Hiring Has Changed

Hello again,

Today, I’ve got some news that completely changes the game on one of the most important aspects of business: hiring. Before I get into, last week I fell ill and there was no email that week. I’m feeling much better, and appreciate everyone who reached out asking “where’s the email?” With that out of the way…

Tobi Lutke, CEO of Shopify, released an internal memo that was linked. In it, he specifies very clearly that they are an AI first company. I’ll cover all the details, but the TLDR:

• Every employee (every single one) is expected to use AI in their day to day as a thought partner, writer, for prototypes, and everything else.

• No new hires until the team asking for the hire can prove AI can’t do it.

• AI questions will be used in reviews.

We’re going to get into all of it. Here’s Tobi’s message for yourself if you want to review:

Let’s get into it.

Why It’s Such a Big Deal

It might seem like “just one company,” that it doesn’t matter in the bigger picture. But it’s not just any company. It’s Shopify. One of the biggest tech companies in the world, and the global leader in ecommerce (among several other things like online payments, websites, and much more).

When a startup does things differently, like manage differently as I’ve covered before, that’s a sign of the future. Many large companies default to a belief that they are “beyond” the startup stage. That they just can’t operate the same way after they grow too big. But Shopify is a massive company. They have 8,100 employees (as of Dec 31st, 2024). It’s real now.

What it Means

If you’re a founder or an executive at any company (no longer just startups), you can’t ignore AI anymore. Older companies are using Gemini with Teams (the dreaded software nobody I’ve ever met actually likes). Working with clients, building your products, administering the services you sell, every facet of your business is now competing with people who will follow Tobi’s lead.

In one way, it means massive competition.

If you’re an employee at one of these companies, it won’t be long until you’re expected to share how you’re using AI (remember when companies would send memos telling you not to use it?). Time’s have changed. The good news is that you have a job, so it’s just a matter of improving with these new tools. Jobseekers will have it rough.

If you’re a job-seeker, this is your sign to pick up the pace and really go into overdrive. Shopify has over 8,100 people, so in that sense, they have so much scale it makes sense for them to slow down hiring. For them, it’s about efficiency. It’s not the end of hiring, but it’s definitely a sign that companies can be much more selective.

But not all hope is lost. There’s still a lot more to this than just “using AI means we’re better.”

This Alone Doesn’t Make A “Good” Company

If you’re thinking “AI first” automatically equals better, that’s not necessarily the case.

Shopify is a great platform, but nobody is perfect. Prioritizing AI won’t change that.

For example, I use Shopify for Lumiere, and even with so many people on their team, I still can’t answers about some of my bills. Hard to believe I can’t get an answer with 8 thousand people sitting there but ok, I guess. This is a bigger issue with their team (probably) actively making it harder for people to get their money back.

AI Alone Doesn’t Make A Great Founder or Employee

I’ve said it before, and I stand by it. Insane hard work on the right priorities will beat lazy people working on the wrong things (even if they have AI).

I cannot stress this enough. Great talent will still stand out.

The people who work half-ass, go to 10 meetings, and use AI to barely get by writing 10 emails, and then leaving, are in major trouble.

What To Watch For

Here are the red flags for the people who are already on the edge.

• You barely do much work throughout the day as it is. With AI, it becomes even more obvious.

• Those useless meetings will go away. If they don’t, it means people are using the time in meetings an excuse.

• The questions and requests that are actually not that difficult, they will go away. Suddenly, this kind of “workload,” won’t exist anymore.

If you’re a founder managing one of these people (or a teammate), here’s what’s going to happen.

• Your boss will go to ChatGPT

• They will submit a list of what you did that week.

• ChatGPT will estimate how much work you actually did (if you’re worried, that means you’re already screwed).

• It will give a fairly accurate answer.

• Managers all over the world are about to find out people are getting paid for 37.5 hours, while working 10 (I’m not exaggerating).

Please, do not be one of those people.

We’re Hiring

If you’re looking for work, check out the latest openings at beehiiv here:

Thanks for reading!

Now, for a word from this week’s sponsor.