Nicky Slavich’s Post

Searching for a job right now is absolutely wild. Because: —The economy is a roller coaster —Layoffs are still present —Inflation is daunting —Stress is high And yet… It’s so encouraging to see people *still* get jobs. It’s exciting to see various industries succeeding. It’s amazing to see folks still out here, showing up, doing their best, and making progress. With all the chaos, there are still good things happening. Celebrating those wins this week 🙌

Can we recognize folks who need immigration support during the job search process? The job search process is already daunting and this adds another huge layer of complexity. I will admit, I still have a lot of learning to do when it comes to the nuances of job searching and the nuance of visa/immigration support for job seekers. But I think it's fair to say that along with the typical ups and downs of the job search, folks who need any form of support when it comes to visa sponsorship deserve some serious recognition.

Three phrases that can completely shift a workplace culture: “Thank you for helping me understand” “Let’s figure this out together” “Your perspective matters” There’s a million more but these phrases show a combination of humility, kindness, and support. Culture isn’t changed overnight. But this is a great place to start.

Yes, it's possible for candidates to "oversell" themselves in the job search. But, from my experience, most candidates are doing the opposite: "Underselling" The experience, skills, work, and things we've done are often MORE impressive and exceptional than we think. We think "I only did this" or "It was just a project" But that's often a big deal! It's a skill to word and phrase those accomplishments the right way that jumps out. So, if it needs to be said, give yourself some credit today.

If you are interviewing for a company, things are looking good, and you expect an offer, should you keep interviewing with other companies? Yep. Here's why: At the risk of sounding comically obvious, nothing is official until it is official! Oftentimes there are multiple candidates for a role, the company shifts priority, the offer can be totally different than your expectations, just to name a few things that can happen. It doesn't make you "disloyal" or "selfish" to continue the search, even when things are looking good. I bet there are *more than a few* stories of candidates where this happened and...things changed. So yes, keep putting your best foot forward. Interview well. Have good conversations. But until things are "officially official..." it's not a bad idea to continue looking.

Isn’t it ironic that companies who give the day off today will in return usually have employees who work harder? Of course, there are roles and industries where this isn’t possible (we see you and love you, health professionals). But, where doable, it’s thoughtful for companies to give some time off. The trade off? Happy and motivated employees.

Let’s recognize folks working hard over the long weekend. How? Tip well, smile, and be kind to each other.

When we feel undervalued, underappreciated, and misunderstood, there is a really good chance we could be in the wrong spot. And a change may be helpful. This may be a small change like a new project or new initiative on your team. Or it could mean a big change like a new role, new company, or new industry. Change is never easy. In fact, it's usually pretty challenging. But it's good to remember: Good people in a healthy place usually thrive.

It's my birthday today. FUN! Here's my only wish: To cancel Friday afternoon meetings for the rest of the year.

Several years ago, I made a big recruiting mistake when I shared compensation numbers with a candidate. The story is unique but my manager's reaction at the time was even more surprising. In short, I basically offered the candidate a salaried rate instead of an hourly rate (which the role was supposed to have). There was confusion in our recruiting system but overall, it was my fault and I should have caught it. Of course, the candidate was confused and a bit frustrated by the situation. We talked it through, explained, and tried to get on the same page. But, given the error, I had to talk it through with my boss and I explained exactly what happened. Her response: "This is a place where mistakes are okay. We learn from them, we get better, and we fix them moving forward." That first line..."mistakes are okay." I think about that all the time. A good working environment isn't one where we never mess up or fail. A good working environment is one where we learn and grow together.