Julia Rigano

If you've distilled all the challenges with this job market, down to "recruiters are cold and lack empathy" it's time for a head check. There are so many moving parts lending to the challenges right now. 🥨 Recruiters have been disproportionately impacted by layoffs. 🥨 Internal recruiter bandwidth is at an all time low. 🥨 Applicant volume is at an all time high. 🥨 New technologies (many very bad) are being introduced to the process (both sides.) Many of these are barely in Beta. 🥨 There is a plethora of mis and disinformation on this and other platforms. 🥨 There are people and industries benefiting from the state of the market exactly as it is right now. 🥨 Companies are leveraging layoffs to pad profits and stock value. 🥨 The economy is uncertain. 🥨 Supply / Demand in the job market is extremely out of balance If you consider all of that...and still chalk it all up to "recruiters are cold and lack empathy" I don't really know what to say. Pretzel Logic 🥨 🤷🏻‍♀️ #recruiters #jobseekers #jobmarket #empathy #GoldensNuggets

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When I left my cushy TA role in SaaS for mat leave back in 2022 I walked away with confidence. I had made five offers in the last six weeks and was feeling accomplished and was standing in my power. Loved the new role I was in, loved my team, loved the work and was excited to welcome my son and come back to my career and keep growing. While on leave, the market started shifting, layoffs were making headlines, people started to wring their hands and worry. I came back to a different team; we were all concerned about our stability. Eventually the layoff occurred. I lost my job. I panicked for awhile. I worked my network. I got very little traction and I decided to open my own company. I did some consulting and made it work. Then I found a great contract and rode that wave. I am again facing a job search and weighing the pros and cons of applying or leaning back into my own business in a market that continues to see HR and TA as expendable. I see articles that show how good the economy is, while fear bubbles in my own body around what that says about me and my recent struggle in this market. If its so good, why am I here. Since giving birth, my career that I had been so proud of and worked so hard for has taken a beating and its felt like the earth below my feet has shifted a thousand times. I have been agile. I have shifted focus. I have fought to stay positive and shift perspective and be thankful. I've done all of this while raising a fierce, active, independent son, hoping that I am not only able to provide for him but that I am setting an example of resilience and strength. I am not telling a new story here. I have so many friends in this same hamster wheel of knowing we are valuable and then second guessing it because this market will eat you up and spit you out. Tomorrow I will be back here with job search tips, a witty observation or two and a more positive perspective but today I am asking that if you know someone in a job search in this market, dont comment for reach; make an intro. This stuff is tough.

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Those of you who know me know that I LOVE portfolio reviews. When I got laid off from Blizzard I did short, free portfolio reviews every week for 3 months. I can’t think of a better way to learn, grow and improve than a portfolio review. For years I was paid to evaluate portfolios and determine how much an artist should be paid based on their portfolio. It is my opinion that a good portfolio review will easily increase your job offer by 10k. So when I saw that the founder and CEO was doing one hour portfolio reviews for $79 I had to tell everyone. That is a steal! You can go online and see multiple portfolio reviews by Emrah and you will see how great he is at it. Very straightforward, very thoughtful, very accurate. I know that sounds very “salesman-ish” - $79 to earn 10k but it is a great deal. BUT only if you follow the advice and put in the work. https://lnkd.in/ePVNY6u5 #lunaracademy #portfolioreviews #gamingjobs #mooncolony

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A dream of mine is to have work trips sponsored by my favorite brands... like, with a jacket including their logos/patches!! Chipotle is one of those - and now they're enhancing accessibility to stock ownership with a 50-to-1 split, reflecting a broader trend in employee benefits. This strategic move, covered by The Wall Street Journal, aims to deepen employee engagement by aligning their success with the company’s growth. Read more: ow.ly/2Rut30sCcWR #EmployeeEngagement #EmployeeBenefits

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I've been recruiting for well over a decade. From staffing to startups to big tech like PayPal, Venmo, Braintree and LinkedIn. I've had some heavy workloads and some wild hiring goals but NEVER have I had the goals that GEICO is looking to get to. We're already moving into Tech (ask around, we're making our mark and paying accordingly 😉) SO, my friends at TikTok, Tesla, PayPal, LinkedIn, Google and SO many more. Reach out to me. I can help. I know I have plenty of connections with y'all at these companies and layoffs are hard. I've been there. I'm hiring. This message needs to go viral. Not for me, but for others. I repeat, I can help. So, please... like, comment for reach, and SHARE SHARE SHARE!!! GEICO is doing things you wouldn't have even imagined an "insurance" company to do. Share this for folks who have been impacted. Let's see how many people we can help. #hiring #geicotech #opensource #data #engineering

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Remember: Washington, D.C.'s new pay transparency law, effective June 30, 2024, mandates employers to disclose salary ranges in job postings and restricts the use of pay history. This legislation is a critical move to promote pay equity and address historical wage gaps. Employers must prepare by updating job postings and internal protocols to comply with these requirements. #PayTransparency #PayEquity #EqualPay #WorkplaceTransparency #DCLaw #HR

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Agency Recruiting - some things never change. After years in internal TA ops and developing recruiting products, I'm back on the 3rd party side. While recruiting tech has advanced, the key to successful hiring is still driven by the same factor it's always been. Client Engagement. The companies who get the most value out of external recruiters are those who provide clear requirements up front, are decisive on candidates, and provide valuable, timely feedback that helps tighten our focus. If you need to turn to external recruiter, provide this and watch them deliver. Good recruiters will run through walls for engaged clients. #Recruiting #ClientEngagement #Staffing

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“You look so peaceful” texted a friend after seeing a picture of me this week reading on a lakeside dock. It’s not a word I’d heard associated with me in years. Starting 2024 unemployed put me in unfamiliar territory, but it took these past 6+ months to unwind 20+ years of burnout navigating Corporate America trying to find my sense of fit.   Since 2000, I’ve held numerous marketing and communications positions, often feeling like the role was a misfit, but always pushing harder, working longer hours, and prioritizing my career above all else, including my health.  Parting ways with my previous employer left me both relieved and terrified. Exhausted and unemployed, I faced an uncertain future. I chose to use the time to recharge: reading, resting, spending time with my parents, and reconnecting with neglected relationships. Slowly, my inner spark reignited. I’m proud of myself for spending the time to rediscover “me." During this period of transition, I used the time to:  💃 Redefine my personal brand, mission and vision 🎬 Take voice acting classes forcing me out of my comfort zone 🐕 Consult on a friend’s animal start-up business learning new skills ✅ Launch a passion-driven creative project (stay tuned for more details!) I found peace by rediscovering what ignites that spark. 🌟 As I prepare to end my unemployment in a few weeks 👏 , I’m proud of how I’ve used this time to explore, fail and play. Thank you to my support network of family, friends, mentors, coaches and advocates. You are the community that keeps on giving. Now I’m excited to start my next chapter on solid ground. (More on that soon!) Have you ever taken time to rediscover your spark? What did you learn? 🔍 #burnout #careertransitions #unemployment #findyourfit  #creativity #marketing #communications #CorporateAmerica #community

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Ouch! Applying for hourly work shouldn't be this complicated... The #futurefowork is rapidly changing which means employers need to meet the labor market where it's at. Let's say this job at Kendra Scott pays $20 per hour. For the sake of simplicity, round up the application time to 15 minutes. This job application costs a prospective employee the equivalent of $5 in labor time. And that's for a job that's been posted for 30+ days. Who knows if they're even still trying to fill it. If you're an employer struggling to find talent -- or pure labor -- simplify your recruitment process. It's that simple.

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After my post on successful placements via referral a few recruiters have reached out with additional roles. If anyone’s interested let me know. I’ll keep sharing as they come through. Both are director/sr director level growth marketing roles. One based in NYC and the other based in LA If interested send me a DM Also note to recruiters- I’m noticing some of you are not taking calls with candidates who you are requesting to be connected to. Some of these candidates are passively looking and agreeing to talk to you via myself or another peer. At the least you can respect their time and mine by writing them back or scheduling a call. 🙏 #recruiting #referrals #growthmarketing

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Question for my TA network: If the ATS you use doesn’t have robust capability for submitting and organizing interview feedback, what do you use for this part of the hiring process? I’m particularly interested in recommendations for any SaaS tools that are good for creating interview scorecards.

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I’m ecstatic to share that I’ve accepted a position at Transect as their Growth Marketing Manager! ☀ A huge shout out to Nicole Yager and the rest of the hiring team (Sharon Svensson, Kevin Ahern, and Peter Taylor) for fostering an empathetic space of trust and consultative leadership approach in the interview process (already providing me immense value through career advice and guidance). Transect’s culture was the deciding factor, and I can’t wait to accelerate revenue growth for the marketing team and the company as a whole! 𝘛𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘦𝘮𝘱𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘸𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘨𝘺 𝘥𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘥, 𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘴𝘴, 𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘤𝘵, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘥𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘱 𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘮𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘯𝘷𝘪𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘭 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘮𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘤𝘦𝘴𝘴. 𝘛𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘥𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘥𝘶𝘦 𝘥𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘰𝘯 𝘥𝘦𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘥, 𝘳𝘦𝘥𝘶𝘤𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘮𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘤𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘩𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘶𝘵𝘦𝘴. How I stood out from a sea of applicants to get the initial interview: A personalized email to the hiring manager that leveraged FOMO in the subject line—a great recommendation from Jay Schwedelson. 𝐃𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐌𝐢𝐬𝐬 𝐎𝐮𝐭! 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐍𝐞𝐱𝐭 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐭𝐡 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐫

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Hello LinkedIn community, I am reaching out today with a heartfelt plea. Since being let go from my role last July, I have applied to over 3000 jobs, reached the final stages multiple times, but still haven’t secured a position. The situation has become critical—my savings are exhausted, we’ve taken on debt, and now face selling our family home as we navigate a split due partially to financial strain. This isn't just about me; it's about providing stability for my teenage children during their crucial A level and GCSE years. Their education and well-being are my top priorities, and I am determined to support them fully to lead the happy lives they deserve. I bring extensive experience in Customer Success, and network agencies with a proven track record of helping businesses thrive. My dedication and passion for fostering positive relationships and driving results make me confident that I can bring significant value to any organization. I'm a great team player, an out of the box thinker and creative, a huge advocate for diversity and inclusion in all its colours and flavours. The emotional toll of this journey has been immense, it's very nearly broken me.............but it has also strengthened my resolve. I'm still here.....I'm not going away! If anyone knows of open roles or can offer advice, your assistance could be the turning point for my family and me.....and for our future. Networking has never been more crucial, and I am open to exploring all opportunities where my skills can make a difference. Thank you for your time and support. Your kindness could truly change our lives and help us build a brighter future. We need this Many thanks for your consideration. Roberto Sodano #JobSearch #CareerOpportunities #CustomerSuccess #HireMe #JobHunt #Employment #JobSeeker #CareerChange #Interviewing #Networking #OpenToWork #JobOpening #CustomerSuccessManager #CareerSupport #JobAdvice #JobHelp #LinkedInCommunity #JobOpportunities #JobMarket #EmploymentHelp #HelpWanted #CareerGoals #WorkWithMe #Opportunity #HireNow #CareerTransition #JobTips #HiringNow #Neurodivergent #ADHD

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Designers who are looking for a new role, please read this.... If a recruiter reaches out to you and wants to book a screen call, please please please don't turn up to the call having not done any research into the company/opportunity I am a 3rd party recruiter so I am never tied to one business I work with BUT, it still gives me a slight red flag. However, when it comes to internal recruiters I am not sure they will react in the same way. I completely appreciate how tough the market has been and is still today. Don't make it harder with lazy preparation. I always liked the saying 'Fail to Prepare, Prepare to Fail' #design #productdesign #uxdesign #uxinterviews #designinterviews

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Fun Fact Friday: Inflation is the top financial concern for every generation, from Gen Z to baby boomers in 2024. (Source: Transunion) Bonus fact: In 2023, Gen Z sought financial advice from social media influences - 21% went to Facebook, 19% from Instagram, and 17% received advice from TikTok. As an employer, addressing the frequency of market compensation evaluations, pay increase criteria, and frequency in your recruitment collateral will see traction in every generation. #Socialmedia #marketing #demographics #influencers #labormarket #consumers

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Are you a candidate sending InMails? Don't do this... "Hi, I'm FirstName_LastName. I'm interested in your open role. I'm a TITLE and I'm interested in the Job_Title you posted. Please see my resume below. I'd love to apply." Recruiters and Hiring Managers see these messages all the time. And guess what - we (for the most part) DELETE them. Why? 1. You took more than you gave...you said "I" or "me" too much. You asked for a favor without giving anything in return. 2. We know nothing of you other than your title...who knows if anyone's opening the attachment anyways. 3. The Hiring Manager isn't going to refer this person anywhere other than to the application page. 4. You didn't show any value or hook. 5. You're just one of 25 other similar messages and didn't stand out. 6. You showed no real interest or understanding of that person or the company. Try: 1. Limit how many times you say "I" and "me" 2. Provide a value statement. How are you set apart? What have you accomplished that would warrant a conversation ASAP relevant to that position? 3. Share a commonality between you + the company + the contact. Something that says "I see you as a human, respect your time, and can contribute to you positively". No one will say it, but people like a little ego stroke. 4. Leave your resume OFF the first message and update your LinkedIn. 5. Don't make it about the position. Make it about people. Either make it about understanding their pain points and how you can help solve for it. OR seek a referral connection who may be a better fit. This method will improve response rates, earn you more credibility, and cause you to stand out in this market.

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“Be your authentic selves” - quotes from many organizations, leaders, and coaches , but can you be your “authentic self” on social media without fear of misperception from your employer, colleagues, or future employers? Take a minute to read how Tiffany Waddell Tate, SHRM-SCP shared her perspective on the topic of what you see on social vs what is real life and how people have a tendency to draw a false narrative that can negatively impact an employee. True story - I experienced a leader who withheld an opportunity for me to expand my professional development with a certification that would’ve helped me deliver elevated products and resources for the business I supported - simply because this person assumed I would use it for my personal business based on what was seen on social media. What this person didn’t know (must’ve missed the post) was that my business operates based on a different model and assessment tool so having that certification would have done nothing for my business. 🤷🏽‍♀️ Moral of the story - 👉🏽 Leaders, be careful of the unconscious bias and judgements (and even envy), you create based on what may be seen on LinkedIn or other social platforms. Unless, there is malicious activity that could affect the company and their role for the company, be comfortable with employees showing up on social media, using the platform as they desire. 👉🏽 Everybody else, don’t live in fear for anyone. Of course, be wise about your choices, but you shouldn’t feel restricted from pursuing other networks & opportunities on platforms like LinkedIn simply because of the fear of perception. And if you struggle navigating these spaces, that’s what career coaches are for! Connect with one, whether that’s me or any other phenomenal, non judgmental certified professional that you feel most comfortable. I can toot my horn & the horn for many other greats! Make it a great day, everyday! 😊

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To the TA professionals recently impacted by company layoffs: Things will get better. Get out all the anger, frustration, anxiety, or whatever it may be. Then, develop a plan. Reach out to previous colleagues, managers, or mentors Explicitly ask for help in your job search Ask for introductions to someone with mutual connections Identify decision makers that are active on LinkedIn (not always recruiters) STAY POSITIVE It's easy to get overwhelmed while navigating this landscape, but stay positive and keep your head on straight, especially if you're going to continue to post here as well. Wish you all the best! #AARonThoughts

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