👋 Welcome, Jobseekers

• 🧑‍✈️ Career Copilot: Will Vertical AI Agents Replace Your Whole Team?

• 📈 Trends & Data: 2025 Labor Market Outlook: What Tech Professionals Need to Know for This Next Year

• 📊 Upskilling: AI Prompt of the Week - Crafting an elevator pitch

• 📉 Layoff Report: OfferUp, Boston Dynamics, Bluevine, Spotter, Canoo

• 🔧 Jobseeker Tools: Napkin AI, Interviewing.io, Jobright

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Will Vertical AI Agents Replace Your Whole Team?

This week, we’re zeroing in on a trend that’s already making waves in the tech world: Vertical AI Agents. According to insights from Y Combinator and a recent deep-dive by Tech Startups, these specialized AI-driven tools don’t just streamline workflows; they can replace entire teams and functions. That’s a big claim—but if history is any guide, it’s a move with massive implications for jobseekers navigating today’s evolving tech landscape.

What Are Vertical AI Agents?

Vertical AI agents are laser-focused solutions built to tackle specific, often complex, industry tasks. Unlike SaaS tools that improve efficiency in existing workflows, these agents can run the whole show on their own. From automating quality assurance testing (think: no more manual QA teams) to replacing customer support units and back-office administrative functions, these bots aren’t just “nice-to-have” add-ons—they’re entire operational units in code.

Surpass SaaS?

If SaaS unlocked a $300 billion market and spurred 300+ unicorns, vertical AI agents could be on track for something even bigger. Why? Because they cut directly into what companies spend the most on—human labor. By automating deeply specialized, repetitive tasks, vertical AI agents promise a level of scalability that lets companies grow revenue without scaling up the headcount.

Change is Happening Fast ⚡️ 

For those currently in or entering the tech workforce, it’s crucial to understand where the industry is heading:

Roles Will Get More Specialized: If vertical AI agents can run an entire function, generalist roles that involve repetitive tasks are at higher risk. Jobseekers may want to lean into areas that require strategic thinking, complex decision-making, relationship-building, and creative problem-solving—areas where AI currently struggles.

Human Oversight and Integration: Even the smartest AI agents will need human oversight to ensure quality, handle exceptions, and maintain ethical guidelines. Professionals who can integrate these tools into business operations, audit their outputs, or bridge communication between AI solutions and human stakeholders will be in demand.

Industry Expertise Matters More Than Ever: Vertical AI agents thrive on niche domain knowledge. Professionals who deepen their industry-specific skill sets—be it healthcare, finance, logistics, or edtech—can guide AI implementations, ensuring these agents truly deliver on their promise and adapt smoothly to real-world conditions.

Adaptability Will Be a Core Skill: Just as the SaaS revolution created new roles (e.g., DevOps engineers, cloud architects) and phased out others, the rise of vertical AI will give birth to positions we haven’t even named yet. Quick learners who stay curious and invest in continuous upskilling will find paths to thrive.

Practical Steps for Jobseekers

Embrace AI Literacy: Familiarize yourself with large language models, prompt engineering, and vertical AI platforms relevant to your field. Understanding their capabilities and limitations is the first step in staying ahead.

Highlight Interpersonal and Strategic Skills: Jobs that require human judgment, empathy, negotiation, and critical thinking are harder to automate. Emphasize these attributes in your personal brand and job applications.

Find the Intersection of Tech and Domain Knowledge: Being a tech-savvy professional who also understands the intricacies of a particular vertical—such as healthcare billing or government compliance—places you in a prime position to manage or improve these AI agents.

Looking Ahead

We’re at a tipping point. Much like the early days of SaaS, we don’t yet know all the winners and losers in the vertical AI space. But as these agents scale up, they’re set to redefine how work is done—and by extension, who does it. The smartest move for jobseekers isn’t to fear these changes, but to anticipate them. By staying informed, agile, and focused on adding the uniquely human touch that AI can’t replicate, you can position yourself not just to survive the shift, but to thrive within it.

Don’t forget to check at Garry Tan and the Ycombinator crew discussing vertical AI agents 👇️ .

AI Prompt of the Week

Can you analyze my Linkedin profile, [insert LinkedIn profile URL], and suggest five actionable improvements to make it more appealing to recruiters in tech?

Follow-Up Prompt:

"Based on my target role in [industry/position], what are the most important keywords, skills, and certifications I should include on my LinkedIn profile to improve visibility to recruiters?"

Why We Like This:

Your LinkedIn profile is often a recruiter’s first impression of you. This prompt helps you get tailored, AI-driven advice to optimize your profile for visibility and relevance, giving you a better shot at attracting the right opportunities.

• OfferUp cuts 22% of headcount as it aims to expand beyond used goods

• Boston Dynamics lays off 45 employees, 5 percent of its workforce

• Bluevine cuts 100 jobs in second round of layoffs in six months

• Spotter, a Startup that Funds YouTubers, Lays Off Staff Following Amazon Deal

• Canoo Initiates Layoffs as Bankruptcy Looms

Napkin.ai

Description: Napkin turns your text into visuals so sharing your ideas is quick and effective.

Link: https://www.napkin.ai/

Interviewing.io

Description: Anonymous mock interviews with engineers from Amazon, Google, Facebook, and other top companies

Link: https://www.interviewing.io

Jobright

Description: Anonymous mock interviews with engineers from Amazon, Google, Facebook, and other top companies

Link: https://jobright.ai/

👁️ Browse our Jobseeker Tool Directory →

2025 Labor Market Outlook: What Tech Professionals Need to Know for This Next Year

Indeed’s 2025 US Jobs & Hiring Trends Report is here.

The U.S. job market continues its delicate balancing act, showing resilience amid a slowing hiring trend. For tech job seekers, this signals a shift toward a competitive yet opportunity-rich environment. As industries grapple with labor shortages and adopt technologies like GenAI to enhance productivity, job seekers must adapt to a changing landscape that increasingly values flexibility and skill-based hiring.

Key Trends to Watch:

• Hiring and Wage Growth: Hiring has slowed across many sectors, but wage growth remains steady, outpacing inflation. This ensures real income gains for workers, especially in roles with high demand.

• Skills Over Degrees: Employers are reducing degree and experience requirements, prioritizing candidates with proven skills over traditional credentials.

• Generative AI Adoption: Tools like GenAI are poised to boost productivity, particularly in tech, mathematics, and other innovation-driven fields. However, widespread adoption across industries is still in its infancy.

• Remote Work Evolution: While remote job postings have declined, opportunities remain significantly higher than pre-pandemic levels, with many organizations adopting hybrid models.

• Pay Transparency and Benefits: Transparency in salaries and job benefits has increased, offering candidates more clarity during job searches, though growth has slowed compared to previous years.

• Labor Supply Constraints: An aging population and immigration policy changes are putting pressure on the labor market, making skilled candidates more valuable.

For job seekers, 2025 will demand adaptability and strategic upskilling. Embracing new technologies, focusing on in-demand skills, and targeting industries with growth potential will be critical for navigating this evolving landscape.

Join Westbound’s Talent Network

The Westbound Talent Network connects professionals with high-growth opportunities at Westbound’s portfolio companies, emphasizing the diversification of candidate pipelines by introducing Black and Latino talent.

By joining the Talent Network, you can:     

• Join: Share your ideal job preferences.

• Match: Receive recommendations to companies that align with your profile.

• Get Introduced: If there’s a mutual fit, receive a warm introduction to the company.

This process facilitates connections with companies intentionally building diverse teams and inclusive cultures.

Additionally, you can explore current job openings across the Westbound network on their job board.