We’ve been sold a dangerous myth:

Except it rarely does.

Here’s what actually happens: you become the dependable one. The steady one. The “go-to” who quietly absorbs chaos while others climb. Meanwhile, your market value stagnates — and the people you trained get promoted over you.

Loyalty used to be currency. Now it’s often a discount.

Companies love loyal employees — because loyal employees don’t ask for more. They keep the system running while leadership rotates above them.

So here’s your wake-up call:
Loyalty without leverage is servitude.

True loyalty means loyalty to your growth, your craft, your future.
That doesn’t make you disloyal — it makes you strategic.

If the company isn’t growing you, it’s using you.
If your loyalty isn’t earning you power, it’s costing you freedom.

Leaving doesn’t have to be emotional. It’s operational.
Here’s a 3-step framework to control the narrative:

📉 More firms are quietly pulling back on headcount — but the contracting and interim market is heating up. If you’re in transition, this is your cue to explore fractional and advisory work as leverage, not a fallback.

💾 The Exit Script — a guide for leaving with class and control.
How to resign without burning bridges — and how to turn your exit conversation into a negotiation. 👇🏼

📄 WSJ | “In a Sea of Tech Talent, Companies Can’t Find the Workers They Want”
AI might be rewriting job descriptions — but not everyone’s keeping up.
This piece dives into the skills paradox: companies are drowning in applicants, yet starving for talent that blends tech fluency with strategic judgment. It’s a reminder that loyalty to your own upskilling — not just your employer — is what keeps you market-proof.
🔗 Read on WSJ

📊 Upwork | “Demand for Quality Assurance, Project Management, and Other Human-Centric Skills Rose in September”
According to Upwork’s latest hiring report, businesses are quietly shifting focus back to human skills — project management, QA, and client communication — as they clean up the chaos from rushed AI adoption.
Translation? The future of work isn’t AI or humans — it’s AI + human discernment.
🔗 Read on GlobeNewswire

Loyalty is a beautiful quality — until it becomes a cage.
Remember: every promotion you don’t get, someone else negotiated for.

Don’t wait for permission.
Move before the gratitude wears off.

If this hit a nerve, you’ll love this month’s Career Game Plan Webinar — where we help you build your next move before you burn out.
⬇️ Reserve your seat below

You’ve got the Edge. Now sharpen it.

See you next week,
— Deepali Vyas
Your Elite Recruiter
Doing the research so you don’t have to.

You keep asking me which courses are actually worth your time — that’s why I keep an Elite List for you.

And here’s my latest find: Masterclass just launched Certificates, and the very first course made the cut.

Leadership & Decision-Making Under Pressure — built with the Navy SEAL Foundation.

Why I like it? Because it’s no fluff. Just former Navy SEAL leaders and a NASA astronaut teaching you how to perform when failure isn’t an option.

Here’s what you’ll take away:

 This is your career level-up — whether you’re chasing a promotion, making a pivot, or stepping into management.

Insider Edge: the first 100 people to finish get a limited-edition Navy SEAL shadow box of patches (US residents only).

I dug into the content myself — and it’s legit! That’s why it earned a spot on my Elite List. Want in? 👉🏼 MasterClass Sign Up

These openings are under the radar — not on LinkedIn, not on job boards.
I’m sharing them here first, to connect top talent with real, unposted opportunities 👇

AI keeps coming up at work, but you still don't get it?

That's exactly why 1M+ professionals working at Google, Meta, and OpenAI read Superhuman AI daily.

Here's what you get:

Join 1M+ pros

I’ve made a commitment to bring you 2 live webinars every month — built to give you the insider playbook on navigating your career with confidence.

For October, I’m hosting The Career Game Plan live webinar with my elite team of coaches. This is where we get you unstuck and give you the practical, tactical tools and direct feedback you need — no fluff, no filler.

👉 Whether you’re in the middle of a job search, aiming for a promotion, or ready to pivot altogether, this session is built for you.

This is 75 minutes of hot-seat coaching where you’ll get real-time guidance, actionable strategies, and the push you’ve been waiting for.

📅 Sunday, October 19th @ 11am EST
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✨ Here’s what people are saying about past sessions:
💬 “The most practical career advice I’ve ever received in real time.”
💬 “It felt like insider coaching I never got at work — now I know exactly how to move forward.”
💬 “No fluff. Just clarity, strategy, and confidence.”

Let’s get you moving forward.

I would love to know what you thought of this newsletter and any feedback you have for me. Do you have a favorite part? Wish I would add something? Felt confused? Please reply and share your thoughts!