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Alt text: Wide illustrated factory scene showing two contrasting human-machine centaurs. On the left, a middle-aged man with glasses, dark hair and a beard wears a light-blue rolled-sleeve shirt and stands with his arms crossed, looking warily toward the figure beside him. His human upper body is fused to a four-legged robotic horse body made of silver metal panels, joints and mechanical limbs. On the right, a much larger reverse centaur has the metallic head, neck and torso of a robotic horse, but four human legs wearing dark shorts and sneakers. Its front right knee is wrapped in a white support brace, while hinged black knee braces are fitted to the rear legs. The reverse centaur strides forward confidently through the factory, while the human-headed centaur watches with concern. The background is a vast automated manufacturing floor filled with steel beams, hanging industrial lights, robotic arms, machinery and yellow floor markings reflected on the polished concrete. The image visually contrasts a human directing machine capability with a machine-led system relying on human limbs to carry out the work.

The Reverse Centaur: Keeping Humans at the Head of AI and Automation

Stoakley-Stewart Consultants September 2, 2026

AI and automation can make people more capable—or quietly reverse the relationship. We explore writer and technology critic Cory Doctorow’s “reverse centaur” and why human judgment still needs to lead.

Illustration of a Black woman in a grey blazer and white blouse shaking hands with a suited man in an office. The woman looks uneasy and suspicious while the man holds a smiling photograph of another man’s face over his own like a mask, suggesting recruiter impersonation or a fake identity.

Spot the Imposter: A Quick Guide to Verifying a Recruiter

Stoakley-Stewart Consultants August 19, 2026

Safer Job Search • Post #1 of 22 Spot the Imposter: A Quick Guide to Verifying a Recruiter

Illustration of a middle-aged man in a dark suit seated at a laptop in a library, thoughtfully reviewing a screen that says “Job Opportunity.” Above him, a thought bubble displays “U.P.L.I.F.T.,” representing the checklist used to evaluate unfamiliar recruiter outreach before engaging.

The U.P.L.I.F.T. Test: A Quick Way to Evaluate Recruiter Outreach

Stoakley-Stewart Consultants August 19, 2026

Safer Job Search • Post #2 of 22 The U.P.L.I.F.T. Test: A Quick Way to Evaluate Recruiter Outreach

Illustration of a red-haired woman in business attire reviewing a “Job Description” document designed like a jigsaw puzzle while a smiling suited recruiter sits across from her at a desk. The image represents evaluating whether recruiter outreach provides clear, complete and credible job information.

What Legit Recruiter Outreach Looks Like

Stoakley-Stewart Consultants August 19, 2026

Safer Job Search • Post #3 of 22 What Legit Recruiter Outreach Looks Like You’re reading part of

Illustration of a person seated at a desk looking concerned while viewing a laptop screen displaying a red warning symbol and the file name “Job_Description.pdf.” The image represents the risk of opening unexpected recruiter attachments and the importance of verifying suspicious files before downloading or opening them.

Suspicious Recruiter Attachments: What to Open, What to Avoid and What to Verify

Stoakley-Stewart Consultants August 19, 2026

Safer Job Search • Post #4 of 22 Suspicious Recruiter Attachments: What to Open, What to Avoid and

Multi-panel illustration about safe link checking during a job search. One panel contrasts a secure company careers URL with suspicious lookalike web addresses, while another shows a magnifying glass inspecting a questionable “careers-login” domain on a laptop. A final panel lists four link-safety steps: check the domain, hover over the link, verify the sender and think twice before clicking.

Link Hygiene 101: How to Check a Recruiter Link Before You Click

Stoakley-Stewart Consultants August 19, 2026

Safer Job Search • Post #5 of 22 Link Hygiene 101: How to Check a Recruiter Link Before

Illustration of a concerned Black man in a suit seated across from a smiling recruiter in an office. The recruiter holds out a white business card that appears to be breaking apart or dissolving at one edge, representing a recruiter sign-off, signature or contact information that looks professional at first but does not withstand verification.

Recruiter Sign-Offs That Don’t Add Up: What the Details Can Reveal

Stoakley-Stewart Consultants August 19, 2026

Safer Job Search • Post #6 of 22 Recruiter Sign-Offs That Don’t Add Up: What the Details Can

Illustration of a young man in a suit seated at a computer, thoughtfully examining a recruiter on the screen whose face is obscured by a large question mark. The image represents verifying a recruiter’s identity, employer, contact details and professional credibility before responding to unfamiliar outreach.

How to Verify a Recruiter: 7 Checks Before You Respond

Stoakley-Stewart Consultants August 19, 2026

Safer Job Search • Post #7 of 22 How to Verify a Recruiter: 7 Checks Before You Respond

Illustration of a serious-looking man in a suit holding two small briefcases for comparison: a plain brown briefcase in one hand and a bright, glowing gold briefcase in the other. He looks skeptically toward the gold option, representing the need to question unusually generous pay, perks or job offers that may seem too good to be true.

Too Good to Be True? Spotting Unrealistic Pay, Perks and Job Offers

Stoakley-Stewart Consultants August 19, 2026

Safer Job Search • Post #8 of 22 Too Good to Be True? Spotting Unrealistic Pay, Perks and

Illustration of a red-haired woman looking confused and concerned while holding a paper titled “Job Description.” The page is filled with question marks and vague symbols instead of clear duties or requirements, representing recruiter outreach or job postings that provide too little specific information about the role or employer.

Vague Roles, Vague Companies: When Job Details Don’t Add Up

Stoakley-Stewart Consultants August 19, 2026

Safer Job Search • Post #9 of 22 Vague Roles, Vague Companies: When Job Details Don’t Add Up

LinkedIn Recruiter Profile Red Flags: What to Check Before You Trust the Outreach

Stoakley-Stewart Consultants August 19, 2026

Safer Job Search • Post #10 of 22 LinkedIn Recruiter Profile Red Flags: What to Check Before You

Split-screen illustration of two smartphones. The left phone shows a WhatsApp-style message from an unknown number promising a “special opportunity” and “big money fast,” with a suspicious link. The right phone shows an incoming call from an “Unknown Caller.” The image represents questionable recruiting outreach delivered through unverified messaging and phone channels and the importance of confirming who is contacting you before engaging.

Why Scammers Move Job Conversations Off-Platform

Stoakley-Stewart Consultants August 19, 2026

Safer Job Search • Post #11 of 22 Why Scammers Move Job Conversations Off-Platform You’re reading part of