Bobbi Jo Sikora’s Post

One of the greats in CRM and loyalty is a free agent…

I was part of the layoffs at UPSIDE Foods alongside some really incredible People Team members. 3.5 years ago, UPSIDE took a chance on me as I transitioned from workforce development to recruiting, and without a doubt can say changed my life. I’m really glad I get to say it was the best job I ever had, working with the best people. We all learned from each other, helped each other, held one another accountable. My feedback was consistently implemented, especially in opening doors to folks with “nontraditional” backgrounds, which was most important to me. Working at a fast growth start up is a mixed bag - a lot of processes have never been built, questions have never been asked - but it’s also an opportunity to consistently try things and learn skills that go above and beyond your job duties. When I was still a coordinator, I was offered the chance to completely own full-cycle recruiting and management of our first-ever internship program, and did so 3 years in a row, tripling it in size. I continued to carry on student relations and hired for full time and contract roles year-round. I worked on the DEI committee, helped reform the way we acknowledge gender identities in the onboarding process, planned events, emceed the UPSIDE talent show and the holiday party. Don’t ask me about the Santa suit (but I would do it again). I’ve never had time off in my life, so I’m going to try this thing called “enjoying it” people keep talking about? But I am actively applying and looking for new roles in talent acquisition/recruiting and people ops in general. Bonus points if it’s working for people with barriers, or your organization is open to reframing how you evaluate candidates on traditional bases. See ya round! ♥️⭐️

I’m so happy to announce that I finally get to remove my ugly #opentowork green banner. As of last week, I accepted a content specialist position at a Healthcare Staffing company. Thanks to layoffs, oversaturation, and nobody hiring me, I’m jumping ship from the entertainment industry. I’m really proud of the work that I achieved while being a part of it all, and I’m really thankful that another industry noticed me and made me feel wanted. In the spirit of everyone else who makes these types of posts, here’s some things that I learned in 10 months of unemployment: 1. Tip your Instacart drivers. The amount of ALDI deliveries with 100+ items, 3 cases of water, and no tip is insane. Not every delivery driver is some dead beat. The disrespect that’s given to drivers is crazy- especially when the person you’re delivering to is probably watching something you helped do the marketing for. 2. Don’t be afraid to try something new. I focused my energies solely on the entertainment marketing space for a while, but when I started branching out I found that there were so many people who were genuinely excited to apply my expertise to a different field. 3. There aren’t always jobs open at McDonalds. People say this, but when you have upward mobility and years of corporate experience, there is little chance of you being hired over a 16 year old who is likely to stay there far longer than you. This has no bearing on your self-worth. Just because someone doesn’t think you have the experience to microwave a burger doesn’t mean you don’t have the experience to manage a multi-million dollar campaign. 4. Don’t let LinkedIn’s toxic positivity get you down. You shouldn’t have to respond to work emails on your death bed. You shouldn’t be grateful that you were laid off a week after the CEO announced that there would be no layoffs. You don’t have to be an opitimistic robot whipping boy who takes abuse and asks “please sir, can I have some more?” LinkedIn isn’t the real world. It’s mostly a community of people desperate to paint themselves in the best light in order to get a job. And I get it. The struggle is insanely real. But that’s why we should be more real on here. Nobody is sitting there thinking, “Oh, that crying CEO is so personable” while they’re issuing their layoffs from the comfort of their second vacation home. The job market is in shambles. It took me over 300 resumes and countless final interviews to land a new job. You don’t need to spend a bunch of money getting your resume revamped. You don’t need to pretend to be happy about terrible circumstances that are beyond your control. You are someone else’s perfect employee. It’ll take time to find that someone- but they’re out there, and they’re waiting for the real you. #jobchange #jobhunt #recruiters #jobseekers

Nearly 7 years ago, I completed my final exams and headed to Atlanta to begin my career journey at The Home Depot. In these last 7 years, I’ve had the amazing opportunity to work in supply chain, sustainability, store operations, broadcast media, and most recently, within the pro organization. I was able to learn about so many parts of the retail business, but most importantly, I’ve developed more friends and business partners than I can count. 6 weeks ago, my career underwent what I’ve identified as an evolution, after myself and hundreds of colleagues found out that our roles were being eliminated. Being part of a layoff is tough, but it definitely isn’t the end, and I am so grateful for all of the support I’ve gotten so far as I evolve both professionally and personally. I am proud of the work that I did while at The Home Depot and the life lessons I received along the way. For anyone who has also been impacted by layoffs, you are not alone. This too, shall pass. We will come out on the other side of it better than before! If you would like to know more about my work experience, or simply need someone to talk to, I'm happy to be a resource. To my entire LinkedIn Family, THANK YOU for the inspiration, messages, and support along the way. I am ALWAYS open to expanding my network and forming new business relationships. I am looking for opportunities in business strategy, product management, marketing, and sustainability. Please feel free to reach out or drop any opportunities & connections below. The best is yet to come! #layoffs #layoffs2024 #strategy #consulting #marketing #productmanagement #sustainability #evolution #homedepot #careerdevelopment #careergoals #retailinnovation

From one former Chewtopian🐾 to another- I'm deeply saddened to hear of the recent layoffs and the difficulty of emotion/uncertainty you are currently facing. Earlier this year, I resigned from Chewy as my family made the difficult decision to move back to a state where Chewy does not currently (physically) operate. At the time, there were few, if any, opportunities which allowed remote working at Chewy. I genuinely loved my job, the team, and the work I was performing. The hardest thing to leave was the people—and that was with the gift of ‘choice’.    While this decision may not have been one you made or welcome, please remember the following: -The dedication you showed matters 💙 -Your skills and resilience matter 👏🏽👏🏽 -Your strength and future decisions will lead you to new adventures and positive outcomes 💪🏽✨ -The people & connections you made will carry on 🫶🏽   As you navigate this path, remember to lean on your support networks, explore new possibilities, and recognize that you are not alone. Change is inevitable and often brings unexpected growth and opportunity. If there's anything I can do to assist as you process the change and explore new avenues, please do not hesitate to reach out. In the meantime, #allpaws on deck to the recruiters, hiring managers, and connections in my network looking for talent! Please help those impacted find a landing place where they can show & share their value within your teams and culture 💫   Borrowed from another former Chewtopian: Over and Snout 💙🐾✌🏽

So, I was quite hesitant to post this, but I’ve received such an amazing outpouring of support and want to pay it forward with so many people going through similar situations. The basics: I was one of many corporate employees whose roles were eliminated as part of the latest RIF from The Home Depot this week. I’m beyond proud of what my team accomplished in my two years there (far too much to list out here), and I’m incredibly thankful to the fellow leaders, colleagues, partners, merchants and store associates who taught me more about retail and home improvement than I ever could have imagined. I feel grateful for the professional growth and experience as well as the relationships formed, which we’ll all carry forward. As I said, I wasn’t the only one impacted at THD, and if you’ve read the headlines, there are far too many people in similar scenarios from many industries. If I’ve learned anything this week, it’s that we are stronger together. So for anyone going through the same, know that I’m available to support you if you need it, whether that’s a phone call, a connection, a recommendation, or a coffee catch-up (in-person or virtual). I’m taking a short break to clear my head and to think hard about what’s next, but I also look forward to connecting with many folks in the near future (keep me in mind if you hear of anything interesting). #layoffs #work #community #connections 

There’s no doubt this layoff wave is still alive and roaring. Today I heard the dreaded words “your role has been impacted” and was laid off from my job at Shopkick. While I’m grieving the loss of a role that challenged me, inspired me and gave me a renewed purpose in my career, I’m also incredibly grateful for the opportunity to have served a team that leads with their heart and truly cares about their impact and their clients. As I have started diving headfirst into the job search, many have asked how they can help. So, here are a few things you should know about me and 3 actionable ideas that could help lead me to my next role. Facts about me:  - I’ve served within the marketing industry for 11 years now with an emphasis in CPG and Shopper Marketing.  - My experience covers a variety of functions and environments including Agency, CPG Client and Vendor Partner.  - I have a passion for leading people, building close client relationships and driving positive company culture. - I’m looking for a Sr. Director, Director, Shopper Marketing Manager or equivalent leadership role in Northwest Arkansas. Actionable ideas to help:  - Share this post with your network to help drive more reach and awareness that I am open to discuss new opportunities. - Write a recommendation for me on LinkedIn or via email that I can include and showcase in my applications and interviews. - Put me in touch with a contact of yours that has an open role or may have one in the near future that I could be a great fit for. It is not lost on me that many have experienced this before me and there will be many that follow. As we continue to ride this wave you can count on me to return the favor for those within my network. #layoffs #opentowork #resilient #determined #networking #leadership

While I am confident something bigger is on the horizon, this is a bittersweet update to share. Due to some organizational and location strategy changes at Walmart, my current role in talent acquisition has been impacted. Relocation isn't an option for my family at this time and Cincinnati is our home. As someone who consistently champions and models embracing change to my team, I am choosing to find the light in these changes. I hold great pride in the work and impact I've made during my time at Walmart. It's been a wonderful journey of collaboration, learning, and growth. Working alongside some truly amazing recruiters and leaders has been a joy. They continually prove that "People Make the Difference". They have not only enriched my professional journey but have also become a great source of inspiration. Their dedication, creativity, and passion would undoubtedly be a valuable addition to any team out there. The teams we have built that will shape the future of delivery for Walmart, the processes we navigated and lives we have changed, give me a great sense of accomplishment. Throughout my career, I've built strong relationships and networked with some truly phenomenal people. I'm confident these connections - the individuals who've worked closely with me, who know my work ethic first-hand, and understand the value I bring - will be instrumental in leading me to my next role. This is such a vulnerable update to share, but I truly believe in the power of connection. As this chapter at Walmart winds down over the next few months, I am eager and excited for the next. Here's to embracing change and new beginnings....and a new headshot! :-) #opentowork #walmartlayoffs #talentacquisition #cincinnati

After hearing about recent layoffs at Indeed and Walmart, I decided to move up the launch of the Layoff Checklist that I recently created. Whether you've been laid off or just want to be ready for the unexpected, this 9-step checklist will help you navigate your layoff with more clarity, confidence, and calm. The checklist also has curated links to various podcast episodes, articles, and resources that will help you be more strategic in you job search and stop all the endless Googling for advice 😉 ✅ Get your free Layoff Checklist here: https://lnkd.in/gvn6MMxK PS: This would be great to send this to a friend who was recently laid off. #uxdesigner #productdesigner #uxdesign #uxwriter #uxresearch #uxlayoffs #techlayoffs

Well hello, LinkedIn! It’s been a minute since we’ve chatted but I wanted to jump on here and share a little bit about what’s been going on over here. Just about one year ago I went through my second layoff within seven months and I won’t lie to you, it was brutal. It rocked me in all the ways that you’d imagine. Self confidence, worth, financial stress, and questioning a lot about what my future looked like when it came to my career. I had been told for so long that recruiting was where I belonged. I had hit all the goals, gotten the promotions, been given the accolades and yet I found myself on my own, fighting to get back to a space that hadn’t been the kindest to me. So I took a break from my job search. I pursued passions and started my own sole-proprietorship and let myself sit in the discomfort of figuring out what was next for me. It was during this time I also decided to apply for a part-time job at a wine tasting room in my neighborhood. I had never worked in this industry before, barely had serving or bartending experience and had no clue if anything would come of it. Well….let’s just say it worked out. My job at Darby Winery has completely transformed my life. I now lead my space as well as run our social media and I truly can say I don’t think I’ve ever been happier in my career. I work long days and my schedule has been turned on its head and I’ve never enjoyed my work more. I have an amazing manager who I am so grateful for taking a chance on me and opening my eyes to a whole new way of living outside the 9-5. All this to say, life sometimes has a way of getting us to exactly where we need to be. If you had told me a year ago that I would be starting an entirely new career at the age of 31, I wouldn't have believed you. So cheers to new paths, finding joy in work and really good wine. #newcareer #careerpivot #careerchange #layoffs #laidoff #newchapter