Carolyn Christie’s Post

Congratulations, you’ve just paid thousands to work remotely…from your vacation spot. Your out of office is on, but your laptop is open. Sound familiar? I once prided myself on never missing an email, while on vacation. The result? Wasted vacations. Missed memories with my son. All for the illusion of being the “best employee.” When the furlough came, I was cut like everyone else. No medal for working around the clock. No prize for sacrificing beach time for screen time. Don’t repeat my mistake. Your PTO is sacred. Log off. Your kids are only little once. Toss that laptop in the pool. Sip that Margarita. We all need a break. Yes, even you. Your career will wait. Your life won’t. PS. Let’s normalize real time off. Has work ever invaded your vacation?

My candidate turned a slap in the face, into a handshake. He received an offer below his minimum, but handled it with poise. He calmly turned down the offer and even referred someone for the role. Instead of getting upset, he remained composed. He could have told us to “get lost” or to “lose his number.” Instead, he politely turned it down. “The number is too low. Let's stay in touch for future opportunities.” The Employer increased the offer by 25k after hearing my feedback. It takes real character to keep your composure during negotiations. But keeping your cool, pays off. Within 24 hours, the offer was signed, sealed, and delivered. Happy Candidate. Happy Employer. Happy Recruiter. When we work together, it’s a win-win-win. PS. Would you have given the Employer another chance to make it right?

My friend just announced his promotion to Vice President. Not long ago, we were laid off together. He waited for a call to return, that never came. I urged him to move on and take control. He’d been loyal to a company, that never truly valued him. Hoping for recognition he’d never receive. Now, his dream has come true elsewhere. Everything he wanted but would have never gotten. When a company lets you go, thank them. They’re clearing the path for your true potential. Their loss becomes your greatest opportunity. “A bottle of water can be .50 cents at the supermarket. $2 at the gym. $3 at the movies and $6 on a plane. Same water. Only thing that changed it’s value was the place… so the next time you feel your work is nothing, maybe you’re at the wrong place”. -Kobi Simmons Congratulations to my friend! To anyone that has been let go, laid off… May this pave the way, for all your dreams to come true. PS. Is your lay-off a blessing?

I wanted the job offer, so I lied. I told them I would move closer to the office, but I never did. Do I regret it? Not at all. I did what I needed to do. I lived in the country—rolling hills, honky-tonk country. The hiring manager insisted no one would ever do that commute. I had a feeling my commute was a dealbreaker. I alleviated that concern. Candidates are screened out every day due to long commutes. I did that (over an hour) commute for years. My mom also worked in the city. Luckily for us, we rode the same metro line. We made some incredible memories. Especially because there was nothing to do, but talk. Life rarely gives you that opportunity. I'm thankful for that time we shared. The reality is that many employees quit over their commute. As a recruiter, I understand why a long commute is a "red flag." But if a jobseeker promises they'll do the commute, trust them. Maybe they're a 'country girl' like me, hoping for a chance to work in the city. Please give them that chance. I did that commute for years, and never quit because of it. I'll never forget my days working in the big, beautiful city. PS. Have you ever been screened out because of your commute? Is it ever okay to lie in an interview? Have you?

I fired a client because they made fun of my candidates hair. They said, “he looked like he was wearing a helmet. Because of his slicked back hair.” I will accept a lot of reasons not to hire: -Lack of qualifications -Not enough industry experience -Lack of Enthusiasm for role -Cultural Fits But I will NEVER accept the way a candidate looks, as a reason not to hire. I once had a Manager tell me, “I shouldn’t pull my hair back in a bun for work.” Can someone please explain to me, how our hair, beards, tattoos, facial features..impacts our ability to do the job? If you are ready to hire, call me. If you want to talk about hair, call someone else. Qualifications > Appearance. PS. Does attraction play a role in hiring? 👍Give this post a like if you would have fired the client.

My friend, a mother of a toddler, decided to experiment with when to disclose having a child during job interviews to see how employers would react. In the second round of interviews for one job, she met with three people. The first two interviews convinced her it wasn't the right place. Then she met the company president, a woman with adult children. Hoping for a better reaction, my friend brought up her toddler. The President's reaction was negative, making it clear this wasn’t the right fit. She then looked for a role outside her industry, using a LinkedIn connection. In her second-round interview, all the panelists were women who responded positively when she talked about her toddler. They shared stories about their own children and created an instant connection. She knew this company was the right fit. Now, in her new role, she’s surrounded by colleagues with 20-35 years at the company. This company truly supports families, and she plans on staying until retirement. Your family is a blessing, not a burden; if they don’t get it, find an Employer who does. ♻️ Give this a like, or re-post to spread the word. PS. Don't make us choose between family and a company. The choice will always be Family. Mothers/Fathers- can you relate?

Never use your mailing address on your resume. Include your city, maybe your zip code, but never your full address. My friend was interviewing for a TA role. He was in the second round with HR, and they made it clear the role required at least 3 days a week in the office. "Not a problem" he says. The Director of HR responds, "We were about to extend an offer to someone who lived an hour away and had reservations about their willingness to commute. The candidate assured us they were going to move closer. I looked up their address and saw the home was purchased two years ago, so there's no way they're moving due to interest rates." His jaw hit the floor. The HR Director noticed and said, "We can't have employees flake out after a month of commuting." My friend responded, "Let me get this straight. You checked when the home was purchased and decided they wouldn't move. They might not own the home. If they do, they may decide to rent again. People make housing choices for many reasons." In disgust, he said, "Thank you for the consideration, but I am withdrawing due to your practice of using addresses against candidates," and hit "end meeting" on Zoom. People are Batsh*t crazy. Folks in HR, you are not Sherlock Holmes. Don't try to be. Keep your focus on Talent Acquisition. Agree? Give this a like. (Spread the word ♻️ on this one) P.S. Have you ever been discriminated against because of your location? Did you know this is potentially illegal?

Listen to your "Spidey Sense.” Your gut knows best. A friend of mine interviewed 3x with a Staffing firm. They are now on my "hit list" to recruit from. First interview went great. Excellent vibe. Second interview terrible. Interrogation. He left knowing he would never work there. His Recruiter put on his selling hat. Sold the benefits. Sold commissions. And how much the company loved him. Yada Yada Yada. He reluctantly agreed to the final interview. The day after the last interview, he was asked to come into the office, to get the offer in person. (Rule of thumb- If a company refuses to give you the offer in writing and wants to "sell" you in person… The offer is garbage.) Good offers sell themselves without fluff. Anyways, I digress.. As I was saying, he was running a few minutes late to the offer meeting. He texted on the way. The hiring manager approved. As he approached the office, he received a text canceling the offer. If anyone is a jerk during the interview process, say no. If they won’t give you an offer in writing, say no. Trust your gut—it will tell you more than any recruiter ever could. Wait until it feels right…. PS. Give this a like if you can relate. Has your "Spidey Sense" ever proved right? Weigh in 👇

"Are you @#$%! kidding me?" Real response, from a Real employer. A friend of mine told her soon-to-be Employer she wouldn't be starting on Monday. She got a better offer with higher pay and better work-life balance. The flexibility suited her family much more. Employers can rescind offers last minute. Candidates can reject offers last minute. Understandably, this Employer was in a bind. But the toxic reaction, proved she made the right choice. Companies will always do what's best for their business. Employees will always do what's best for their family. Respect and professionalism should never be compromised. PS. Give this a like if you can relate to her experience. She made the right decision. Don't you think? Weigh in 👇