New Book Offers Guidance for Black Mid-Career Professionals Facing Hiring Challenges
Atlanta, June 1, 2026 — Career strategist Byron K. Veasey has released a groundbreaking book aimed specifically at Black mid-career professionals in the technology sector. Titled Locked Out: Proven Strategies to Navigate ATS Filters, Overcome Workplace Bias, and Win Senior-Level Roles in a Shifting Job Market for Black Professionals, this book addresses significant barriers that many face in the job market.
Veasey emphasizes that traditional career advice often overlooks the unique struggles experienced by Black professionals. He identifies three major hurdles they encounter: algorithmic bias from applicant tracking systems (ATS), unconscious bias from hiring managers, and the rollback of diversity and inclusion efforts since 2020. With these challenges combined, many capable candidates find themselves overlooked before they even reach the interview stage.
“The individuals I work with are not lacking in skills or determination,” Veasey explains. “They are struggling because the hiring system wasn’t created with them in mind. This book provides them with a clear roadmap to navigate these obstacles.”
The book presents compelling research indicating that resumes with names commonly associated with Black individuals receive significantly fewer responses—30 to 50% less—compared to identical resumes with names that are perceived as White. Additionally, despite making up just 7% of the tech workforce, Black workers faced around 26% of major corporate layoffs in 2023, highlighting ongoing inequities in the job market.
Locked Out offers a comprehensive four-part framework:
- Diagnostic Tools: Helps identify which specific barriers affect a candidate’s job search.
- Psychological Insights: Addresses the emotional toll of a prolonged job search.
- Tactical Strategies: Guides on creating ATS-friendly resumes, leveraging Black professional networks, navigating interview biases, negotiating salaries, and deciding whether to stay, pivot, or leave a role.
- Long-Term Resilience: Outlines a strategy for career sustainability during future market shifts.
Moreover, the book includes a chapter directed at organizations, making a business case for enhancing diversity efforts. It relates findings from McKinsey’s research on the value of diverse teams to convince employers of the benefits of equitable practices.
Veasey argues, “Most conversations about diversity center on ethics; this section focuses on what businesses understand: risk management, talent acquisition, and a measurable ROI.”
Locked Out is now available in both paperback and Kindle formats on Amazon. This marks Veasey’s first book.
About Byron K. Veasey
Byron K. Veasey, MBA, MMgt, brings over 35 years of corporate experience from well-known firms such as Deloitte, AT&T, and Morgan Stanley. He has spent the last decade guiding mid-career professionals through job transitions. A veteran of the U.S. Air Force and recipient of several accolades, including the Dallas Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 honor, Veasey also publishes a weekly newsletter focused on career strategies for more than 3,000 professionals. He resides in the Atlanta area.
For more information, you can reach Byron Veasey at 404-550-8995 or via email at [email protected].
