OpenAI builds LinkedIn killer

Signal Summary: OpenAI just declared war on LinkedIn, while the 500-year-old resume is getting a makeover, and the FTC is sending scary letters to healthcare staffing firms about their noncompete addiction. Plus, the candidate with a very unfortunate name.

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HERE’S WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK ↓

SIGNAL 1
OpenAI declares war on LinkedIn

Breaking: OpenAI just announced they’re building a jobs platform to launch mid-2026. Because apparently disrupting every other industry wasn’t enough.

The audacity:

• Platform will use AI to match “AI-savvy” workers with employers

• Dedicated track for local businesses and governments seeking AI talent

• Expected mid-2026 launch puts it I n direct competition with LinkedIn

The irony: The same company automating jobs away is now positioning itself as the solution to help people find new jobs. Classic Silicon Valley move - create the problem, then sell the cure.

Signal → Strategy: Position your firm as the “human bridge” between traditional hiring and AI-first platforms. Target mid-market companies who need AI talent but aren’t ready for OpenAI’s ecosystem.

Go deeper: OpenAI Jobs Platform Announcement

SIGNAL 2
The 500-year-old gets a complete makeover

The verdict: Industry experts say the traditional resume is undergoing its biggest evolution since Da Vince’s first attempt in 1482.

What’s changing:

• Candidates using AI to tailor resumes with invisible keywords (“resume skinning”)

• Recruiters using AI to read resumes, creating a bot-to-bot conversation

• Psychometric testing and talent pools replacing static documents

The disconnect: As resumes become documents written by AI and read by AI, the human element is shifting toward real-time skills assessment. “People will start to move straight to AI qualification,” says Staffing Future CEO Jack Copeland.

Signal → Strategy: Develop “post-resume” candidate assessment processes now. Focus on conversational interviews, skills demonstrations, and project-based evaluations before your competitors figure it out.

Go deeper: Is This the End of the Resume?

SIGNAL 3
FTC sends healthcare staffing firms to their room

The crackdown: FTC Chairman Ferguson just sent warning letters to major healthcare employers and staffing firms about their noncompete obsession.

Translation: “Stop trapping nurses, or we’ll make you stop.”

The targets:

• Healthcare staffing firms using noncompetes on nurses and medical professionals

• Companies restricting worker mobility in rural areas where medical services are stretched thin

• Employers who haven’t reviewed contracts since the failed deferral noncompete ban

The threat: FTC is promising “aggressive enforcement” of antitrust laws against “bad actors.” They’re also collecting public complaints through November 3rd to build cases.

Signal → Strategy: Audit your noncompete agreements immediately. Replace restrictive clauses with retention bonuses, professional development programs, and competitive compensation packages before the FTC comes knocking.

Go deeper: FTC Warning Letters to Healthcare Staffing

RECRUITING CONFESSIONAL
When Your Candidate’s Name Breaks Your Brain

Recruiting Confessional A weekly series featuring anonymous stories from recruiting and staffing professionals. Submit yours here.

The Setup: Had a candidate named Sh*thead. Thought they’d pissed off the phone company, but their name was actually Sh*thead (pronounced Shi-THEED)

The Disaster: When invited for an interview, they couldn’t make it because their dog just had puppies.” Bruh…

Have a story? Submit it here

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SHARE THE SIGNALS
3 people you should share these signals with:

1. Your IT recruiter who thinks LinkedIn is the only game in town

2. Your colleague who prints resumes in 2025

3. That healthcare staffing owner still using noncompete from 2019