Landing a technology internship has become challenging with 273 applications per posting in 2025 as companies cut costs. Alternatives to traditional internships can build knowledge and experience as well as develop skills and build networks. Options include open-source projects, self-directed learning, competitions, side hustles and volunteer projects.

Leaders can inspire employees by incorporating skills from musicians like Prince and David Bowie, as well as orchestra conductors, to bring strategy and culture into harmony, writes Gerald Leonard, CEO of Turnberry Premiere, who also highlights the values of collaboration and improvisation in both music and leadership. "As a leader, you're not simply managing projects but orchestrating energy, emotion and execution," Leonard writes.

In their 30s and 40s, professionals are encouraged to slow down. Higher-level roles require time for building relationships and showing sustainable performance, which means that moving fast isn't always beneficial. Longevity and strategic thinking are key to success in these roles.

When preparing for a job interview with an AI, focus on visuals, vocals and verbals, advises Kathleen DeJeu of Carnegie Mellon University. Dress professionally, maintain engaging expressions and use your hands effectively. Use keywords from job ads repeatedly, as AI tools can track and remember specific terms, suggests DeJeu.

US manufacturers are struggling to fill nearly 500,000 open positions despite efforts to boost the industry, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The Manufacturing Institute and Deloitte project a need for 3.8 million additional workers by 2033, with 1.9 million positions potentially unfilled if current challenges persist.

Campbell's has implemented innovative recruitment strategies to attract Generation Z workers, earning a 5-star rating on Newsweek's Greatest Workplaces for Gen Z. Campbell's has renovated offices, created a Welcome Week for interns, a shuttle service from Philadelphia to headquarters in Camden, N.J., and developed a co-op program that offers diverse career paths.

Research suggests that while most employers recognize the importance of work-life balance, there may be an unconscious bias against employees who take time to unplug and relax, particularly if they are high performers. Managers are encouraged to consider whether they are penalizing valuable staff members for taking time to recharge.

SmartBrief parent company Future recently recognized its Editorial Excellence winners. Here's one you might like.

Radio World gathered the details and pictures about projects for commercial and public radio stations in the US and beyond into an ebook. These projects came from organizations as diverse as Cumulus, Audacy, Educational Media Foundation, SiriusXM and NASCAR, with projects in Los Angeles, Washington, Portland, Nashville, Las Vegas and central Africa.

I forgot to include a way to contact me if you have feedback or suggestions from Tuesday's newsletter on Gen Z moving into the workforce (or if you have a shoe deal to offer sprinter Jacory Patterson!)

And I wanted to pass along a story from this weekend. My niece, who just finished her first year at University of Kentucky, heard about an engineering internship fair at school but had a calculus test at the same time. So she wore nice clothes to the test, packed a professional pair of shoes and high-tailed it over to the fair as soon as she finished the test. And now she starts her first week of a summer internship with a Louisville bridge construction company, one of the few freshmen to land one. The hustle does pay off. Congrats, Lucy!