Work stories from Milk Bag readers.
One reader's company is a "high-tech pump and dump scheme," another says they worry about becoming "part of an AI assembly line."
Good morning everyone. It’s been so cold lately but we are pushing into summer anyway: two of my favourite patios in the city, Evangeline and Waterworks, hosted their official openings this week, which meant that I spent much of Wednesday evening sampling cocktails from the 14th floor of the Ace Hotel.
I didn’t take photos because I was busy bonding with
about life on Substack, so I’ve pulled one from their website. I like hanging out here because the atmosphere strikes a good balance between buzzy and calm, so I worry when I see their PR and marketing teams (and also me) promoting it a bit too well.
Moving on to the results of Milk Bag’s career survey.
Thank you to everyone who took the time to write in this week. The job market has changed so much in the last year and I was curious to know what you’re seeing and thinking in your day-to-day work: your answers did not disappoint, and I’ve compiled some of the insights and pulled individual stories that stood out.
Most respondents were aged 25 to 34, the most common salaries were in the $100,000 to $250,000 range, and most people said they worked less than 50 hours a week. Those earning less than six-figures typically worked fewer hours.
To get ahead in their careers, readers said they’ve lied on their resumes, taken jobs above their ability, sucked up to leaders, and improved their appearance.
Most Milk Bag readers are somewhat, pretty or very satisfied with their jobs.
Several respondents talked about the importance of the “hidden” job market in today’s economy, which comes down to who you know by extension of the friend groups and communities you’re a part of. When companies are looking to hire, they’re increasingly tapping their networks first (a partner at a VC firm you all know recently told me he wouldn’t hire anyone he hasn’t worked with before) so it’s becoming all about how you can be the name that someone thinks of first.
Day-to-day, readers most often vent to friends and family about their coworkers — specifically around “fake-ness,” “no social skills,” and “managing emotions.”
Many respondents said they are paid well considering their industry, experience, and efforts, but still felt like it’s not nearly enough to sustain their lifestyles.
Those making less than $80,000 a year but managing to work fewer hours than a standard work week reported higher job satisfaction than respondents who made over $150,000 a year but find themselves working upwards of 50 hours a week.
When it comes to planning for the future, most respondents pointed to upskilling as a main focus, and about one in five mentioned launching their own business.
A startup executive (25-34, $100K-150K) on building agency: “Since the 2008 financial crisis there has not been a stable job market, so this is the new norm. There is no set pathways for folks to get into jobs, and it's all about an individual’s narrative. The great opportunities are in the hidden job market. Figure out the networks that get you in. I am optimistic about AI adoption and plan to up-skill to diversify my income.”
A salesperson (25-34, $100K-$150K) on waiting for boomers to retire: “People don’t understand the breadth of the medical device industry and the number of good paying jobs. It’s always tempting to move into tech sales where (with seven years of experience) I could make $200,000 out the gate, but it’s been a steady climb and I’ve found it super motivating to know the earning potential is there. The political climate is challenging, since our earnings are directly tied to hospital spending, but the industry feels secure. I have a pension. I’d say about 40% of our workforce is five to 10 years from retiring. There will be a lot of changes, including some high level positions opening up. I’m working to position myself to move into one of those roles.”
A tech worker on (35-44, $250,000+) on phony companies: “Most people are doing bullshit work, and the world would be no different if they stopped working. The company I work at is a high-tech pump and dump scheme that’s shiny on the outside and hollow on the inside. But if I quit, I’m concerned I won’t be able to find another well-paying job. I still feel optimistic about tech: about AI, solar and other trends.”
A content marketer (35-45, $100K-150K) on unreasonable expectations for AI: “The company I work for has become completellyyyy reliant on AI. I used to be a writer and editor now I'm just part of the AI assembly line. AI is being used to write articles, blogs, emails, and guess what? Nobody is reading any of it because it reads like a calculator wrote it. I’m concerned there’s no focus on value and that AI will eat up every inch of what I do: with so many users getting their information through LLMs, SEO (and website blogs in general) might be done for. At the same time, I feel optimistic about the potential for ideation and creativity. My plan is to focus on the human elements of what I do: branding, voice, and human perspectives and POVs.”
A software developper (25-34, $100K-150K) on competition in the job market: “I got my current job despite there being 800 other applicants on Indeed, and anything else I’m seeing right now is the same or worse. It’s not the best I could do… but finding a new job is a second job. I’ll keep applying to jobs because you never know when a crash is coming, but life’s not bad. I don’t feel that pessimistic.”
A marketer (25-34, below $60K) on making it out of a pile of resumes: “I was shocked to find out hiring managers get hundreds of applications only to narrow them down to 10 for the first round of interviews. If everyone’s application is similar, is it just luck at that point? My main concern right now is how to network and then maintain those relationships to get the jobs I want and go farther in my career.”
A media freelancer (25-34, $60K-$80K) on keeping optimal work life balance: “While I’d love to make more money, I also love my lifestyle [working between 25 and 34 hours a week], so it's walking that fine line between the two. I’m finding an insane amount of jobs are in the hidden market and will never be posted. It really is all about networking and who you know (hot take: I don't think that's as negative as people make it out to be). I worry about my my industry dying, but I’m also optimistic about the resurgence of individual media (newsletters, blogs, etc.) as a revenue stream.”
A product manager (25-34, $100K-150K) on chasing problems, not titles: “Sometimes I think a lack of specialization has held me back, but I’m more focused on finding interesting, challenging work that means something. I don’t need to ‘get ahead’ and feel lucky to get paid to follow my curiosity. I think I’m starting to outgrow the growth framework a job can provide and think I could be more entrepreneurial.”
NEWS:
Most beaches in Toronto are open and considered safe for swimming.
Air Canada is launching direct flights to Porto, Naples, and Prague. In a recent interview with the WSJ, the CEO of United explained how airlines pick routes, which really just sounds like an exercise in anticipating travel trends.
North Americans are not buying Align leggings. Everyone except for the executives at Lululemon seem to understand why this is a problem. Instead of addressing the loss of core customers over the last few years, the company has focused on growth in Asia and Europe. The stock is down roughly 20% today.
Last year, a friend in real estate told me the argument for long-term growth was purely based on the number of commercial leases Lululemon had signed.
Now the majority of clothing retailers are also feeling the impacts of across-the-board U.S. tariffs. Lululemon says it’s planning to hike prices in response.
Loblaw is removing Folgers from stores over price hikes. Supposedly the price at Costco has risen from below $20 to over $30. The absurdity of grocery costs right now makes the prospect of a Canadian Price is Right kind of funny.
Look to Permission for a masterclass on creating panic-induced buzz. They faked their closure to announce an in-house athletic line called Permission Move.
The love of your life proposes to you at the Hudson’s Bay liquidation sale. It has to be a yes, right?
The team behind SPIN is bringing a European games bar to King Street.
Messages to the Canadian Press are growing more ominous. Workers, which include essential reporters on the business beat, say their salaries have not kept up with the rising cost of living despite the CP benefitting from a federal tax credit that covers a portion of their salaries and more than $1.3 million in Google money.
For those who don’t eat every meal at Tim Hortons, a $50 per diem meal allowance while travelling (set 20 years ago) is also a topic of contention.
BMO is hiring a Bank of America executive to lead U.S. growth. I think this is interesting given TD’s uncertain future in the U.S. post-money laundering charge and because this story lets me share a map of their personal banking strategy.
RBC is not on here because its U.S. business focuses on capital markets, while Scotiabank focuses on corporate banking and Latin America. Source: Wowa.ca I’m so ready for a late lunch at Manita and an afternoon at Do West Fest.
Searches for “Martha Stewart aesthetic” are up 2,889% on Pinterest this year. Society is redefining the role of a homemaker these days but Martha was so ahead of her time that parts of her approach are seeing a resurgence alongside the rise of creators like Ballerina Farm and Wishbone Kitchen. I love seeing young people put more effort into how they show up in their homes, whether it’s cooking to hosting, but I can also see how this might ramp up pressure to “do-it-all.”
Sarah Nurse is leaving the Sceptres for Vancouver’s PWHL expansion team.
The city’s best walking tours are back. I’ve been wanting to do a tour with Matthew from
for a while but the dates never line up!! One day.
