Sejal Patel

An employee feels most powerful in office on six occasions -  . . . 1. Using exclamation marks in an email. Like this!!!!  2. Declining a meeting invite on the calendar 3. Saying "I've to jump on another call. Gotta go folks!". 4. Being the first one in the team to reach office in the morning.  5. Granting access to Google sheets 6. Using the word 'unprecedented' in meetings #employee #office #work #job

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📣 It’s official, y’all. I’m on maternity leave! If you need me for work-related things, try press@deel.com. You’re in good hands. And because I haven’t said it out loud amidst the still-raging return-to-office debates, a huge thank you to Deel for the flexibility of “working-from-wherever” while pregnant. It meant working-from-bed until noon somedays, working-from-doctor-lobbies other days, and the normal run-of-course most days. It gave me back hours of commuting time and granted me the ability to share the news at work when it made sense for me. And, all the while, some career highlights from the last 9 months… ✅ My first press staffing at Capitol Hill alongside Alex Bouaziz , Casey Bailey , and Spiros Komis ✅ Launching our most impactful Global Hiring Report to date, spanning coverage in Fortune, CNBC Make It (an Apple push notification 🔔 ), and CBS News to name a few in North America alone https://lnkd.in/gpfbJh7a ✅ Tackling our first Global Migration Report with the very talented Deel Immigration team https://lnkd.in/gP7tXJet ✅ Meeting more of the Deel team at our first ever Directors’ offsite in Barcelona All that to say, it’s been a blessed run, and I’m nervous / excited / semi-ready for this new, humongous job I’m going to take on in addition to my career. I wouldn’t rather be anywhere else for this journey, working alongside the best comms & brand team in HR + my killer team at Method Communications. 💡 If you have working mom tips & tricks -- things you wish you had done on leave, what you did / didn't expect, things to plan for, etc. -- send them my wayyy!! 

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This past week has been an emotional whirlwind following the Vacasa layoff. I've felt sadness for the dedication I poured into a company I once loved, anger for not being valued enough, and love from the incredible support of my colleagues. Yet, the strongest emotion I've experienced is relief—relief that my phone will no longer ring at all hours, that the endless questions will cease, and that Vacasa will carry on without me. Now, I can cherish time with my children, rekindle my creativity, and connect with people face-to-face. Today, I spoke with a close friend who reminded me that losing and starting jobs, moving, and losing a family member are among life's most stressful experiences. Remarkably, I've faced three of these in just one month. It's okay to feel hurt and unmotivated at times. The most important aspects of life are our family and personal well-being. Throughout my husband's military career, we've moved frequently, and I've learned that being uncomfortable is part of growth. Comfort can breed complacency, and to truly grow, we must embrace discomfort and learn from it. Experiencing layoffs and life's stressors can be overwhelming. Remember, your well-being is vital. Embrace discomfort, as it fosters growth. It's okay not to feel enough sometimes. Acknowledge your emotions, gather strength, and embrace your incredible self. #EmotionalWellbeing #GrowthMindset #SelfCare

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Just over a year after joining ALL.SPACE as Global Head of Talent Acquisition, our 2024 growth plans have been shelved. Instead I, and many colleagues, are now contemplating a future away from ALL.SPACE following the recent RIF. I'm sure many of those impacted will have their own perspectives on why this has happened, how and what led to such a sharp reversal in our 2024 growth strategy. Truth is; there are myriad reasons. A further truth is that, for most, there was nothing they could have done to predict, mitigate or influence the outcome. During my time leading Talent Acquisition @ ALL.SPACE I saw my team deliver something exceptional. Not just in terms of meeting a huge & complex hiring demand across Engineering, Product, GTM & Operations (which they did with aplomb) and neither in the initiatives they designed & rolled out (though there were many). More impressive to me was the way in which they continually adapted - adjusting to an ever changing landscape, the yo-yo of timelines that so often afflicts growing businesses & the demands inherent with moving from an operational function focused purely on delivery, to a partnership designed to optimise our long term contribution. I'm super grateful for all that they did. Sadly this is the life of a TA team sometimes - vital one day, surplus the next. For me, this means that I am looking for a new challenge. Having joined organisations just as they emerged from Chapter 11, just after they went public and as they navigate through the alphabet of fundraising - I realise that I thrive in environments of change, in places where there is transformation or growth and in organisations where the ambition is huge. That means it does not always work out and that's ok, I guess. If you know of any organisations that are at a pivot point, where they need to implement a whole new TA function, transform an existing one or simply need a Global Head of TA comfortable in creating order from chaos then please do let me know. To all of those suddenly trying to navigate the "what next" after ALL.SPACE - please let me know if I can help in any way. You're all exceptional at what you do and ALL.SPACE was incredibly lucky to have you for that portion of your career.

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"What one piece of advice would you give your former self, given the chance?" 🤔 I've been asked this question a few times in interviews, and it turns out the advice I'd give to my former self is the same advice I give to someone today who is earlier in their career: ✨ Recognize what *you* offer. ✨ It's not just about what's on your resume. Or your education. Or your past job experience. It's about the intrinsic qualities that define *you.* The so-called “soft” skills, often labeled as "nice to have" are the same ones that make incredible employees and, particularly, incredible leaders. These human-centric skills—empathy, problem-solving, critical thinking, and communication—are critical in business, and they're all important in leadership. (That’s especially true as the world becomes more AI-driven.) Great leaders can spot these strengths in their teammates and seek to bring in those who demonstrate these soft skills, which benefit the team and drive better outcomes. And since human skills set us apart, especially as AI takes on a bigger role—don’t downplay those skills. Embrace them. They'll continue to matter. And, as I always tell my mentees: Be your authentic self—#authenticity matters. ✨✨✨ What advice would you give to your former self? I love hearing people's responses.

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🔥Hot Take Friday 🔥 Long hiring processes and ghosting candidates post-interview? It's time we address these outdated practices. Respect and efficiency are key in modern hiring. Candidates deserve transparency and timely communication. What’s one hiring practice you think needs to go? For me, it’s the endless rounds of interviews with no feedback. You should streamline and respect the time of those who want to join your team. Your Turn: What hiring practices would you eliminate to improve the job market? P.S. Repost this to spark a conversation about better hiring practices.♻️ #HiringReform #JobMarket

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I had a 258.7% jump in impressions this past week. Here's exactly how I did it. I reposted content that did really well about 8 months ago with a few minor edits to make it fit with current trends and concerns. If it works, keep posting it. How often do you repost content? #SocialMedia #NonprofitSocialMedia

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How to get an airline to pay you $600: (Be flexible) I got an email 12hrs before my flight last week. "Flexible travel plans? Be compensated up to $600 to change your flight." The flight was full - potentially overbooked. I could have been paid $600 (more than my flight cost) to fly out the next morning. I had to say no bc of an important meeting:( Know this: If you have flexible plans, you can get some serious compensation from airlines. And I haven't done this, but I hear you can barter. 😅 Could be: ▶ Travel credits. ▶ Points/miles. ▶ Cash. I know people funding their family vacations with credits received from business travel. Think long & hard next time an airline emails you an offer. What's the best compensation you've ever gotten from an airline?

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🚀 Hey LinkedIn Family, let's get real for a moment. 🚀 To all my fellow recruiters and HR pros out there—it's time we had a little chat about something that's been bugging me. Layoffs. Yup, I said it. They're a part of our world now. And guess what? Dwelling on those resume gaps is SO last season! 🌸 Imagine this: You're digging into a candidate's resume and BAM, there it is—a gap. 😱 Cue the dramatic music, right? WRONG! It's time to shake off those old-school jitters. Here's the truth: Those gaps? They don't define a candidate's potential. They're just a tiny piece of a much bigger, vibrant puzzle. Let's focus on what REALLY matters: skills, potential, and the sheer drive to get the job done. 💪 🔥 Does this person have the chops to rock the role? 🔥 Are they passionate and eager to learn? 🔥 Can they bring fresh perspectives and innovative solutions? If the answer is YES, then who cares about that gap? It's time to look forward, not backward. Let's champion resilience, adaptability, and the endless potential our candidates bring to the table. Let's be the recruiters who see beyond the resume. Let's be the ones who give people a chance to shine, regardless of where they've been. 🚀 So, here's my challenge to you: Next time you see a resume with a gap, dig deeper. Find the gold. And remember, the future is all about what we can achieve together. Who's with me? 🙌 #HR #Recruitment #TalentAcquisition #FutureFocused #ResumeGaps #PotentialOverPast

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With 1 in 10 CHROs saying they will favor in-person workers over remote workers for promotions, what does this mean for culture? We have examples from the Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For List of what it looks like to embrace flexibility and solve for the specific needs of your workforce: - Atlassian gets employee feedback from its Team Anywhere Advisory Squad - Cisco supports managers to manage the specific needs of their team with a "Hybrid Quick Start Guide" - Sheetz, a convenience store chain, ensures full-time management employees have a consistent schedule, with two back-to-back days off to spend time with family. - Atlantic Health System revamped scheduling models so many team members can self-schedule, finding the shift that fits their needs. See the full article: https://lnkd.in/gzj74igh

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Email Blasts are So 1999! It's 2024, and yet, the ghosts of communication past still haunt our inboxes with blanket email blasts. True internal communications should be about connection, not just transmission. ✅ Segment Your Audience: Tailor your communications based on departments, roles, or interest groups. Customized messages resonate more effectively than one-size-fits-all. ✅ Embrace Multiple Channels: Diversify beyond email. Use intranets, messaging apps, and video calls to engage different preferences and ensure your message is heard. ✅ Measure and Iterate: Leverage analytics to track engagement and feedback. Use insights to refine and improve communication strategies continually. Stop the spam. Start the conversation. Let's make our internal communications actually communicate in 2024. ----- ✍️ IC Folks, what do you think? ♻️ Share it with someone who may need it. #InternalCommunications #InternalComms #EmployeeExperience

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What I'm reading now: "Radical Respect: How to Work Together Better," by Kim Scott, provides a roadmap for creating a culture where *everyone* can do the best work of their lives. Kim's first book, "Radical Candor," contains some of the best advice ever on how to become a great manager. This one is kind of a sequel and focuses on building an inclusive, respectful work culture. As you know if you follow her on LinkedIn, Kim Scott is doing some of the best business writing in the world these days. Go get this book! https://lnkd.in/e-CRmYSB

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Let’s talk tools. Tools you need to do your job (and do it well). ✏️ We understand why finance needs Excel. ✏️ Why marketing needs Hubspot. ✏️ Why sales needs Salesforce. ✏️ Why creative needs Adobe. ✏️ Why IT needs ServiceNow. ✏️ Why legal needs Docusign. ✏️ And why HR needs Workday. But tools for communications professionals? Those are a "nice to have." 🫠 Why? Why aren't comms tools considered a necessity for doing our jobs? I can rattle off 10 tools that would make my teams 10x more effective, but I can also count on one hand the number of times I've been able to 𝘣𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 those tools to my team to use. 👉 Internal comms tools 👉 External comms tools 👉 Analyst relations tools 👉 Social media tools 👉 Creative tools 👉 Monitoring and analytics tools #Communications pros, like other job functions, also need tools to do our jobs well. And in 2024—there are 𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘺 tools available to us! But often those are out of reach for smaller, scrappier comms teams and are only available to the big companies with big #comms and #PR budgets. It's a shame because the communications landscape is changing, and our strategies 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘰𝘰𝘭𝘴 should change with it. Unfortunately, our budgets don't reflect this new reality. 🫣 So, wise network: Why are comms tools considered "nice to have" if we actually want our communications strategies to be effective? What tools do you use in your comms roles?

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Last week I wrote about the *incredible number of 50+ PR/Comms pros* in my DMs looking for jobs. It’s wild. I got dozens more DMs from these talented, highly-accomplished people after my post about ageism in PR hit home (painfully so) for so many. What are they saying? These career communicators confide to me en masse that “ageism is alive and well.” That their “age is basically a non-starter on the job hunt right now.” That agencies and in-house comms teams are looking for “younger” and “hungrier” and “cheaper” talent. That they’re “victims of their own track records.” That’s rough, man. No good deed goes unpunished, eh? Today I saw somebody on Reddit, Inc. post a question asking, essentially, “where have all the 50+ folks gone?” Good question. Hard question. And I think it’s time the PR industry had a thoughtful conversation about ageism because, hey, we’re either inclusive or we’re not. But this topic is a layup in my view. Crackle PR works with a number of very senior consultants who do an excellent job for us. These seasoned pros give me and our tech clients peace of mind. Experience has a way of doing that. If you know you know ✌️ This is the way ✊

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You're scrolling through LinkedIn, drowning in a sea of professional updates when a post grabs your attention. It's not another company announcement or industry jargon overload. This post talks about pizza. (Hey, who doesn't love pizza?) But it's not just about pizza. It's about the power of words. The very words that convinced you to indulge in that second slice can be harnessed to shape destinies... and sales! This is the magic of copywriting. It's the art of wielding words like a Jedi Knight wielding a lightsaber, guiding your audience toward a desired action. ↪ Want them to sign up for your service? ↪ Buy your product? ↪ Donate to your cause. Copywriting is your secret weapon. Intrigued? Want to know more? ✔ Learn how to craft sentences that paint vivid pictures, ignite emotions, and make your audience crave what you offer. ✔ The psychology behind the "Buy" button ✔ Storytelling, sensory language, emotional appeal Follow along and learn to create content that resonates with your audience on a deeper level. See the pinned comment

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Eager to hire soon-to-be college grads? You'll want to dive in to Monster's State of the Grad survey. "It’s critical to understand how the newest additions to the workforce are approaching employment, and what they are expecting from employers,” said #Monster CEO Scott Gutz in this HR Dive article. Find out what candidates are looking for and see key insights from the report here.

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Happy Friday everyone! I'm looking for my next digital role and, given how difficult the current job market is, and knowing how many amazing marketers are in a similar position to me, I am reaching out for your help. "How can I help" I hear you ask....well that's easy: Increased Visibility: Likes, comments, and shares on this post will help me reach a wider audience and hopefully the right opportunity, so please don't just read and move on, it doesn't take long to engage with my post. Recruiters: Any roles you have within Digital, be it broad digital roles, or focused more on digital transformation or performance/growth marketing; permanent, contracting, interim - I'm open to any and all. A little about me: I have over 20 years experience within Digital with a track record of building out successful digital functions and delivering significant growth in terms of revenue and return on investment from digital marketing. I'm just as comfortable coming in as a first digital hire and building out channels and teams, as I am coming into established set-ups and driving enhanced growth and performance. Making this post a little more personal, I've also become a dad for the very first time in the past few months, and he is my world. Despite the strain the job hunting and current market situation has on anyone's mental health, I refuse to let it get to me and I will not fail him, despite how trying the times are. Any and all help is greatly appreciated. Jamie x #JobHunt #CareerOpportunities #opentowork #Recruiters #Digital #DigitalMarketing #DigitalTransformation

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Get your free “Bio Site” through Squarespace. This resource is great for jobseekers who want to showcase their brand and value proposition as well as entrepreneurs, artists, musicians, and anyone who wants to automate their bio and receive tips/payments for their services - including crowdfunding. I personally use Squarespace and enjoy their agile platform, ease of use, and their secured end-to-end encryption functionality. I wanted to share this FREE resource as an option for those who want to amplify their brand. This is also a great option to use as an automated business card. Click the link below to learn more and to read the FAQ…

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At this point in my #jobsearch, I wonder if I have too much experience for companies or organizations. There are certain spaces like corporate communications or working in a large-scale ad/PR agency that I've not done. Yet there are different spaces where I do have the chops. I believe writing is one of the most crucial skills any person can have working for them. What I've attempted to do in four decades of work is improve. Taking baby steps, I can point toward things I did early on and things I wrote years later. Of course, here on #LinkedIn structuring a written post has become its own style. Putting spaces between paragraphs is done all the time. Even if a person puts in so much space that it looks silly. So, I will keep on working to add skills. At the same time, I just wonder - one-plus month into Job Search No. 2 in 12 months - what I have to do. #WorkForHire

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