targeted expertise.

“The number of job applications that recruiters are getting are almost triple than what they were getting three, four years ago… there’s a lot of data to suggest that, and that’s very real. But then that doesn’t mean that you’re screwed. You still can take action into your career.”
—Jerry Lee (09:02)

2. OneSulting’s Mission & Approach (04:11)

• OneSulting focuses on empowering “underdogs” and those from non-traditional backgrounds to secure great jobs.
• Their data-driven approach helps match user effort to job outcomes, offering tailored recommendations.

“Our mission is to turn underdogs into winners. For those people who come from non traditional backgrounds, we help you get your dream jobs.”
—Jerry Lee (04:30)

3. Redefining Career Aspirations: Jerry’s Google Story (05:33)

• Jerry shares what it was really like working at Google—the positives (career launchpad, great salary) and the negatives (realizing money and status aren’t everything).
• His big leap: Leaving a $200,000/year job because fulfillment mattered more than just higher numbers.

“If I had made an additional 10, 20, $30,000, would that change anything about my life? No... My bank account will grow higher, but that’s it.”
—Jerry Lee (07:22)

4. How to Stand Out as a Job Seeker in 2026 (09:02)

• Be Specific: Don’t just say “marketing”—say “influencer marketing” or “paid ads.”
• Resume: Should be clear, concise (one page), and visually scannable (“F-shape”).
• Give Yourself Grace: Job searches now take longer and require more effort.

“A great resume is something that I should look at... and go, this person: definitely in marketing, this person in sales, this person in engineering, for sure.”
—Jerry Lee (11:08)

• Notable Moment: Jerry reveals recruiters literally never look at page two—he ran eye-tracking studies to prove it (11:18).

5. Interviewing: The Three Things Recruiters Look for (14:37)

1. Can You Do the Job? (~30–40% of decision)
2. Would I Want to Work with You? (culture fit, “airport test”)
3. Will You Stay? (retention matters)

“At the crux of it, most people can do the job… The bigger part is, can I imagine myself working with you?”
—Jerry Lee (15:01)

The “Airport Test”: (15:02)

Can your interviewer imagine being stuck at an airport lounge with you for three hours and enjoying your company?

Pro-tip:

• Add niche or memorable interests to your resume. Vivian shares how “watching gangster mob movies” led to real interview connections (13:35).

6. First, Second, and Third Round Interviews (16:14–19:45)

• Prepping for Interviews:

  • Research the company, team, and—most importantly—the interviewer (even their hobbies/Instagram).
  • Be proactive at finding shared interests (or “manufacture” one for rapport).
  • First rounds are often vibe checks; further rounds become more technical or strategic.

• Interview Levels:

  • Peers: Technical skills.
  • Managers: Soft skills, growth potential.
  • Executives: Strategic thinking, trust.

“You need to stalk the shit out of the interviewer. Super controversial. I don’t give a shit. It works.”
—Jerry Lee (16:26)

7. Following Up: Thank You Notes & Beyond (20:58)

• Thank you notes are basic—do more to stand out.
• Advanced: Send a brief “30–60–90 day” plan with action items for what you’d accomplish in the new role.
• Only a handful of candidates do this, and “all three of those have gotten hired.” (22:46)

8. Rejection & Data-Driven Persistence (24:03)

• Use rejection as feedback, not personal failure. If you’re consistently getting interviews but not offers, your resume works—but interview skills need improvement.
• Follow up five times, three days apart, before moving on.

“A lot of people take these rejections as points of failure, but I actually think those are points of data.”
—Jerry Lee (24:03)

9. Negotiating and Accepting Offers (27:13–32:27)

• Always wait to see an official (written) offer before responding.
• Say you’re excited, then research the “fair market rate” for your experience, location, and company size.
• Always negotiate—use the phrase “fair market rate” and go silent after making your ask.
• Negotiate for salary first, then other benefits if needed.

“Your value and your power negotiation is so high at that point, and you need to leverage the shit out of it.”
—Jerry Lee (29:21)

10. Career Myths & Misconceptions (32:59)

• 10 years of “the same experience” isn’t 10 years of growth—focus on learning or earning.
• Evaluate career pivots in terms of both time investment and lifetime earnings.

11. Six-Figure Careers & New Opportunities (35:08–37:10)

• If six figures is your goal, compare how long it’d take in your field versus others—trade work and “AI-adjacent” skills are booming.
• Data labeling for AI (feeding information to large language models) offers flexible, high-paid opportunities—even for non-traditional backgrounds.

12. Passion vs. Paycheck (38:03)

• “Find a 9 to 5 that’ll pay for your 5 to 9”—separate your passion from your paycheck.
• Jerry keeps fulfillment high by constantly picking up new hobbies outside work (stand-up, singing, cooking, scuba diving, color theory).

13. Personal Finance & Money Lessons (41:17)

• Best decision: Buying his parents a house for security and peace of mind.
• Biggest lesson: “Time in market beats timing the market.”
• Money mistake: Being a “huge simp” in college—prioritizing romance over basic savings/budgeting and getting hit with surprise taxes.

14. Lightning Round: Interview Questions & Weirdest Moments

• Most overlooked question: “How are you?”—start with something memorable to force a real conversation and foster connection. (43:37)
• Weirdest interview question: “What is your most unpopular opinion?” (44:22)

15. Splurging with No Guilt & Building a Fulfilling Life (47:23)

• Jerry unapologetically spends on experiences (“I went to seven continents last year!”), inspired by a professor who did Antarctica for the first time at 70.

16. OneSulting’s AI Job Search Tool (49:06)

• Walks users step-by-step through the job search: matching skills, resumes, job fit, tracking applications, analyzing bottlenecks, and recommending changes.

Notable Quotes

• On Standing Out:
  “Be specific as hell with what you’re applying for. Specificity eats everything else for lunch.” (09:02)
• On Resume Design:
  “Recruiters read in an F-shape on your resume... those six seconds better be the most impactful six seconds.” (12:35)
• On Interview Game:
  “It’s not about telling them how good you are at Excel; it’s, can I see myself being around this person?” (14:37)
• On Risk and Fulfillment:
  “If I had not been at that point (buying his parents a home), there’s no way I would have been comfortable enough to ...say no to a $200K a year job.” (42:43)
• On Learning vs. Earning:
  “You always want to be earning or learning... Is it 10 years of the same experience, or is it 10 years of grown experience?” (34:45)
• On AI Job Trends:
  “Data labeling is crazy... AI companies are just throwing money at it and it’s extremely lucrative and crazy and very flexible.” (36:28)
• On Salary Negotiation:
  “Your value and your power (in) negotiation is so high at that point, and you need to leverage the shit out of it.” (29:21)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Intro & Jerry’s Resolutions: 01:47 – 04:02
• OneSulting’s Purpose: 04:02 – 05:33
• Google Insights & Burnout: 05:33 – 08:29
• State of Job Market/How to Stand Out: 08:37 – 12:26
• F-Shape Resume Tips: 12:26 – 13:15
• Memorable Interview Interests: 13:25 – 14:06
• The Three Things Interviewers Want: 14:37 – 16:07
• Vibe Checks/Advanced Interview Prep: 16:14 – 17:50
• Thank-You Note Upgrades: 20:58 – 22:46
• Rejection as Data: 24:03 – 25:19
• Negotiating Offers: 27:13 – 32:27
• Learning vs. Earning Discussion: 32:59 – 34:45
• Six-Figure Jobs & AI Data Labeling: 35:08 – 37:30
• Passion vs. Stability: 38:03 – 41:17
• Personal Finance Lessons: 41:17 – 43:10
• Lightning Interview Q&A: 43:22 – 45:01
• Money Mistakes/Splurging: 46:01 – 47:23
• OneSulting AI Tool: 49:06 – 49:55

Conclusion

This episode is a goldmine for anyone job hunting in 2026—packed with candid advice, actionable strategies, and real talk about making money, taking risks, and building a career and life you love. Whether you’re an experienced professional or just starting out, Jerry and Vivian deliver wisdom for now and the future.

Find Jerry at: onesulting.com
Follow: @jerryjhlee on socials
Host: @yourrichbff

(Summary by Networth and Chill Podcast Summarizer)