Career Podcast Featuring Rebecca Gimeno, a Successful College Recruiter for a Top Global Shoe Company : Women in Business.

On episode #4 of the 2B Bolder podcast, guest Rebecca Gimeno, a collegiate recruiter for a global sportswear company, shares her background in sports and the police academy, and details about her current role and responsibilities. Rebecca talks about the qualities she’s looking for in ideal candidates and gives actionable steps to improve your chances of landing the perfect job.

The 2B Bolder Podcast is designed to provide you first-hand access to some amazing women. Guests will include women from leading enterprise companies to startups, women execs, to coders, account execs, engineers, and innovators.
 
 To be inspired visit https://www.2bbolder.com/podcasts 

Transcript

spk_0:   0:00
Hi there. My name is Mary Kill Olia. Welcome to the to be bolder podcast. Providing career insights for the next generation of women in business in Texas. To be bolder was created out of my love for technology and marketing. My desire to bring together Lifeline is women and my hope to be a great role model in source of inspiration for my two girls and other young women like you, encouraging you guys to show up to be bolder and to know that anything you guys dream of, it's totally possible on to be bolder. You're gonna hear inspiring stories of how successful women some I know some I just want to bring to you guys and they're gonna talk about their careers in business and tech. And they're gonna tell us their stories about their passion in their journey. And they're challenges. And we're gonna learn some of their advice along the way, too. So sit back, relax and enjoy the conversation. Hi there. Today's guest is Rebecca Gemma. No, Rebecca is a friend in a very successful businesswoman. I met Rebecca a little over six years ago when she was running her own successful girls basketball training program. My daughter was big in the best ball at the time, and her program provided not only foundational and advanced basketball developments feels for young girls, but foundational to her program was confidence building self love and emphasizing the importance of girls being supported and encouraged. You have one another. And that always struck me as something incredible and unique to the way she was teaching sports. And so I was really grateful that she had that program. And since then, she's gone through the police academy and now is successful Collegiate recruiter for Global sportswear company. Welcome to the show, Rebecca.

spk_1:   1:34
Thank you so much, Mary. It's a real honor to be here with you today.

spk_0:   1:38
Well, thanks. Uh, okay. So I would love for you just to give an overview of the things that I touched on from your kind of career journey to this point, if you wouldn't mind.

spk_1:   1:49
Yeah, absolutely. Eso like you touched on. I played college basketball. Um, it was really a way for me to love on other people and basketball. Just been like this really great platform for me to impact and have influence on other people. You kind of talked about? Um after I played college basketball, I actually stuck around a little bit and coached for college, and that was I'm all. I'm a big do what you're passionate about. Ah, sort of person. And so that was my kind of love. My first love, My first option. So I did basketball for a little bit. And that was actually ah, recruiter at a college. So I would recruit high school kids to come into college So looking at their applications and, um, meeting with them, talking about career opportunities for them through their education in college and then after, you know, I was ah, recruiter for a college. I started my vestibule company and I wanted to make it different. I wanted to make it unique. And I wanted Thio again give back to the community in a way that was different and impactful. And basketball and sports kind of connects everybody. And so I started my own basketball company, and at the heart of the boxful company was this idea of leadership. Um, this idea of of serving one another and making more than just basketball teaching these things through the game, absolutely loved that did that for a couple of years. Just full time. It kind of built up the program. Ah, And then I got a job at the global sportswear company for a little bit. Just kind of doing audit and jobs. I wanted to kind of figure out where my skill sets lied and what I might want to do in the future. Maybe apart from basketball, will Still obviously coaching on the side, Um, so did that for a little while and then really got a passion. You mentioned it. Thio become a police officer. So I was a police officer for a little bit as well. And, uh, I thought that's what I wanted to dio Long term, what's The academy was out on the streets and did that for a little bit and realized that I wasn't becoming who I want to become in that job. And there was a hindrance. Isn't some case I had to hurdle that. I just wasn't quite getting over. So I went back to this global sports for a company where I am now. Ah, collegiate recruiter. So that's kind of the my story. I guess in an actual

spk_0:   4:05
that's excellent, and I and I love the story because it shows one you do stick true to following your passions, but you also respond in life by pivoting when it doesn't feel like you're on the right path. So I think that's a big thing that we need to encourage the younger generation to ensure that they dio. What does a collegiate recruiter for a global sportswear company do?

spk_1:   4:31
When I figured out, I will let you know. My my job is, um, it's very seasonal and it's a lot, so it's not like a typical recruiter where you kind of have a pipeline. You stick that pipeline, you don't really have any timelines. Andi just kind of do your thing. My job is very seasonal. So in the fall I travel. I go out to different colleges and universities. I'm having coffee shops with candidates. Um, it is a very It's a very fun job. I love it on. And then during the kind of the rest of the year, and at the same time I'm doing interviews, I'm meeting with my hiring managers, and I'm talking about what their projects we're working on, and you know what capabilities they need in their business. Um, and then I essentially go out and find it for our internship program. And we use that as a pipeline to bring in early level career talent as well as MBA candidates. And then I go kind of all through the process of, you know, interviewing them, setting them up with interviews with hiring managers, and then while they're here over the summer, I'm kind of the main point of contact to make sure their experiences is great and that there are, you know, trending towards potentially receiving a full time offered the end. And so I'm really throughout their entire experience all the way through when they're here over the summer, actually doing their job until when they leave. So that is, that's That's my job.

spk_0:   5:54
That's a very good model in that you're not just on boarding and then, like, off to the next, you know you're really giving them the stands ruling, grooming them

spk_1:   6:02
absolutely. And that's definitely what's different between, like a typical kind of recorder that you care about or a collegiate recorder. So a collegial recorder, it definitely encompasses the entire process, so it's fun for me. I like creating and maintaining relationships I like. I'm trying to help people kind of get to that next level, whether it's, you know, at my company, you were and other companies. And so, um, it's a perfect job for me right now,

spk_0:   6:25
and that kind of touches on My next is like, What are the good skills that you feel? Either you bring to the table or that important toe have in your role, and then we'll talk about like some of the skills for people that you're looking for.

spk_1:   6:39
Most of my job, if I'm being honest, is staying organized. Organization is a huge part of my job in terms of you know, where candidates are out in the pipeline or who I've talked to, where I talked to so many people, that sometimes is just remembering conversations, and so that is a big part of it. Another part of it is obviously just being relational. I am relational by nature. If I could just my my dog is perfect for me because I talk to people all day and it's what I'm passionate about. It's what I like to do it like to help figure, like to help people figure out what they want to do or who they wanna be. Column. And they kind of using this job to kind of get them there. And so relationship. Is that the key of what I do? And we can talk a little bit about that, too, for kind of what I'm looking for in candidates as well. That's a question that I get asked a lot. Is what kind of person or what kind of candidates are you looking for and how how do I become a great candidate?

spk_0:   7:34
Yeah, I know. That's wonderful. Let's go right into that. That's, Ah, a perfect place to start,

spk_1:   7:39
Yes, So I get asked this a lot and I get hit up on lengthen because people see that I'm

spk_0:   7:43
a collegiate

spk_1:   7:44
record. Er, um, and so they want to know what you know, what they could do to kind of get ahead or get a new interview or potentially an internship or a full time job. It's not rocket

spk_0:   7:55
science. It's

spk_1:   7:56
really not. It's it's It's simple. You have to be relational. I like to start out my phone calls in the 1st 5 minutes, and I just like talking about the weather can you hold the conversation. Ah, what did you do this last weekend? One? Because I want to see in the interview your true, authentic self on. And so I don't want to be nervous And then, too, because I want to know that you can hold a conversation,

spk_0:   8:19
right? Not one word answers. Yeah, or Well, yeah.

spk_1:   8:23
Yeah. And so I That's one thing that I'm that I'm definitely looking for. Another thing would be Are you confident in who you are? Not Not necessarily in your skills and abilities, because that comes, but are you confident and and who you are? Do you know your values? Can you clearly articulate your values to me in a way that makes sense that I clearly recognize that you wanna work at my company because your core values correspond to my company's values. Um, and so that's really important for me to be able to talk with somebody and have their values. And they're kind of, um I think confidence comes from, comes from values like if you know who you are If you know your values. If you know what you stand for, your gonna be confident whether you have the skills or not, And a lot of times, you know, on a job description, it may say these skills are required. But if you can clearly articulate to me that you're confident and that you know you might not have X, y and Z, but you're capable and willing to learn, then that's great. Like I'm willing to give you an opportunity, at least to move on to maybe the next round. Or how did you meet with somebody? Because you've articulated to me that you may be, although don't have that direct skill. You have relatable skills and you're confident that you can do the job and that you're confident in your personhood caches. Longwinded answer. But, uh, I so I did, too. I've done. I looked it up before we jumped on this, uh, call. But I've done 300 interviews between September and now. So whether that was in person or phone calls, um, or different events that I went thio. I've done 300 interviews

spk_0:   10:10
and,

spk_1:   10:11
yeah, so it's a lot. It's a lot, and

spk_0:   10:14
that is a lot. So what's the most surprising to you? Um, in those 300 interviews, I think, Well, there's a lot

spk_1:   10:21
that surprises me. Um, you know, we can talk a little bit about generational stuff, but I grew up in a generation where we didn't talk on the phone. Ally, we didn't text. We met face to face. Um, and if we wanted to make plans like you had verbally tell somebody to their face. Hey, I want to meet you here at this time on Saturday. Like, let's do that. Um, And so sometimes what's really surprising to me is the ability or the lack of ability of people to talk on the phone or toe look, or when I'm even meeting them, um, like, at a career conference or on their on their college campus toe, Look me in the face and to give me a strong handshake like some of those, like, little simple things go a long ways. I can tell within the 1st 10 seconds of meeting you in person. Ah, whether I'm gonna want to continue to talk with you or if you might not be a good fit, I can tell. Probably within the 1st 2 minutes of a phone call. Um, if you're going to be a good candidate and if I essentially, if I like you. Um, obviously, you know, resumes kind of get your foot in the door because I'm looking at somebody resumes. But then once you're on the phone, it really is. Do I like you? Right? Well,

spk_0:   11:36
that's amazing. Just it is the basics air. So, so important,

spk_1:   11:40
so simple. And we forget about them or we're not teaching them. Um, I think, you know, in you talk a little bit about college classes too. But I think in college we should be teaching people these things. You should be teaching college age candidates howto put their best foot forward in an interview howto go in confident, but not cocky and howto you know, um, kind of nail those interviews and, honestly, how to write a resume.

spk_0:   12:09
Yeah. No, I totally agree. So a minute ago, you mentioned that a person should know their core values and be able to articulate that to you, or at least you, through their dialogue with you. It would just kind of resonate. So how important is that? That Cannon's know and understand the company's values before, like even choosing to apply to that company.

spk_1:   12:33
You know, anybody can go online and look up some core values. And it is good to know, you know, you want to know taglines. You want to know major brand images. You want to do your homework. And when I talk with the candidate about our company's strategy and they have no clue what our company's strategy is and it's all over, you know, the Internet, then that's a red flag for me. I hope now, and if I can carry on, end up conversation about our company's strategy with this candidate, I'm sold, um, and so that's a huge part of it. But then I would say the other part of it is really Ah, I want to know that you have a story behind why you want to work at a certain place. So what is it about our values? It's not good enough nowadays, Um, that the average, I would say, the average candidate. We will talk about their company's values. Ah, great candidate tells me a story when my company's values and how they intersect with their life and the work that they've already done without me even asking. So if I say you know, why do you want to work in my company. And they say, Well, your mission is this and this and this. Okay, I know what our mission is that, but whether you haven't answered the question, um, I'm looking for that story. Whatever you're passionate about, tell me about how my company is intersected your personal life in a way that has been meaningful and impactful. Um, and then I love when candidates at the end flat out told me that they want to work at my company.

spk_0:   14:03
Yes, that's what I read before. Just like asking for the job. It's like so many people leave interviews but haven't asked for what they came for.

spk_1:   14:11
Yeah. Yep, Absolutely. And it's okay to ask, uh, I love candidates that ask for internships or ask for jobs, obviously depending how their interview does, and skill sets and handsome the other things. But that goes a long way from me. If you ask for what you want in life, I think genuinely people want to help

spk_0:   14:33
you and I have talked about the importance of having a strategy when it comes to being mindful of the classes. You taking college, um, to the words that they someone even puts on the resume like really thinking through the presentation and the strategy and choices that you're making in life. Can you talk to me a little bit about that?

spk_1:   14:53
Like I talked about, I was a recruiter to college for a little bit and then obviously my job. Now, um, I look at resumes all day, every day, and when you know when you're in college and you don't have a lot of experience, your experience has to come through the cult, the classes that you take, and so go and take classes that you think you might be interested in, whether that's economics or marketing or, you know, biology. Going kind of Take those classes, try to take them early so that you can kind of hone in on what you really want to dio. It is very important. This is one of the things that I wish I would have done When I was in college, I was a biology major. I only took biology classes. I you know, I only I steered clear of all of the business classes when I started my own company. A business class would have been really helpful.

spk_0:   15:39
Marry Theo not the same thing. Yeah,

spk_1:   15:44
there's some really good life stuff that happens on the business side of things. I do know that a lot of people will just go into business because it's the universal major. And I agreed to that to a certain point. I really think that college is about finding your loves, finding the things you're good at and you're not good at just as importantly, and then really trying to diversify your experiences. One thing to that I wish I would have done is Mary. I see. And I see resumes now that have two or three internships on them. Ah, are five or six, you know, part time jobs or, you know, uh, experience that pops up here on there. And I wish I was. I was an athlete in college, and so that was my main focus. But I wish that I would have even went up to a company that I would have wanted to work for. It said, Hey, I just want to volunteer. Uh, I want a volunteer with a major sports club or professional athletes, and I just I just wanna get the exposure in the experience, So I wish that I would have done that a little bit more and actually kind of dove in and and followed my passions and see where they would have led earlier on in life.

spk_0:   16:54
Yeah, absolutely. And half the time it's not knowing what you don't know. I mean, it's like there's so many different roles within a company that when you're interning, you get exposed to, and I think that is really just an even through voluntary like you're suggesting it's a great way to gain exposure into a company. Okay, you've got a pile of resumes on your desk. Um, what can someone do to catch your eye? And what do you look for in a resume

spk_1:   17:24
to start out with just the basics. The temple. It has to be readable. So if you're applying for an artistic sort of design job or merchandise or something like that, your resume needs to be readable, and it needs to be clearly articulated with your school name with your name on top, then your school name or your school's name. If you have. If you're going for an MBA and then start with your experience, it just run me through your experience from current until you know all of the relevant experience you have probably over the past 5 10 years, depending on what rule you're applying for s So there's nothing tricky about it. Just tell me in your resume clearly what you have done. You would be so surprised, Mary, that I'll read a resume, and I have no idea what they've done. Mike. Okay, So you weren't here and you said that you did this, this and this. But what was your like, date? A day job? Like what? What project did you work on? What did you work with? Excel. What programs were you on? You know, I want to know a lot of people. Fanciful. I I I don't even know if that's a word,

spk_0:   18:27
but they fancy

spk_1:   18:27
ify their resume, and I don't I don't want to know that you increase revenue. 50% of I don't know what what area of the market you're working in or you know anything else about your job. And so it's a mix between giving me numbers that makes sense that show your accomplishments and your achievements while also clearly telling me you know what it is you actually did.

spk_0:   18:50
What's the rule of thumb when it comes to one page or two page? Or does it matter?

spk_1:   18:56
It depends on the company on. And I would say that most recruiters one page is going to be industry standard. If it's if it's two pages, that's just it's too much.

spk_0:   19:10
I

spk_1:   19:10
also don't until we might get into If it's a full time rule, um, we might get into, You know, if you have people that want to recommend you, then we may or may not reach out to those people that you have on your resume. But I just want to see your school, your name. You know, all your contact information and then your experience on your resume. Um, one thing that I have really enjoyed is at the bottom a resume seeing extra interests. Uh, so whether it is, you know, hiking or baby Yoda or ah, she's you'd be surprised what people put on the bottom of the resumes in other areas of interest. But it shows me also that you're human. So that's the section Attn. A very bottom that you can spend, you know, a couple lines kind of bringing out your personality and telling me who you are.

spk_0:   20:03
Here's a big question that some people think isn't important. But do you look at social media profiles as you consider a future employees? That's

spk_1:   20:11
a good question. I look at Lincoln profiles and I can tell a lot by, um, the people that you surround yourself with. We'll also look at connections, and then we'll look and see if there's anything on your LinkedIn profile that maybe you didn't put on your resume. You know, if I'm applying for a design job, I don't know. We'll just say that if I'm applying for a design job, and I tried to kind of fluff up my resume to make it seem like I have way more experience in design. And then I go, you know, onto your LinkedIn profile, and it doesn't match up. And I've learned that you're coming from like the supply chain, and all of a sudden you just want to be a designer. Um, that's a red flag for me, said so, not social media and not Facebook or instagram or anything like that. But more of lengthen for for,

spk_0:   20:56
uh, this next thing I think is a big deal, and I think that no matter what age you are, no matter where you are in your career, you should always be working on your personal brand and how you put yourself out there, whether it's by having you know your your profiles on your various social media platforms, current and up to date. And, like you said, you know, very rela that to your interests and maybe the jobs that you're going for. But how do you see it, um, the value of personal brand and even choosey like the right photographer. Or obviously not everyone can afford the right photographer. But you know, quality like this literally is some people's first impression of you.

spk_1:   21:40
We have iPhones now, so everybody is a professional photographer. There's no reason that you shouldn't have a clear photo of yourself with just a headshot on social media platforms like lengthen. So that's one thing that I would say also, when we're talking about personal brands again, it goes back to the authenticity of knowing who you are, because if you don't know who you are, you're gonna be all over the place. If you don't know your skill sets. If you don't know what you're good at. What you're not good at. You're gonna be kind of all over the map trying to just shotgun out your resume to a lot of different places, hoping that something sticks and you don't want to do that. You want to be really clear and well defined and who you are and what you're trying to go after. And if you still are trying to look for that, then that's fine. Um, but it really helps if I can look at a person or I can have a conversation with somebody. And they can clearly articulate to me that they're interested in marketing and they're interested in marketing because of X, Y and Z. They have a clear direction. They know where they want to go and they know how to get there. That is, to me really important. Um, and so having a having a personal brand and knowing what you're about to clearly is just easier to clearly articulate others. So you're absolutely right, Mary. It's important to have ah clear brand when you are especially job hunting.

spk_0:   22:59
So this next question we kind of touched on. But I want to ask it more in a direct, formalized question. What kind of things do you expect a candidate to know about your company before their interview

spk_1:   23:10
are? Let them thio know exactly what the job is in terms of qualifications and skill sets. Um, so if the job can be sent, the job description sometimes maybe is a little bit ambiguous. Uh, if you think that you'll be good at that job, go online and look up. What other descript job descriptions of that specific title look like? Um, really figure out what it is you're applying to, and then I mean, honestly, read the job description. You'd be surprised how many people just don't even read the job description like you got a kidding in. So I expect you to know, obviously, if you're asking at the end, I always leave opportunities to create something further dialogue around questions that candidates have for me. And if you're asking me too many questions about the job, I'm gonna then assume that you don't know what you're gonna do, what you're doing. And so there's a balance between, you know, asking questions and coming across his professional.

spk_0:   24:08
What you said just triggered something So when someone writes a cover letter to you, they should weave in, um, portions of the job description to you. So you clearly shows you that they've demonstrated it and they thought it through. Correct?

spk_1:   24:24
Yes, absolutely. And use the words from the job description directly. Ah, in the resume. It makes it really easy for recruiters ago. Oh, they're clearly qualified because they match the job description. Like it just that there's that little connect that happens when I'm looking for somebody that you know, uses, excel or has a consultant background. Or and there they need experience in brand management and digital and you commerce. If I see brand vigil in commerce on a resume er and a couple letter, that's an automatic for me to pull out the resume, and I don't take a look at them

spk_0:   25:00
interesting. So I'm sure it varies on the particular role that someone is interviewing for. But do you have common interview questions that every candidate can kind of expect?

spk_1:   25:11
Ah, yes, I know. So it does very, quite differently between different roles that I'm recruiting for. I have a lot of different areas of the business that I recruit for that or not at all related. And so some of the questions do need to be a little bit more technical. Um, like if I'm in the analytic space they needed, you know, absolutely no tableau and sequel and some of those things. And then if I'm in the design space, they need to know certain things. So So, yes, I know. I would say it's some of the common questions, Um, would be, you know, tell me about yourself. Give me your elevator pitch. Can you clearly articulate to me who you are, the experience that you've had and why I should hire you in five minutes? And so just having people run me through their resume, it's sometimes very hard for people. So I would say, Work on your elevator pitch, work on your story behind your experience, then would say, You know, why do you want to work at my company? But it's flat out, asked them. And if they give me a superficial answer or they have another homework, Aiken immediately tell that they have done their homework and they and we can actually create dialogue around because it's really conversation, right? I'm interviewing somebody but I want it. I'm more than just interviewing you. I wanna have a dialogue with you. Don't wantto have discussions to really understand who you are and why you would be good to roll. So that's another one. And then, ah, you know, tell me about, ah, an ambiguous situation or a time that you had to solve when you didn't have all of the necessary information that you needed Or somebody came to you and ask you just this random thing. And you're like, I have no idea how the soul for this. So tell me what time they had a solve for something that was an ambiguous asked on then also like, How do you have to deal or how do you deal in cross functional teams? Tell me about a time where you had to We're gonna project And, um, you know, it was across, you know, a bunch of different teams. How did you go about getting everybody on the same page? How did you go about, you know, prioritizing your agenda when everybody else has different agendas? How do you deal with difficult people that can show a lot about people on and how they either prioritize their priorities or handle the difficult people for sure.

spk_0:   27:32
Oh, I have certainly found that to be true with working in corporate America, I think enable to multitask. Keep your quote, multitask, say organized. And also, you know, having the cross organization diplomacy of what I think is really important is to be a good listener and not think it's your way or the highway or feeling like someone can roll over you like No, I have a point. I'm gonna, you know, present it to you, and we're gonna work on this together. It's diplomacy. Really?

spk_1:   28:03
Yeah. Yeah, it really is. And honestly, like you talked about it just from times having a backbone and then sometimes knowing which you have to lose. Um, uh, loose and fights to win the war. And you gotta pick your you gotta pick your battles,

spk_0:   28:17
right? What advice would you give the next generation of women who are either in the workforce now or looking for a career change or someone just starting out and wanting to educate herself on opportunities and not knowing where to start? I think that's a big he.

spk_1:   28:33
Honestly, um, I get a lot of referrals at my job because the good candidates are reaching out to their network, um, and activating their network and just talking to a lot of people about you know, what they like about their jobs with it don't like what companies are good or where they might have worked out before, and a lot of it. Mary is honestly, people focused, you know, if you were, we are not in the day and age where you can sit on the Internet anymore and just apply to, you know, 100 jobs and see what happens. We are definitely in the age where you need to be getting out. You need to be going thio know there's a woman's network. I know that we have where entrepreneurs actually meet and they just talk about their ideas. They network, they get to know me one on one another, and then they see if they can help each other. You know, somebody in business might be starting ah, stock company or whatever, and they need a marketing person. I don't know anything about marketing. They go to this entrepreneur meeting and they just start networking. And pretty soon you've found a marketer that may be willing to do some work for you for free until you're, you know, business gets up online. And so it really is networking. Um, yeah, What's I think, My major? My major piece of advice is get out of network

spk_0:   29:53
face to face conversational. Yeah,

spk_1:   29:55
yes, Face to face conversational. Also, I will just say this men are if on a job description, it says, you know, 3 to 5 years of experience and a man has maybe two years of experience, they're gonna apply to the job. They're not gonna let that one little hiccup kind of discouraged them from applying where as women, Sometimes being our, um, no honest

spk_0:   30:22
by the book sells

spk_1:   30:23
by the book. Yeah, we go. Oh, well, it says 3 to 5 years, and I only have, like, two years and nine months of experience, so I probably couldn't apply. And so we actually don't take it. Don't apply the jobs. That would be really great for us because of some of those little things. And so I would say, go out and get what she wants. Like, go after it

spk_0:   30:46
and you touched on it. And this was my next question was, Do you find that men or women you interview struggle with self confidence and like the ratio, I'm assuming on that. Women struggled more with self confidence. And, you know, I hope I'm not just generalizing, but in the interviews and discussions I've had, it seems to be obviously the trend. So any advice on overcoming confidence in an interview, If you're a woman,

spk_1:   31:14
yeah, it's interesting, confident people can take a little bullet point on the resume that says, I did a website and they'll turn that into I did videography. I did photography, So I'm a professional photographer. Exactly pictures for my website. I was a content creator and a social media marketer because I'm creating an INSTAGRAM account for my website, my business. So there's some people that will take that will just say, you know, I created a website and then there's other people that will tell me all about all of their other experiences that they had because they created that website. You're right in saying this. That is a confidence thing to me when typically when I'll ask people to run me through their resumes. Um, women tend to have a more difficult time really, really being confident about the experience that they have in a way that is clearly articulated and tells me a story as sometimes men. We'll have a little bit more of that, like Swagger on. And whereas the woman may be way more qualified in her experience on her resume, but that is not able to articulate it

spk_0:   32:22
right, and

spk_1:   32:22
then the guy just has so much swagger. Unlike what in the world and so, and it's not always like that. I've definitely talk Thio Some males that are not as confident or don't have as much experience to kind of latch onto and tell their story through, but it really kind of depends on honestly, It depends on the rule. Um, I'm talking to somebody who's in no marketing area of the business or kind of one of one of those more social areas of the business. They tend to be pretty good, gregarious and can clearly articulate things. But if you're not having me talk to somebody that going to be an analytics, they tend to be a little bit shire. But I would say there's no reason to not be confident. I mean really right. Getting an interview with the hiring manager or getting to the next round of interview is really just letting me see that your skills matchup somehow to

spk_0:   33:14
the job and that I

spk_1:   33:16
like you like. It's really it's not like we talked about is really not rocket science

spk_0:   33:20
when it comes to negotiating the job offer. Do you have any tips for the women out there listening?

spk_1:   33:26
Negotiating job offers is can be tricky. You definitely, definitely need to do your research online. Um, go online. Look up. You know what? Typically what typical salaries might look like and then be prepared come in with a You know, um, I was Well, what? I'm talking to Canada or when I'm talking to people about this. I don't talk to Candace vocals, but when I'm talking to other people like friends and such, I have them write down what their top amount is, what their ideal amount is, and then what their bottom amounts is and what their walk away offer is. So if they offer me and this is before, you can start negotiations because you know you need to know from your own research and your own experience what your value is monetarily and so right Those three numbers down and then let your walk away like, absolutely will not kind of take it if it's at the bottom of this range and then ask questions, you know, when they offer you why, What was the decision on landing there? If you could tell me, um, or if you think that you have more experience, talk about how much experience you have and how much value you think that brings monetarily into the company. It definitely needs to be more of a discussion rather than I'm only going to take this amount of money. You don't look, you don't come across or look good when you say something like that. And so it's more of a discussion. But know your worth and go after it. Mary,

spk_0:   34:52
right? That's so hard to do. But, I mean, not for everyone, but it is Ah ah, hard thing to do when you haven't navigated those waters or your are somewhat, you know. Gosh, I don't have a bunch of job experience or I don't fully understand my my capabilities and what I bring to the table so acute comes back having confidence and believing Ah, you know, I'm hard working. I have the skills. I believe that I need to be there because I value the company. I I understand what they're doing. And Aiken, Great X, Y and Z. It's not rocket science, but it is difficult times for sure. It is

spk_1:   35:31
difficult. And the last thing I would just say about this is that it's not all about the money. Yes, you know, it's about at my company. We don't we look at job titles, Yeah, but we also just talk about having different experiences across our company and how much value that brings in, um, regardless of where you end up. And so sometimes it's about will I be willing to take this job for this amount of money if it gets me the right experience that I'm looking for? And if I'm gonna love my job, I think the other big piece of advice that'll just give for maybe some younger generations to is that money is not everything. And when we go to college and we start looking afterwards for jobs and we're comparing ourselves that who's getting wood and, you know, right out of college people are getting 150 grand a year, and they don't even know what to do without amount

spk_0:   36:19
of money.

spk_1:   36:20
You know, um, I'd say it's not. The journey is not about money. The journey is about learning and growing and getting relevant experience and loving life. You'll never get this time back. Um, I've heard many stories of people you know, getting a job, absolutely hating it. They're making a ton of money, but they hate it. They don't love getting up and going to work every day. So they're quitting getting a job that they love and making, you know, half their salary.

spk_0:   36:48
I think my generation was more about, you know, I have to make a certain amount. I have to make my age or I have to. You know, by this age, I need to make X, y and Z, and that was the bar instead of really focusing on. Okay, if I only make this, maybe I need to move to someplace where the housings more affordable and I can have a balanced life. And I can do you know, outdoor fishing or whatever my hobbies are. But still do what I love I think this generation's in kind of a smarter Yeah, or shifting. Shifting their priorities. Yeah. How important is it to have an M B A these days?

spk_1:   37:28
That's actually something I'm trying to navigate right now. So I obviously interview M B a candidate's, um, a lot And doors definitely open up when you have an MBA or when you have continuing education. Um, so I would say if you enjoy your job and you want to try to get out and be a part time or maybe you want to quit fully and go do an M B A two years, whatever makes sense for you. I honestly about the impasse right now where I can see where MBA would be helpful and useful for me. But I just I love my job. I don't want to step away. So I think for right now it's not the right timing for me. But it is something obviously, that has a lot of value in, um, depending on where you go. So I would say go do an MBA school that has connections. Sorry, this is not your question, but you

spk_0:   38:18
know this great advice.

spk_1:   38:20
Uh, got an MBA school that has connections to potential jobs that you might want in the future. Obviously, I mean, it kind of goes out saying, But online NBA's are for me, Really? When I see them like Okay, yes. But I also don't know You know what sort of education you're getting or what You know, An MBA online even looks like there's a lot of ambiguity around it, But when I see that, you know somebody has gone to AA larger school that has a well known program. But, you know, it doesn't have to be like one of the top 10 dozen schools in the country, but it you know, it's gotta have some weight behind it. I want to kind of see that. So I would say that use your MBA. If you're gonna get an MBA, we're gonna go into more debt, use it wisely. And if you may not know what other job you're gonna get or how that's gonna help you that don't go get it. You need to clearly articulate skills that you want to get through your MBA before you go and apply and do all the work to get into an MBA and then go through it.

spk_0:   39:21
Eso undergrad. A lot of people say Go take your undergrad at a state college or somewhere less expensive and then spend the money on the MBA college. Do you pay attention? And I'm sure it's again which position? But doesn't matter if it's a state school or a top tier school, or when you when you see those resume does that, we do weed people out based on what college they went to.

spk_1:   39:48
No, no, no, absolutely not. I don't read people out, depending on what colors they go to. I will say that there are some established programs that certain schools that give you or that require that you have an internship or require that you do, You know, X, Y and Z. So they there's some experience built into their programs. Um, and so I would say that was helpful more than the name of the school. Um, Also one thing that I will say is that to go from your undergraduate right into your MBA is a bad idea, because when you come out of your MBA, you don't have the relevant experience that people typically are looking for two. Then hire you into the job. So there's really it's a really hard fit to find you a spot because you're an MBA s. So you might be expecting an MBA salary. But

spk_0:   40:39
you don't have the number of

spk_1:   40:40
years of experience, so we don't feel good offering you that sort of level. So it just kind of money is the one A little. But I would say, you know, go get 3 to 5 years of experience and then go get your MBA.

spk_0:   40:52
All right? Well, the tough questions I think I've gone through. So now it's a fun stuff for Mary. Do you have any good book recommendations or podcasts career wise that people should listen to or that you listen to?

spk_1:   41:08
Yeah, yeah. Um, have you heard of the n e A gram? No. Okay, so the India Graham is something that was turned on to me by a few friends, and it's essentially like a personality typing. But it's not like Myers Briggs. It's not just, you know, you fit into this one box. Here's a profile. You know, a goal of your life. It is a little bit more dynamic than that. So I'm actually reading. It's called the road back to you on any a gram. Journey to self Discovery is by Suzanne Stable, and there's another guy to eun kroner since the movie. Anyways, um, so this book talks about obviously the different types of personalities, but it gets more at how you operate in the world, how you operate in relationships, how you operate at work. Um, you know, when you're being when you're healthy, it describes to you what nor emotional health or what your internal dialogue looks like. And when you're unhealthy, it talks about what that looks like. So it's really more of a book to help you get to know yourself better. I remember reading about my type. I'm the romantic, Um, but anyways, this book has just been really eye opening for me. Thio understand? Like it's there's some sentences in there that are like, Oh, my gosh, that is me to a T. And now I feel like I can just go be myself because I know that there's other people out there in this world that feel this way, you know? Um, so of course it would be a book that's somewhat emotional driven. And then there's There's a lot of really good podcasts, um, about the angiogram. And, uh, I'm not a blessing on some of the names of them right now, but, um, there's yeah. If you look up the India Graham, it's a great tool. Do you even understand your co workers now? Uh,

spk_0:   42:59
you know, definitely looking that up. Yeah, Yeah. Uh, very. Oh, gosh. Um, well, someone had at Lisa, a gal I had interviewed earlier. Told me about Chris Moss. He does negotiating, and and so I've been listening to him. I signed up for master class. I don't know if you're familiar with that app, but master classes incredible. Um, they, you know, like they do Steve Martin for comedy or they do Bobby Brown for making I mean these air like people who are very successful in their in their industry. And they give you these video Siri's of just whatever topic they are. So Chris talks about negotiating and labeling and, um, mirroring. It's fascinating. And so anyways, I feel like I'm getting an MBA. Seriously. Every time I watch a new master class, definitely it sounds on my list. Where do you see the last last question Where do you see yourself in 5 10 years?

spk_1:   43:58
I see myself, really? Just considering to learn and grow at my current company. I again, um I love my job. I love the exposure that it gets me to different leadership and the career development I'm actually like we talked about a little bit thinking and considering an MBA, I'm going to start small. And I'm gonna go actually to, uh, go take some project management classes and just learn something new. I think it's important. Always kind of be learning and growing and things that I don't know if I'm gonna be good at project Management. What? I want to go figure it out, and I want to try. And I think some of the skills could be used there. So yeah, and then cash in the future. I'm just gonna be living happily in Portland's. I do want to get I've had to stop coaching for a little while. And so I do want to get back into that. Just my career has kind of taken front seat for a little while. Um, so I went back into coaching. Well, that's volunteering at a college or maybe doing some private lessons of a melon on your girls. Too old now.

spk_0:   44:58
Well, I

spk_1:   44:59
guess your youngest isn't,

spk_0:   45:00
but well, I know whatever you end up doing or always do, is successful because of who you are and just your character. And the fact that you do have that passion pursue the passion as well as just are so true to yourself. And that's something I've always loved about you. Thanks, Mary. You're welcome.

spk_1:   45:24
I really appreciate that. Means a lot coming from you.

spk_0:   45:26
I just want to thank you so much for being on the show again. Not only being on the show is a guess, but supporting it anyways, where can someone connect with you if they're interested in finding out more?

spk_1:   45:37
Yeah, um, so linked in like we talked about and then just reference the podcast, and I will connect with you, and we can start a dialogue that way. I'm happy to chat with anybody, um, and connect via email or whatnot. So you just want to look at my profile. Rebecca R E B E C c A And in my last name, Gemini LG. I m e N o. And, um, obviously, my title will be cleaned it, recruiter. And I will see you there. Only thin.

spk_0:   46:08
Awesome. Thanks for listening to the episode today. It was really fun chatting with my guest. If you like their show, please like it and share it with your friends. If you want to learn what we're up to, please go check out our website at to be bolder dot com. That's the number two little be bolder dot com.