On May 7 the Women’s Leadership Conference in the City of West Hollywood hosted a career advancement panel discussion with industry leading HR experts. The event provided a valuable opportunity to get the inside scoop on strategies to help you land the job of your dreams.
Adeptly moderated by marketing communications consultant Reena De Asis, the panel featured Angela Baker, Vice President of Human Resources at AEG; Kristena Hatcher, HR Executive at Creative Artists Agency; Tatiana Oueini, Human Resources Manager at Nestlé USA and Emily Weprich, Human Resources Manager at the Oprah Winfrey Network.
Here’s a roundup of the career advancement tips shared by panel:
“According to CareerBuilder, 60% of employers use social networking sites to research candidates.”
– Reena De Asis, marketing communications consultant
“The world has changed for recruiting as it’s now so easy to find out so much information. Social media, that’s your brand. As soon as you hit send, whatever you share is out there for the world. Make sure everything you share speaks to what you want out of life. Keep yourself relevant and use social media to put your best self out there.”
– Angela Baker, Vice President of Human Resources, AEG
“It’s super important to see the value in everything you do, even if you’re doing a job that isn’t really your dream role. Do a self evaluation. Take an inventory of every job you’ve had and note down the relevant skills you gained.”
– Kristena Hatcher, HR Executive, Creative Artists Agency
“Take the time to connect with important contacts. You have to put yourself out there, you have to make connections. It can be intimidating and scary, but having the confidence to do it will have a huge impact on how you propel your career forwards. Value yourself. Know your abilities and be proud of what you’ve accomplished. Never hesitate to make a connection.”
– Tatiana Oueini, Human Resources Manager, Nestlé USA
“I’ve always worked hard to be surrounded by inspiring people. Be authentic. Look at who you are and who you are surrounding yourself with. Learn from everyone around you and don’t let any position you have be worthless. I’ve scooped cream cheese at Panera Bread and sat on the front desk of a reception but I still used those jobs to build a network of inspiring people.”
– Emily Weprich, Human Resources Manager, OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network
“You need to find the job that will make you happy. You need to be confident in the role and the company you will work for.”
– Angela Baker, Vice President of Human Resources, AEG
“It’s super important to have confidence. Ask for what you want. It’s often tough for women to self-promote in the workplace. We don’t always feel it’s necessary to tell people we are doing great work. The only way people will know is if you tell them. You need to be in alignment with your boss regarding what success looks like. Look at what you are doing, in addition to your day job, to show where you want to be.”
– Kristena Hatcher, HR Executive, Creative Artists Agency
“If you are passionate about your end goal, embrace the challenge and be prepared to jump over obstacles. If your mindset isn’t there, you won’t get anywhere. Embrace the challenge and love the struggle.”
– Tatiana Oueini, Human Resources Manager, Nestlé USA
“The one thing that burns my heart is when women come into my office in tears from frustration. Women typically don’t ask for what they want and no boss or HR person is a mind reader. If there’s something you want to do in our career, make it clear. Find out what you need to do to get there. Ask your boss what they need to see from you to get to this position. Drive the conversation, ask the questions, follow up and track your progress.”
– Emily Weprich, Human Sources Manager, OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network
“I find most of my candidates from referrals. If the position I’m looking for is niche I’ll be looking at LinkedIn. Make sure your LinkedIn profile reflects what’s in your resume and has the right keywords. A job description is like a cheat sheet. It tells you exactly what I want to see in your resume.”
– Kristena Hatcher, HR Executive, Creative Artists Agency
“Take risks. Women tend to be calculated and won’t apply for jobs unless they can do every single item on the job description. Value your abilities, take the risk and apply for the job.”
– Tatiana Oueini, Human Resources Manager, Nestlé USA
Post by Octavia Goredema @OctaviaGoredema
