A young Australian, Jackson Lusis, finds himself at a crossroads after five months of relentless job hunting, applying for up to 20 positions daily. The 31-year-old Sydney resident attributes his struggles to artificial intelligence systems that, he claims, are preventing candidates like him from even getting a foot in the door.
Jackson Lusis boasts a diverse career history, having worked as a paper shredder, a model in Los Angeles and New York, and a personal driver for celebrities such as Kylie Minogue, Drake, Macklemore, and Post Malone. Despite his varied experiences and recent roles in sales, business development, and partnerships, Lusis is finding it increasingly difficult to secure employment in these fields.
Chasing the Dream: From Entertainment to Entrepreneurship
Reflecting on his time in the United States, Lusis shared, “When I was in LA and New York modeling, I was around a lot of celebrities and talent, and I looked at all the agents and thought that’s what I wanted to do.” This realization led him to pursue a business degree at the Australian Institute of Music, majoring in entertainment management, with hopes of becoming a manager.
However, upon returning to Sydney from Brisbane earlier this year, Lusis has been unable to find work, despite his academic credentials and worldly experience. “This is the longest I’ve ever been unemployed,” he noted. “I usually land a job straight away.”
The Struggle in a Shifting Job Market
In an effort to secure a position, Lusis has reached out to numerous sporting companies in Sydney, engaging with teams like the Sydney Swans, GWS Giants, and the Wallabies. Yet, his traditional approach of meeting for coffee and presenting his CV has yielded little success.
“I spent hundreds of dollars going for coffees only for them to turn around and say, ‘yeah, we don’t really have any jobs at the moment but maybe in the future’,” he recounted. Lusis’s experience highlights the challenges faced by many in a rapidly evolving job market where traditional networking methods are often overshadowed by digital processes.
“I’ve been told by people who are in account management and finance with degrees, and they too haven’t been able to find a job in six months,” Lusis said. “It says a lot about the market because I thought it was just me.”
AI and the Modern Job Application Process
Australia’s unemployment rate reached 4.3 percent in June, the highest since November 2021, with 33,600 people losing their jobs. Lusis believes that AI-driven systems used by many companies to scan CVs are a significant barrier. “I would apply for a job that I was overqualified for and I’d get an email back 30 minutes later saying I was unsuccessful,” he explained. “No-one’s had enough time to even look at my CV.”
Experts suggest that AI’s reliance on specific keywords can disadvantage candidates with diverse experiences. Lusis’s varied career path, which includes roles in paper shredding, retail, youth work, and artist management, might not align neatly with the algorithms’ requirements.
Exploring New Ventures Amid Loneliness Epidemic
In response to his job search challenges, Lusis has turned to podcasting, launching “With Strangers” with co-host and friend Kim Ven. The podcast aims to address feelings of isolation among Australians, particularly the 40 percent of those aged 15 to 25 who report experiencing loneliness, according to a University of Sydney report.
“You can have the best friends in the world but still feel lonely in life,” Lusis said. “So, I told a friend we should start a podcast because there could be a market for this.”
As Lusis continues to navigate the job market, his story underscores the broader challenges faced by many Australians in an era where technology increasingly mediates employment opportunities. His journey also reflects a growing trend towards entrepreneurial ventures as traditional job paths become more elusive.
