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Ep 114The Silent Crisis Hitting Orthodox Jewish Families
1:05

Career & earning · 1:05

I hadn't spoken to him in 25 years. 10 days later, my candidate had a job

Keevy Fried

Ep 114May 27, 2026

The Silent Crisis Hitting Orthodox Jewish Families

with Keevy Fried

People should still feel that you believe in them and that you're behind them.

Keevy Fried

More moments · 4

1:10
The worst thing you can say when you're out of work
1:06
They told him the salary range. He asked for $15,000 more and got it
0:42
Why losing your job means skipping Kiddush on Shabbos
0:46
Who are you here to take care of: your family, or the people judging you?

Try this · top 3

Quotes

“You ask for a gift, you get advice. You ask for advice, you get a gift.”

Keevy Fried

“When you're desperate, people know it, it's obvious, and people don't want to spend any time with you.”

Keevy Fried

“Recruiters will tell you that max time they look at a resume is about seven seconds.”

Keevy Fried

“Who are you here to take care of? Your family, or the people out there that are going to judge you?”

Keevy Fried

“Put away $100 a week into an investment fund... because you don't know when that rainy day is going to happen.”

Keevy Fried

Takeaways

  1. 1 Many people in their 40s-60s are out of work because of AI, cutbacks, or companies being sold, often through no fault of their own.
  2. 2 AI is taking over routine office tasks, but most openings he sees still need people more than deep AI skills.
  3. 3 Older job seekers face high costs (tuition, weddings, mortgages) and fewer senior openings. Retraining takes time, so a few lower-paid years may be the price of a better path.
  4. 4 Seasoned workers bring judgment, reliability and commitment. Some employers value that because younger staff don't always show up.
  5. 5 Networking means real follow-up with people you've met, not collecting contacts at big events.
  6. 6 Applicant tracking systems screen resumes by keywords. One study found age signals got many applications ignored.
  7. 7 Referrals and "walking the resume down the hall" often work better than applying online, including through LinkedIn.
  8. 8 AIM Hire works with unemployed people over 40. It reported 36 placements in 2025 with an average salary of about $110,000.
  9. 9 People-facing work (sales, trades, healthcare, teaching) looks safer from AI for now. Even lawyers feel some pressure.
  10. 10 The posted salary range isn't always final. A strong candidate can sometimes negotiate once the employer wants them.
  11. 11 Helping someone stand on their own feet is the highest level of tzedaka (the Rambam), and helping someone find a job does that.
  12. 12 Families should save early so a job loss is less of a crisis.

Full episode

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