Teresa Jimenez’s Post

Fantastic insights from top-notch professional and friend, Basim Ayoubi. The advice to seek roles aligned with your goals and those offering new, additive experiences really resonated. Clearly define what matters to you first, then go after it.

These days I see a lot of negative conversations about work - #burnout, #layoffs, slow hiring, and the persistent threat of an economic downturn make it hard to stay optimistic about the future. An effort to combat these feelings led me to the work of the great contemporary psychologist Martin E.P. Seligman. If you've ever heard of "learned helplessness" or "positive psychology", then you're familiar with his stuff! According to Dr. Seligman, the key to staying #resilient through tough times comes in 3 mental strategies that help you perceive your challenges in more helpful ways. He has coined these the "3 P's", an abbreviation that was surely devised to help market to the business world 😅 𝐓𝐡𝐞 3𝐏 𝐅𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤: 𝐀 𝐇𝐞𝐥𝐩𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐏𝐎𝐕 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐓𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐬 1. Personalization: The tendency to believe that all negative outcomes are entirely your fault, a result of your inadequacy. While accountability is important, people who are able to understand failures in the context of wider circumstances, luck, and other factors out of their control are more likely to bounce back stronger (not to mention have a more accurate view of the world). 2. Pervasiveness: Thinking that difficulties in one area of life are relevant to all other areas. Thoughts like "now that X has happened, my life is ruined", or "nothing good is happening in my life", make it hard to see the light at the the end of the tunnel. Instead, one can practice limiting the impact of a problem. 3. Permanence: Thinking that the situation and how we feel will last forever. Projecting that things will "never" get better or that we can never improve (e.g. "I am bad at this; I will always be bad at this") is a sure way to lose hope and stop trying to improve. Instead, a more helpful perspective might be "this too shall pass". TL;DR, hard times are hard - I'm not sharing this to say that we should always remain sunny and undeterred no matter what happens. But the 3Ps have helped me to be kind to myself and find the motivation to get out of a rough patch - I hope they might help you too.

Wow, exciting times in the job market! As I lifted my head and did my due diligence in finding a role that excites me, I realized that today's job market is vastly different from what it was 5+ years ago. The number of qualified candidates seeking new roles has exponentially grown, especially in technology, where many of the biggest firms have experienced significant layoffs. When evaluating new roles, I considered the following concepts to ensure I'm stepping into the right role and it's a win-win for both my employer and myself. This list is by no means exhaustive, and there are plenty of other things to consider when finding employment that works with your lifestyle and doesn't impede on your non-negotiables. - Does the role you're seeking align with your career path? If you want job X and everyone who has done job X previously did job Y, then job Y aligns with your career path and is a good fit based on that desire. - Can I add immediate value to this role once hired? While no one expects you to walk in on day one and know everything, there should be a set of previous experiences you can tap into to add value, providing a different perspective to the organization you're looking to join. If the answer is no, it's probably not a good fit for you or the employer. - Will this role help me build a new set of experiences beyond my comfort zone? This point and the previous one are not meant to contradict each other but to provide balance as we evaluate learning outside of our comfort zone. Positive psychology has some cool visualizations on the concept of the comfort zone and unpacks the concept I've referenced here, see "Goldilocks zone." (https://lnkd.in/eGb9BctH) When applying, networking, and looking for a new role, consider these points. They helped me during my search for a new role on my professional journey.

I can't say, hey everyone, allow me to be vulnerable in this post. Everything I've ever shared has been rife with vulnerability, so this is par for the course. In 2022, after over a decade of service, I finally earned the position of Head of Talent for an early stage startup. As a consultant I'd held the role fractionally, almost always passing it over to someone younger and less melanated. The impact I've had on every tech company I've ever worked at is immeasurable. Literally. So when I was laid off and my search stagnated, and I watched recruiter after recruiter (many who I knew weren't that great) remove their green banners, I made the decision to not limit myself and FIND WORK. I knew that, like all I've attempted, I would excel at whatever I chose to do next. I'm not sure if I made the decision, or if the universe/God made it for me, but I enrolled in trade school to become a massage therapist. And I more than excelled. I've mastered, and dominated in just 6 short months. I hoped it would be a lucrative side gig, but after receiving rejection after rejection for recruiting roles, I've decided to be kind to myself and focus on massage. I am done with asks, as I'm done with rejection, and disappointment. But please take this information with you and do whatever you like with it. www.bodybykachi.com #massagetherapy #techcareers #recruitment #blackownedbusiness #womenownedbusiness #smallbusiness #entrepreneur #wellnesscoach #speaker

The job search journey can be challenging, especially with today’s obstacles like layoffs, rejection letters, and scammers. It's crucial to prioritize mental health during this time. Here are some tips to navigate the job market and prevent job search depression: 📌 Don’t take rejection personally. Remember, rejection is not a reflection of your worth. Focus on your strengths and finding the right fit. 📌 Establish a daily routine that includes time for job search, networking, and self-care activities. 📌 Don’t neglect self-care. Make time for activities that bring you joy and relaxation to avoid burnout. 📌 Set achievable goals, create a daily schedule, and maintain a to-do list to stay organized. 📌 Network! Look for recruiters on LinkedIn, review their profiles, and connect with them. 📌 Practice your interview skills to boost your confidence during interviews. 📌 Be kind to yourself. Practice self-compassion by reducing self-criticism and negative self-talk. 📌 Remember to take a day off! You are valuable and deserving. Your opportunity will come. Prioritize your mental well-being on this journey. #jobsearch #mentalbreak #mentalhealth

Monday Motivation: The 3 Absolute Truths About Recruiting (And Why You Need a Sense of Humor!) Happy Monday, amazing people! 🌟 Let’s kick off the week with some real talk—and a few laughs—about recruiting. Whether you're a seasoned pro or just dipping your toes in, these are the 3 absolute truths that every recruiter knows (or will soon discover!): 1️⃣ The Perfect Candidate Doesn’t Exist  We all dream of finding that unicorn candidate 🦄 who checks every box. But let’s be real—perfection is overrated! The real magic happens when you find someone who checks *most* of the boxes and adds a little something extra. Spoiler alert: That “extra” might just be a killer dance move at the office party! 🕺 2️⃣ Timing Is Everything Ever found the perfect candidate just after they’ve accepted another offer? 🙈 Or landed your dream job... right when you’ve booked a vacation? Timing can be a tricky game! The trick? Stay ready, stay connected, and remember that the right opportunity will come at the right time. Or at least that’s what we tell ourselves, right? 😉 3️⃣ It’s Not Just About Skills, It’s About Fit On paper, they’re a rockstar. In person, they’re...well, let's just say the vibe is off. 🚫 It’s like showing up to a party with all the right moves but the wrong playlist. Find the right rhythm, and suddenly, everything clicks. It’s all about that perfect fit—like peanut butter and jelly, or recruiters and coffee! ☕️ So, what's the wildest recruiting truth you’ve discovered? Drop your stories below—I need a good laugh to get through my Monday! Let’s share, learn, and keep the recruiting magic alive! ✨ #MondayMotivation #RecruitingTruths #TalentAcquisition #KeepItFun

It's 2017. I'm trapped in recruitment, feeling lost and totally empty inside. Day in, day out, I stare at an endless list of prospects. All day calling. Yet, no wins. Can't even get past Karen, the gatekeeper. Might as well be a dragon guarding a castle. I feel: Frustrated. Exhausted. Hopeless. 5 pm hits – technically, time to log off. But leaving now? No chance. That'd land me in hot water with the boss. So, I grind on, hoping for a breakthrough. Another hour ticks by... "Surely, time to head out?" I ponder. But Mike's still at it, he's bottom of the leaderboard. Can't be seen to work less than HIM... "Just 30 more mins," I tell myself. But finally, I've hit my limit. I'm out. I check WhatsApp - the boys are already at the pub. "A few drinks won't hurt" I think. Long day after all. At the pub, Shane drops that four-letter bombshell: C O K E. Shit... I know what's next. Soon, I'm headed to the restroom. My feet sticking to the grimy floor. The air reeking of piss and chemicals. I don’t care. I'm about to escape. I pull out my front door key. Ahhh... instant relief. Fast forward 8 hours, and I'm waking up: Clueless. Full of shame. In my stained shirt. This cycle was my reality for six long years. But it doesn't have to be yours. I've been where you are... Stuck in a cycle of: Resentment. Boredom. Stress. Seeking escape in all the wrong places. It took hitting rock bottom to see a way out. Now, having won the battle, I understand. More importantly, I have the blueprint. Message me to schedule a chat and break the cycle. PS. EVERYTHING we discuss is 100% CONFIDENTIAL.

Story Story!!..... Story Great Recruiters are life changers, you've gotta give people a chance Something happened to me today that changed my mindset about recruiters and I would love to share it with my LinkedIn community. So there's this job I applied for and I had gotten to the penultimate stage which was an interview with this recruiter. The interview was for 9am today and at 8:50am, I logged in to confirm that everything was ok. I confirmed my sound and camera and I was good to go. I waited patiently for the interview time and at 9am sharp, she logged in, introduced herself in a very demure manner making me relaxed and even more confident. She started asking the interview questions, it was more of a conversation for me as I was having a filled day. All of a sudden, my phone tripped off, I went from 0 to 100 in split seconds, I was confused... my village people... why now. I turned on the phone again and joined back, I apologized about the glitch and with a soft smile she said, "it's okay, these things can happen" and we continued the interview. 10 minutes into the interview, same thing occured again. With anger written all over my face and fear of my fate. I burst into tears. I thought to myself, "ohh, she will deem me unfit and strike my name out". I was so worried, words cannot describe the feeling. I turned on my phone and logged back in but this time, she was logged off. I had a lot of emotions going on at the same time, feelings of fear, low self esteem, failure; all gushing at once. I put myself together, summoned the courage and sent an email explaining everything. To my amazement, she responded in less than 10 minutes with a rescheduled date!!! A second chance.. In her mail, the advised me to ensure that everything works perfectly on the rescheduled date. Never had this experience, I started singing and smiling... This is the first time that a recruiter has shown such empathy and even given a solution!! A second chance!! Thank you ... You changed my mindset today about recruiter. This is a mindshift My name is Deborah, I am a virtual assistant and I help entrepreneurs and business owners with administrative task. #myVAexperience #story #recruitmemt

Feeling stuck in your career? It might be time to hit refresh! 🚀 Uncover the telltale signs that signal it's time for a change. From the intriguing "7-year itch" to combating those dreaded Monday blues, ProTalent will guide you through assessing your professional path and finding fulfillment. Click the link below to read more 💼 If you're ready to discuss a change, drop me a message and we'll have a chat! #careerchange #recruitmentconsultant #hiring

There is a life before your job. There will be a life after your job. When an organisation announces a layoff, it can be taken very personally, and it can also be taken in a neutral way. The difference in perception lies inside your mind. The difference in how you feel lies inside your perception. The difference in how you will act lies inside how you feel about your situation. 2 people can experience the same layoff from the same company. But they may not necessarily have the same experience. Why is this so? Perception. The mind of these 2 people are different. They each come with history and contextual bias. Good or bad, they create the same good and bad experiences. How do you recover from a layoff? You can find a new job. How do you recover from subsequent unplanned, unforeseen layoff? Finding a job is not the solution. Managing your mind is. 15 more days to the launch of my first ever online Masterclass. In this 4 part series, I will teach you how to master your emotions, primarily angry emotions. Both to others and to yourself. Here’s the sign up link: https://lnkd.in/g-NEDXTg #layoffs #anger