Robynn Storey’s Post

Sometimes a new job just isn’t a good fit. You don’t have to feel bad about it. You don’t have to stay. You don’t have to suck it up, pretend you are happy, or feel guilty for looking for an escape. You’d think with the length of the interview process, the Freud level psychological assessments, and endless scrutiny that every candidate who accepts a new job is a perfect fit. But it’s just not true. Many people take the first offer that comes along after a layoff. You’ve ignored the red flags. Been bamboozled. Or the job, responsibilities, or workplace were misrepresented. You thought you were taking a role with a great team, boss or company …. But you’ve found yourself in a flaming dumpster fire 🔥. It’s okay. It happens to everyone. Don’t feel bad. Polish up the resume. Get back out there. #jobsearch #resumewriting

You've just received a job offer, however... The company extending the offer isn't your top preference. You are still in the interview process with your most desired employer. What should you do? This topic can be sensitive, and opinions on it vary widely. Here is my perspective: As someone seeking employment, you are in essence the chief executive of your own career and life. It is your responsibility to gather all pertinent information, evaluate it comprehensively, and make the decision that is most beneficial for you. This is the same approach a CEO of any company you aspire to join would take. In practical terms, what does this imply? Personally, I would accept the offer from my second or third choice (provided I had informed my preferred employer of my other offer and I'm faced with an unextendable deadline). Subsequently, I would proceed with the interviews at my preferred company. Should I not secure the position at my top choice, I am still left with viable alternatives. On the other hand, if I am offered the position at my preferred company, I would gather all the information, evaluate it, and then make the optimal decision for myself. This might mean continuing with the second-choice company... Or it might entail withdrawing my acceptance and choosing my preferred employer. When I propose this strategy, people often object, saying, "but you've made a commitment!" "You're going to damage relationships!" Perhaps. Likely, even. But I've yet to see a company forgo layoffs to "honor a commitment" to an employee who declined their dream job. One quarter, it's all about being "one big family." The next, it's layoffs. The CEO of your company won't hesitate to set aside emotions to make the best decision for the company. Neither should you. Collect all relevant information. Analyze it carefully. Then, make the most suitable decision for yourself. #InnovateYourJob #job #JobSearch #CareerAdvice #Hiring #ProfessionalDevelopment #CareerGrowth #WorkLifeBalance #PersonalBranding #InterviewTips

You've just received a job offer, however... The company extending the offer isn't your top preference. You are still in the interview process with your most desired employer. What should you do? This topic can be sensitive, and opinions on it vary widely. Here is my perspective: As someone seeking employment, you are in essence the chief executive of your own career and life. It is your responsibility to gather all pertinent information, evaluate it comprehensively, and make the decision that is most beneficial for you. This is the same approach a CEO of any company you aspire to join would take. In practical terms, what does this imply? Personally, I would accept the offer from my second or third choice (provided I had informed my preferred employer of my other offer and I'm faced with an unextendable deadline). Subsequently, I would proceed with the interviews at my preferred company. Should I not secure the position at my top choice, I am still left with viable alternatives. On the other hand, if I am offered the position at my preferred company, I would gather all the information, evaluate it, and then make the optimal decision for myself. This might mean continuing with the second-choice company... Or it might entail withdrawing my acceptance and choosing my preferred employer. When I propose this strategy, people often object, saying, "but you've made a commitment!" "You're going to damage relationships!" Perhaps. Likely, even. But I've yet to see a company forgo layoffs to "honor a commitment" to an employee who declined their dream job. One quarter, it's all about being "one big family." The next, it's layoffs. The CEO of your company won't hesitate to set aside emotions to make the best decision for the company. Neither should you. Collect all relevant information. Analyze it carefully. Then, make the most suitable decision for yourself. #InnovateYourJob #job #JobSearch #CareerAdvice #Hiring #ProfessionalDevelopment #CareerGrowth #WorkLifeBalance #PersonalBranding #InterviewTips

You've just received a job offer, however... The company extending the offer isn't your top preference. You are still in the interview process with your most desired employer. What should you do? This topic can be sensitive, and opinions on it vary widely. Here is my perspective: As someone seeking employment, you are in essence the chief executive of your own career and life. It is your responsibility to gather all pertinent information, evaluate it comprehensively, and make the decision that is most beneficial for you. This is the same approach a CEO of any company you aspire to join would take. In practical terms, what does this imply? Personally, I would accept the offer from my second or third choice (provided I had informed my preferred employer of my other offer and I'm faced with an unextendable deadline). Subsequently, I would proceed with the interviews at my preferred company. Should I not secure the position at my top choice, I am still left with viable alternatives. On the other hand, if I am offered the position at my preferred company, I would gather all the information, evaluate it, and then make the optimal decision for myself. This might mean continuing with the second-choice company... Or it might entail withdrawing my acceptance and choosing my preferred employer. When I propose this strategy, people often object, saying, "but you've made a commitment!" "You're going to damage relationships!" Perhaps. Likely, even. But I've yet to see a company forgo layoffs to "honor a commitment" to an employee who declined their dream job. One quarter, it's all about being "one big family." The next, it's layoffs. The CEO of your company won't hesitate to set aside emotions to make the best decision for the company. Neither should you. Collect all relevant information. Analyze it carefully. Then, make the most suitable decision for yourself. #InnovateYourJob #job #JobSearch #CareerAdvice #Hiring #ProfessionalDevelopment #CareerGrowth #WorkLifeBalance #PersonalBranding #InterviewTips

Today has been a little tough. Tomorrow marks exactly four months to the date that I was unexpectedly laid off. That throat punch felt like it came out of nowhere. And since then, I've been desperately trying to get back into the workforce. When not one but TWO potential job opportunities presented themselves, I seriously considered proceeding with both hiring processes. Part of me thought, "Beggars can't be choosers, right? I really want to get back to work." But the other part knew I had to stay true to myself and do what was right (and not just "right now") for me. As excited as I was about the prospect of interviewing again, and possibly getting an offer, I realized neither role was an ideal long-term fit for different reasons. I can't even begin to tell you how hard it was to muster up the courage to send the withdrawal emails. There was literally a knot in my throat as I typed each one. And then a slight hesitation before clicking "Send." But I had to do what was best for me in the long run, even if it meant more job hunting and interviews ahead. In this job market—it's tempting to take what you can get in the moment. But I know the right opportunity is out there for me. Staying patient and being picky, as hard as it is, will eventually pay off. I'm re-energizing and getting ready for the next application wave. Maybe next time will be the charm! Keeping my head up. #Hiring #Applications #Interviews #Resumes #CoverLetters #JobMarketMayhem

You've just received a job offer, however... The company extending the offer isn't your top preference. You are still in the interview process with your most desired employer. What should you do? This topic can be sensitive, and opinions on it vary widely. Here is my perspective: As someone seeking employment, you are in essence the chief executive of your own career and life. It is your responsibility to gather all pertinent information, evaluate it comprehensively, and make the decision that is most beneficial for you. This is the same approach a CEO of any company you aspire to join would take. In practical terms, what does this imply? Personally, I would accept the offer from my second or third choice (provided I had informed my preferred employer of my other offer and I'm faced with an unextendable deadline). Subsequently, I would proceed with the interviews at my preferred company. Should I not secure the position at my top choice, I am still left with viable alternatives. On the other hand, if I am offered the position at my preferred company, I would gather all the information, evaluate it, and then make the optimal decision for myself. This might mean continuing with the second-choice company... Or it might entail withdrawing my acceptance and choosing my preferred employer. When I propose this strategy, people often object, saying, "but you've made a commitment!" "You're going to damage relationships!" Perhaps. Likely, even. But I've yet to see a company forgo layoffs to "honor a commitment" to an employee who declined their dream job. One quarter, it's all about being "one big family." The next, it's layoffs. The CEO of your company won't hesitate to set aside emotions to make the best decision for the company. Neither should you. Collect all relevant information. Analyze it carefully. Then, make the most suitable decision for yourself. #InnovateYourJob #job #JobSearch #CareerAdvice #Hiring #ProfessionalDevelopment #CareerGrowth #WorkLifeBalance #PersonalBranding #InterviewTips

This isn’t a post about growth, a new job, or a recent certification. This is a post about personal failure. It’s been over four months since I was laid off, and it’s been one of the most challenging periods I've experienced. After seven years working with the same agency across various companies, I built numerous relationships and connections with some of the most smartest and amazing people. Thank you for the small handful of people who tried to help or check in. Navigating the current job market has been incredibly difficult. Despite my diverse skill set, I’ve been ghosted by recruiters, even after signing offer letters. I've gone through three or four rounds of interviews, only to be told they didn’t win the contracts. Many job postings have unrealistic expectations, rejecting candidates off the bat because they don’t meet every single requirement. We can't be experts in everything, but candidates deserve a chance to prove their value. Not to mention all the effort it takes to get ready for an interview; the numbers of hours to study for these complex interviews. As companies, recruiters and hiring managers, please keep in mind some of us have nothing but our careers. Playing with people’s mental health just for your numbers to look good isn’t fair. To my fellow colleagues and friends who are also going through this struggle (which seems to be many of you) I’m sorry that our economy seems to be failing us instead of helping us. While we face these challenges, it seems the focus is elsewhere. This experience has been a stark reminder that in the corporate world, we’re often seen as just numbers. While it's important to be career-driven, it’s equally crucial to find balance in life and prioritize your well-being. Don’t apologize for taking time for yourself. Your value extends far beyond your job title. Also, I am not writing this post for you to feel sorry for me but to rather let my fellow colleagues that are laid off and going through similar circumstances know that we are all in this together. Wishing better days for us soon. #laidoff #opentowork #jobsearching #careergrowth

When it rains, it pours. Searching for a job is often a rollercoaster of emotion. This is especially true if you're switching careers or have been unemployed for a while. I've been fortunate in that most of my jobs have been lined up when I left a job or graduated school, but I did have a 6 month period where life circumstances meant I was applying as an unemployed person. When you start applying, the opportunities seem endless: "Wow, there are open positions at some amazing companies (The ones everyone else is applying to)! This is great!" This is a peak on the rollercoaster. I would sent out a ton of applications, often after networking, then hear radio silence for a long time. The paranoia starts to set in: "Has the industry passed me by?" "Did I spell my name wrong?" "Should I have written cover letters for each role?" This is a valley. Then, all of a sudden, multiple recruiters get back to you in a short amount of time, and you now have to prep for several interviews at once. This is a stressful peak. Maybe you don't end up getting an offer from those. Back to questioning your ability to land a role. We of course need to assess what we can do to be more prepared for the next interviews, but we also need to remember that there are a lot of great candidates out there, each company has its own biases, and sometimes we just have an off day. So you start the process again, and again. There has been plenty written about how to apply, interview, etc, but all I want to say is that if you are currently on the rollercoaster, I have been there before, and I've seen dozens of students go through the same thing. Continue to grow your skills, think critically about how you can improve your interviews, and find a trusted friend, colleague, or confidant that can help coach you or keep you honest (in both the positive and negative directions). Don't stay down. When you get bad news, it's totally normal to feel down. But don't stay there, and don't turn on yourself. You are just at a low point on the rollercoaster, and at some point all rides must come to an end. #job #jobsearch #solidarity

Troy had been job searching for 16 months and got rejected by 30 companies. We met, showed him what to do differently, and got his job three days later, at his very next interview, and for a significantly higher compensation. He’s a Senior professional, incredibly capable, with more than three decades of experience and a VP role under his belt. This is a snippet from an interview earlier today with Dr Turley, in which I explain that getting a job is not about luck, time or effort. The job search system is not broken, it is complex, it is not easy, but it is significantly easier to navigate through with someone next to you. Reach out if you want to switch jobs fast. #jobs #jobseekers #technology

Your resilience knows no bounds. Despite facing countless obstacles, setbacks, and moments of uncertainty, you continue to press forward with unwavering determination. Keep going. I've been at it for five-plus months, and I know my time is coming to land a role with a company that promotes well-being and hard work. 💪 From enduring layoffs to weathering months of unemployment and even experiencing the sting of being ghosted after pouring your heart into interviews and assignments, your perseverance shines brightly. I've witnessed firsthand the tireless efforts you pour into your job search—applying to countless positions, refining your profiles, tailoring your resumes, and tirelessly seeking referrals. Your unwavering dedication is nothing short of inspiring. As someone who understands the challenges you are facing, I deeply empathize with you. Having a job is a privilege I hold dear, knowing the hurdles many of you endure, some of you for extended periods. To all the recruiters and hiring managers reading this, I implore you to recognize the resilience and effort it takes for job seekers to secure an interview. Behind every resume lies a story of perseverance, determination, and unwavering hope. Let's honor this resilience by fostering a recruitment process that is fair, empathetic, and empowering. Together, let's create opportunities that allow individuals to find their rightful place in the workforce. 💼 #ResilientJobSeekers #Hiring #OpenToWork #LaidOff #Unemployed #EmpathyInRecruitment #CareerJourney #LikeLoveSupport