What's going on with the writers' strike?

And why Gen-Z is skipping college

May 09, 2023

Happy Tuesday! Fun fact—the first recorded résumé was from Leonardo Da Vinci, who sent his CV to the Duke of Milan in 1482. Here’s one of his listed skills: “I have means…to reach a designated spot, even if it were needed to pass under a trench or a river.” We bet that was 1482’s version of “proficient in Excel.”

 1   Hollywood writers trade pens for picket signs 🪧

Matthew Simmons/WireImage

Last week, 11,500 television and movie writers went on strike for the first time since 2007.

Why? The rise of streaming and AI have made it increasingly difficult to earn a consistent income as a writer.

This will have ripple effects. The last strike lasted 100 days and cost Los Angeles’ economy $2.1 billion. It also left countless movies and shows scrambling—if you want to read more about the role(s) writers play in production, check out this thread about how the 2007 strike impacted the James Bond movie, Quantum of Solace.

Interested in supporting the people who write the shows you love in their fight for fair pay and other protections? Learn more right here.

 2   No college, no problem, say millennial parents 🎓

Millennial parents are increasingly chill with the idea of their Gen Z kids skipping the college experience, according to a recent study conducted by Multiverse.

It’s not hard to see why Gen-Z is rethinking this whole “college” thing:

→ Tuition costs have skyrocketed over the past four decades. In 1980, the price to attend a four-year college full-time was $10,231. Today, that number is closer to $28,775…a 180% increase.

→ 35% of Gen Z doesn’t trust U.S. colleges and universities, according to Morning Consult.

→ A report from cultural consultancy Sparks & Honey found that 75% of Gen Z believes there are other ways of getting a good education aside from going to college.

 3   Shein is under fire (again) 🤷

Not so fast, fashion. ✋ U.S. lawmakers have called on the Securities and Exchange Commission to halt the upcoming IPO of Shein until the retail behemoth can prove it’s not using forced labor.

Shein has a history of controversies, including allegations of underpaying its workers, copying designs, and selling garments with high levels of chemicals, according to CBC.

Despite everything, it’s still valued at $100 billion and is even hiring for roles in the U.S. marketplace. Would you add Shein to your résumé?

Sponsored by Indeed

Nurses, we love you!

You work hard to care for our communities—and you should feel cared for, too. This Nurses Month, Indeed is providing personalized support and resources to help nurses navigate their careers. For a limited time, use code NursesMonth2023 here to receive a Career Coaching session or Resume Writing service for free.

“We shouldn’t have to pay so much to serve our community.”

That’s what one resident physician based in Arlington, Virginia, who earns $64,000 yearly but has $300,000 in student loans, told us. They’re also clocking in 60–80 hour workweeks, which averages out to making less than D.C.’s minimum wage of $15 an hour.

If you’re interested in learning more, watch our video to see why these resident physicians love their jobs and hear their advice for anyone thinking about joining the medical field.

Thank you for being here! Let’s wrap things up with the history of the cover letter, shall we? The first cover letter mentioned in the context of employment was in a New York Times ad for Dutch Boy Paints in 1956. So, the next time you’re so over rewriting your cover letter for the 15th time, you know exactly who to thank. See you next Tuesday!

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