Unapologetically Human
The Last Real Advantage in an AI-Driven World
If you’ve ever stared at a job board at 2 a.m., wondering what happened to the career you’ve spent years building, you’re not alone.
I’ve been there. I’ve felt that pit in my stomach after a reorganization or a layoff, trying to update a resume while replaying every “what if” in my head. And I’ve coached hundreds of people through that same moment. The one where uncertainty feels heavier than hope.
But here’s the thing I remind every client, and sometimes myself: you haven’t lost your value. You’ve just lost your venue.
Your value, your human ability to connect, adapt, and lead through chaos, is more essential than ever.
That’s what I mean when I say: being unapologetically human is your last real advantage.
AI Isn’t the Enemy, It’s the Wake-Up Call
If you’ve been laid off, restructured, or are trying to figure out your next chapter, you’ve probably felt a mixture of fear and fatigue. You scroll job postings and see words like automation, data, AI, and machine learning, and suddenly your confidence dips a little.
Take a breath. AI can do a lot of things faster, but it still can’t do the one thing every great professional brings to the table: think critically, connect emotionally, and handle the messy middle of real-world work: people!
So the question isn’t “Will AI replace me?” The better question is: “How can I use AI and my humanity to stay relevant?”
The Skills That Still Pay the Bills
You don’t need to be a coder to compete in the AI era. You need to be adaptable. You need to communicate clearly. You need to stay curious.
Responsibility. Collaboration. Empathy. These so-called “soft skills” have become the hardest currency in business.
A recent LinkedIn Global Talent Trends report found that 92% of hiring managers say soft skills are as important, or more important than technical skills, and 89% say a lack of them is the main reason new hires fail.
When I coach professionals in transition, I remind them: hiring managers don’t want perfection; they want connection. They don’t hire the most technical resume, or else why bother interviewing? They hire the person who tells their story with confidence and authenticity.
So while AI might write a job description, you’re still the one who brings it to life.
Your Story Is Your Superpower
If you’ve been through a layoff or a big pivot, it’s easy to start doubting your worth. I’ve been there myself. Staring at a screen, wondering, Who even am I without this title?
That’s when being unapologetically human becomes your advantage.
Because every career transition is really a story of resilience. Every “gap” on a resume is a moment of growth you can explain. Every failure becomes a line in your next success story – IF you own it instead of hiding from it.
AI can help you polish your resume. But only you can tell the story that connects the dots between who you were, who you are, and who you’re becoming.
Control What’s Controllable
One of my favorite reminders is to control the controllables.
You can’t control the economy. You can’t control which recruiter opens your application. You can’t control how fast the job market evolves.
But you can control your mindset, your daily habits, and the way you show up in conversations.
Learn a new tool. Reach out to a connection. Share your ideas online. Take an interview that feels slightly out of your comfort zone.
Every time you do, you’re proving you’re not obsolete, you’re adaptable! And that adaptability is an asset in any market.
Relevance Is the New Stability
In the old world of work, we chased “job security.” In today’s world, the concept seems borderline comical. But real security comes from staying relevant.
That doesn’t mean chasing every shiny new skill. It means staying curious and connected.
According to a recent World Economic Forum report, 44% of workers’ core skills are expected to change by 2030. But the top growing skills aren’t technical, they’re analytical thinking, resilience, and empathy.
When companies are hiring in uncertain times, they’re not just filling roles. They’re looking for people who can collaborate across chaos, who keep their cool when things shift, and who bring perspective, not panic.
In other words, they’re looking for you at your most human.
Your Humanity Is the Advantage
If you’re reading this in the middle of a job search, a reinvention, or just an identity crisis about what’s next, remember this:
You’ve already survived harder things than a software update.
The algorithms might change the tools of the trade, but they’ll never change the fact that people hire people they trust.
So keep learning the tech. Keep exploring what’s next. But never lose sight of what makes you valuable: your empathy, your adaptability, and your ability to connect.
AI can write code. It can analyze data. But it can’t shake a hand, sense frustration in a Zoom interview, or tell a story that gives someone goosebumps.
That’s still your territory. And it always will be.
Because in a world obsessed with artificial intelligence, being unapologetically human isn’t your weakness, it’s your last real advantage.
Corey Crapella
About Corey Crapella
Corey is a career coach and organizational consultant who is passionate about helping people rediscover confidence and purpose after career transitions. Through CORE Coaching & Consulting, he blends humor, empathy, and practical strategy to help clients turn uncertainty into opportunity.
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