On this episode of the Shift with Elena Agar Podcast, Elena welcomes Mariam Matin, an inspiring entrepreneur and the founder of Forward, for an in-depth conversation on the realities of today’s job market and the world of social impact careers. Mariam shares her personal journey from her early fascination with building things as a kid, to corporate roles in digital marketing and product management, and eventually to co-founding her own nonprofit, Second Day, aimed at guiding top talent toward sustainable social impact work.Together, Elena and Mariam dive into the challenges of working in the nonprofit sector—debunking myths about nonprofit funding, discussing the struggles of underfunded organizations, and the importance of paying for talent to drive real change. They also tackle the modern messiness of recruiting: from copy-pasted job descriptions and the endless application numbers game, to the rise of AI-powered application bots and the confusion caused by tools like LinkedIn’s Easy Apply.Mariam explains the mission behind Forward, her new platform built to make hiring and job searching more efficient, intentional, and skills-based—for both candidates and recruiters. The pair also touch on generational shifts in the workplace, the social challenges faced by Gen Z job seekers post-pandemic, and the crucial need for mentorship and support. This episode is packed with honest insights and actionable ideas for anyone navigating hiring, job searching, or building a career with impact. Tune in to hear why now is the time for a smarter, more human approach to work.Time Stamps00:00 Career Crossroads: Seeking Impact06:23 Hiring Challenges for New Graduates09:17 "Society's Social Good Priority Problem"11:24 "Underfunding Hinders Complex Problem Solving"14:59 Evolving Hiring Practices Needed18:21 Interview Email Etiquette Guidance22:49 AI Bots Increasing Misplaced Job Applications25:01 AI Overreliance on LinkedIn30:16 Optimized Job Seeker Profiles31:07 Improving Job Application Preparedness36:40 Evolving Social Skills in Graduates39:01 Bridging Generational Gaps41:01 Job Recruitment Tool ExcitementConnect with Mariam on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariam-matin/Join Forward: https://forwardjobs.io/Follow Elena: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elenaagaragimova/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elenaagaragimova/Website: https://elenaagar.com/Listen on:Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shift-with-elena-agar/id1530850914Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5UKh6dWcuQwJlmAOqD8wij